This European Standard specifies performance requirements and test methods under prescribed laboratory conditions for a pumped sorbent tube used in conjunction with an air sampling pump for the determination of gases and vapours in workplace atmospheres.
Additional tests designed to establish whether the performance characteristics of the pumped sorbent tube are affected by the wider range of environmental influences that may be encountered in field use are described in annexes C and D.
If there is no pumped sorbent tube for measuring a particular chemical agent which meets the requirements of this European Standard, it is recommended to use a pumped sorbent tube whose performance is nearest to the specified requirements.
Some of the test methods described in this European Standard require the use of an air sampling pump. The specification for such a pump is covered by EN 1232.
This European Standard is applicable to pumped sorbent tubes which are used for the indirect determination of concentrations, by sampling and analysis in separate stages.
These tubes can be divided into:
- type A samplers which rely on sorption onto a solid or onto a support impregnated with a reagent, desorption with solvent, and subsequent analysis of the desorbate;
- type B samplers which rely on sorption onto a solid or onto a support impregnated with a reagent, desorption by heat, and analysis of the desorbate.
NOTE 1. Type A samplers usually consist of two beds of sorbent in series, i.e. with a back-up section, and contain an active sorbent (e.g. charcoal) or a support impregnated with reagent. The back-up section is not used in the breakthrough tests, but in field use is a protection against unexpected breakthrough.
NOTE 2. Type B samplers usually consist of a single bed of active sorbent (e.g. porous polymer resin).
Specific aspects of the use of reagent impregnated systems will be covered in additional parts of this standard.
The European Standard does not apply to:
- pumped sorbent tubes which are used for the direct determination of concentrations, for example, length-of-stain detector tubes;
- samplers which rely on sorption into a liquid, and subsequent analysis of the solution (bubblers).
This European Standard should enable manufacturers and users of pumped sorbent tubes to adopt a consistent approach to sampler validation and provide a framework for the assessment of sampler performance against criteria specified in EN 482. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer or of those who assemble the pumped sorbent tubes to ensure that the sampler complies with the overall uncertainty requirements under the specified laboratory conditions given in this European Standard including such environmental influences (e.g. temperature and humidity) that may be expected to affect performance.
No useful performance requirements can be given for the effect of interferents (with the exception of water vapour). However, the user of pumped sorbent tubes should be cautioned that interferences may occur (see 5.8e).
NOTE 3. Annexes C and D relating to field tests are not obligatory as part of this European Standard but are directed primarily to the users of such devices, who are in the best position to know the specific factors that can significantly affect sampler performance.
NOTE 4. Because of the known relationship between atmosphere pressure and atmospheric concentrations, a pressure test is normally not necessary.
BS EN 1076:1997 history
2010BS EN 1076:2010 Workplace exposure. Procedures for measuring gases and vapours using pumped samplers. Requirements and test methods
2010BS EN 1076:2009 Workplace exposure - Procedures for measuring gases and vapours using pumped samplers - Requirements and test methods
1997BS EN 1076:1997 Workplace atmospheres - Pumped sorbent tubes for the determination of gases and vapours - Requirements and test methods