VDI type-1 rig and JIS rig are the two major testing rigs for cleanable fabric filters. We measured the filter cleaning performance using these rigs and the results were compared in order to characterize the two testing methods. The filter performance tests showed that the filter cleaning efficiency measured with VDI type-1 rig is higher than that with JIS rig. During pulse jet cleaning, JIS rig gave a higher peak pressure and a shorter time period of pulse jet compared to VDI type-1 rig. A new filtration model was applied to the filtration cycles with the two rigs and it was shown that the difference in filter cleaning performance measured by VDI type-1 and JIS rigs can be expressed in terms of the surface cleaning fraction, which is the ratio of cleaned surface area to the total surface area of a filter, and the residual dust load on the un-cleaned surface after cleaning. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.