HERITAGE TRAINS

CASE STUDY

Australia 28/08/2020

Written by Daniel MassaioliBSc. 1982 UNSW, Pure and Applied Chemistry, M. AIRAH

S A N - A I R A U S T R A L I A

Executive Summary

Musty odoursCoughingFungal growth

This case study was performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of SAN-AIR Transport grade gel when introducedinto a train carriage environment.

Initial testing found there was an extremely high level of contamination on the surfaces of the filters. The type ofmicro organisms that were found were consistent with the micro organisms found outside the train. This indicatesthat the contamination is coming from the outside natural air and concentrating in the filters. The contamination isbeing circulated into the confined space of the carriage and the carriage HVAC system which is causing problems toarise. These problems include:

It is important to note that this trial was performed during winter with temperatures below 15 degrees. This timeperiod is when micro organisms are at their least active.

Once SAN-AIR Transport grade gel was introduced into the system, within 1 week, levels of contamination werereduced to below the AS 3666.2 standard of 1000 CFU per cubic meter of air and maintained at low levels thereafter.

P A G E 2

Purpose

To identify airborne contaminants in the train carriage and to determine if by introducing SAN-AIR Transport gradegel/ Transit Air to the air supply from the air conditioning system this would decrease the contamination level to anacceptable air quality standard as well as removing odours and the general feeling of sniffly nose and sore throat incarriages that were visibly affected by mould.

P A G E 3 S A N - A I R A U S T R A L I A

Description of Study

Air samples were taken using impact agar strips, exposed to the air flow from the carriage air conditioning. Sampleswere taken from the return/fresh air mix point, and from 2 bedrooms in 2 different cars.

These samples were taken in duplicate and were divided at random. One set was taken for incubation in an oven atour internal laboratories and the second set was given to Eurofins AMS to incubate as per their standard procedure.The third set of test results was completely analysed by Eurofins AMS.

NOTE:Eurofins AMS do not include photographs of the results in their service. Photographs of the test samples incubatedby SAN AIR appear later in this report.

Trial process

Initial tests were taken from the return air filters and air supply. Theseform our base line for the start of the trial.

The SAN-AIR Transport grade gel was placed in front of the evaporatorcoil or alternatively in front of the return air filters when there wasinsufficient room between the filters and the evaporator coil.

New filters were installed in both trial trains to ensure a common baseline between both tests.

If the return air mix is equal or higher than what comes out of theducting, there is potentially contamination occurring from the indoorair fixtures that is adding to the load in the indoor space.

For the following two weeks samples were taken to determine theprogress of the air quality within the trial trains.

Special Thank you

Ben ElliotJeff SneddenDaniel PageJohn Thoroughgood

We wish to thank the Transport Heritage NSW for allowing full access to their vehicles to conduct the following casestudy and testing. Special thank you to:

Who assisted and supported us with the test procedures.

Transport Grade gel installed in the

return air stream

P A G E 2 S A N - A I R A U S T R A L I A

Outdoor Tests

The below images are the test taken from the surrounding air space outside of the Heritage train.

HVAC Fi lter Surface Tests

These test indicate a result of 250 CFU (Colony Forming Unit). This is well below the the AS 3666.2 standard and iswithin the expected result range for and outside test.

Knowing what the environment is around the train indicates what types of micro organisms can be expected in thetrain interior. Performing tests during winter means that mould counts are at their lowest as the sub 15 degreetemperatures keeps the micro organisms partially dormant. It can reasonably be expected, that in any other seasonfor the micro organism count to be higher on average.

Musty odours Stale air CoughingItching (eyes and skin)Rashes

The above test kits were taken from surface tests of the MERV-8 filters that are in the HVAC units.

It is clear to see that there is significant micro organism growth and accumulation on the filters. When an air flow ispassing through these filters, the air stream will pick up 20% of contaminates on a surface and make it airborne.These contaminates then travel through the air-conditioning ducting, spreading to the rest of the cabin space.

The left and middle images are tests from current filters that were replaced at the start of the trial. The right mostphoto is from the  new filter that was introduced at the start of the trial. It is clear that the older filters have astaggering amount of contamination but very noticeably even the new filter out of the box is contaminated.

The level of contamination on these filters will start to cause the following issues:

These issues will only get worse as exposure times increase.

P A G E 4 S A N - A I R A U S T R A L I A

22th July 27th July 3rd August

7,500

5,000

2,500

0

Key

Mould

Bacteria

This particular room started with a considerably highmould count and an average bacterial count.

After the introduction of SAN-AIR Transport grade gelinto the air-supply, a significant decrease in mouldcount has occurred as well as a gradual decrease inbacteria.

Results show a slight increase in bacteria after the firstweek. This is very common and is a result of thebacteria trying to preserve itself. SAN-AIR is able tobring the bacteria count back down at week 3

Indoor Air Tests

The following images of test kits are taken from air samples of the air stream exiting through the HVAC system in thetrain.

The initial test results show that there is a portion of the contamination on the filters making it through the air-conditioning system and out to the carriage space. Due to the low temperatures during the testing period less thanexpected contamination was found but enough was detected to demonstrate the problems that could be happening andthe positive effects that SAN-AIR has made on the system.

P A G E 5 S A N - A I R A U S T R A L I A

1 0/9 BEDROOM

CAR: 2375

Col

ony

Form

ing

Uni

ts (C

FU)

93% Improvement in mould counts

Testing Results

Eurofins independent measurements

Initial test of Mould

travelling through the

ducting

Initial test of Bacteria

travelling through the

ducting

AS 3666.2

End test of Bacteria End test of Mould

P A G E 6 S A N - A I R A U S T R A L I A

22th July 27th July 3rd August

1,500

1,000

500

0

Key

Mould

Bacteria

9/ 1 0 BEDROOM

High levels of bacteria were detected from the air ventin bedroom 9/10.

After the introduction of SAN-AIR Transport grade gelinto the air space it is clear that a reduction incontaminates has occurred.

Within the first week of SAN-AIR being introduced thebacteria count droped to below AS 3666.2

CAR: 2374

Col

ony

Form

ing

Uni

ts (C

FU)

Initial Bacteria detected Initial Mould Detected

AS 3666.2

End Bacteria detected End Mould Detected

P A G E 7 S A N - A I R A U S T R A L I A

Filters in the return air to be

tested and treated

Initial testing of the filters Gathering of air samples from

air-conditioning outlet

Placement of SAN-AIR in the

return air unit

Mould growth out of one of the

air outlets

Microscopic imaging of mould

growth on filters

PHOTOGRAPHS O F T E S T I NG

P A G E 8 S A N - A I R A U S T R A L I A

When comparing the test results from the outside and the internal tests, it is clear that the samecontamination is present. The contamination is being concentrated in the confined space of thecarriage and this is where problems will arise.

It is important to note that this test was performed during winter with temperatures below 15degrees. This time period is when micro organisms are at their least active. The contaminationthat is detected throughout this test will only increase as temperature increases and microorganisms become more active.

In the rooms that where tested, it is clear the benefit that SAN-AIR has delivered. In both cases

SAN-AIR Transport grade gel has been able to control the micro organism count to below

Australian standards within the first week. The micro organism count commonly referred to as

CFU (Colony forming units) was maintained at low levels while SAN-AIR Transport grade gel was

present in the system.

It is clear that by using SAN-AIR Transport grade gel in the air-conditioning system, preventionand control of micro organisms can be achieved to well below the standards that have been setby AS 3666.2

Signed by: Daniel Massaioli

Test independently witness by:

CONC LUS I ON