Classical Polyorifice Cascade Impactors

Eight Stage Non Viable Impactor

Six Stage Viable Impactor

Single Stage Viable Impactor

Introduction

Two pioneering names in the theory and development of Cascade Impaction are K.R. May¹ and A.A. Andersen². BGI staff were associated with both founders, Gussman having written the last Casella Impactor Manual with K.R. May and Merrifield having prepared the Andersen Cascade Impactor manuals with A.A. Andersen. BGI went on to develop the 4 Stage High-Volume Cascade Impactor³ which was a successful Environmental size fractionator of the 1970’s.
Given BGI's considerable experience with the production, and application of Cascade Impactors, BGI has decided to sell, service, support and expand the historical Andersen style Cascade Impactors. The rendering of the genius of A.A. Andersen is very superior. With the expiration of the original patents, several firms have attempted to produce these instruments only to discover that multi-hole impactors represent a quality inspection challenge of unprecedented difficulty. Every Impactor is furnished with an inspection report on the dimensions of every hole on each plate; some plates having 400 holes. In addition, with consolidation and buy-outs of historical instrumentation companies and their loss of history and theory, BGI remains the one commercial company with aerosol expertise, who can help the user with applications and scientific experiments.
The first BGI enhancement is a series of spreadsheets which simplify the analysis of the test results to a few keystrokes.

Because of the explosive growth of Environmental and Aerosol Science as well as Industrial Hygiene and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), many persons do not know what a Cascade Impactor is and are afraid to ask.
Nature and use of a Cascade impactor.

References

1. K.R. May, “The Cascade Impactor: An Instrument for Sampling Coarse Aerosols”, J. Scientific Instruments, 22:187-197, 1945
2. A.A. Andersen, “A New Sampler for the Collection Sizing and Enumeration of Viable Airborne Particles”, J. Bacteriology, 76:471:484.1958
3. R.A. Gussman, A.M. Sacco and N.M. McMahon, Design and Calibration of a High Volume Cascade Impactor, APCA Journal, 23 No. 9, (Sept. 1973).

Eight Stage Non Viable Impactor

Applications

• Basic Aerosol Studies
• Special Area Monitoring
• Pharmaceutical Studies
• Inhalation Research
• Evaluation of Metered Dose Inhaler products
  

Features

• Established and proven design
• Proven calibration
• 100% Orifice Inspection
• Economical pricing
• Includes spreadsheet software

Specifications-Cut Points for the 8 Stage Non Viable Impactor

In addition to the impactor proper, the standard kit includes:

• 8 Stainless steel collection plates.
• Back up 81 mm filter holder.
• Vacuum pump assembly.
• Carrying case.
• Tubing

Dimensions and Weight

Six Stage Viable (Microbiological) Impactor

Applications

• Aerobiology Studies
• Special Area Monitoring
• Infectious Studies
• Exposure Research.

Features

• Established and proven design
• Proven calibration
• 100% Orifice Inspection
• Economical pricing
• Permits separation into size groups

Specifications-Cut Points for the 6 Stage Viable Impactor

In addition to the impactor proper, the standard kit includes:

• Vacuum pump assembly.
• Carrying case.
• Tubing

Dimensions and Weight

Single Stage Viable (Microbiological) Impactor (NIOSH6 or N6)

Applications

• Aerobiology Studies
• Special Area Monitoring
• Infectious Studies
• Exposure Research.

Features

• Established and proven design
• Proven calibration
• 100% Orifice Inspection
• Economical pricing

Dimensions and Weight