Measure indoor air pollutants according to VDI 3492 with SG12 and sampling head

VDI 3492 – VDI guideline for the determination of indoor air pollutants

VDI 3492 is one of numerous VDI guidelines drawn up by the VDI (Association of German Engineers). They contain trend-setting rules and recommendations for the state of the art and for science. They are relevant for daily practice.


The VDI guidelines provide comprehensive specifications for measuring indoor air pollutants. They include regulations on measurement strategy, measurement technology, the gas chromatographic determination of organiccompounds in outdoor air and indoor air. They also cover the measurement of immissions and indoor air and the determination of asbestos in technical products.

The VDI guideline 3492 on “Measurement of indoor air pollution – Measurement of immissions – Measurement of inorganic fibrous particles – Scanning electron microscope method” is defined by the VDI/DIN Commission on Air Quality Control (KRdL) – Standards Committee. It describes a procedure, which is used to determine fiber number concentrations of inorganic fibrous particles in indoor or outdoor air.


Inorganic fibrous particles according to VDI guideline 3492

According to the procedure of VDI guideline 3492, fibrous particles can be assigned to specific fiber classes such as chrysotile, amphibole asbestos, calcium sulphate or other inorganic fibers . The fibers are counted and classified using the SEM/EDXA (scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive X-ray analysis) method.


Use of the measuring device SG12 for measurement in accordance with VDI 3492

With the GSA measuring device SG12 and the sampling head for fibers according to VDI 3492 can be used to carry out measurements with regard to possible indoor air contamination. With this combination of both devices, levels of anorganic, fibrous particles in the outdoor air or indoor air can be accurately measured. According to VDI 3492, these include asbestos fibers, KMF and other inorganic fibers in indoor and outdoor air.


Sampling head for fibers according to VDI 3492 – suitable for the SG12 measuring devices

For a measurement in accordance with VDI 3492 , a suitable sampling head is required for sampling with the GSA measuring devices SG12. Like the SG12, this is available in the GSA measuring devices online store in the overview of SG12 device parts. It is made of aluminum and has a screw-on hose connection and cap. To measure indoor air pollutants in accordance with VDI 3492, a cassette fitted with a filter (25 mm filter) must be inserted into the sampling head.

The SG12 measuring device is also suitable for measuring hazardous substances. As with fibre measurements, high flow resistances must be overcome for these, which require high volume flows.


Sources:

https://www.vdi.de/richtlinien

https://www.vdi.de/richtlinien/details/vdi-3492-messen-von-innenraumluftverunreinigungen-messen-von-immissionen-messen-anorganischer-faserfoermiger-partikel-rasterelektronenmikroskopisches-verfahren

Image: SG12 measuring device complete with mains and battery operation – Author: GSA Messgerätebau GmbH