ASTM D6306-98

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Designation: D 6306 – 98
Standard Guide for
Placement and Use of Diffusion Controlled Passive Monitors
for Gaseous Pollutants in Indoor Air
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6306; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 passive monitor—a diffusion controlled air monitor
1.1 This guide covers the placement and use of diffusion
that does not utilize electrical or mechanical power in order to
controlled monitors in the indoor atmosphere.
supply air to the sorbent media or chemical reactant within the
1.2 Diffusion controlled passive monitors within this guide
monitor. These monitors may be worn by an individual
include both area and personal monitors for use in residences,
(personal passive monitor) or used as sampling devices within
public buildings, offices, and other non-industrial workplaces
specific locations (area passive monitor).
and dwelling environments. A passive monitor is any air
monitor that does not utilize electrical or mechanical power in
4. Summary of Guide
order to supply air to the sorbent media or chemical reactant
4.1 Contaminants in air are sampled by collection with a
within the monitor and sample according to Fick’s first law of
sorbent or chemically reactive medium in order to undergo
diffusion.
subsequent analysis for determination of concentration. Con-
1.3 The purpose of this guide is to ensure uniformity of
taminants in air are transported to the sorption medium or
sampling within a variety of indoor environments and to
reacting chemical through vapor or gas diffusion. During the
facilitate comparison of results.
sampling process, the compounds, in a molecular state, diffuse
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
from the environment adjacent to the sampler through a first
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
region of defined geometric structure and into a second
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
adsorbing region containing the sorbent.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4.2 Guidance is provided for the placement, handling, and
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
use of passive air monitors within an indoor environment.
2. Referenced Documents
5. Significance and Use
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5.1 The objective of this guide is to provide guidance for the
D 1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of
2 placement and use of passive monitors that when uniformly
Atmospheres
applied enables the user to eliminate many interferences in the
D 1357 Practice for Planning the Sampling of the Ambient
2 sampling of indoor air. Since the analysis of the indoor
Atmosphere
environment by passive air monitors is influenced by many
D 4597 Practice for Sampling Workplace Atmospheres to
factors other than the method of sampling, efforts are made to
Collect Organic Gases or Vapors with Activated Charcoal
2 minimize interfering factors and maintain the air at conditions
Diffusional Samplers
typical of the measurement location within the vicinity of the
D 3614 Guide for Laboratories Engaged in Sampling and
2 passive air monitor. However, when performing diagnostic or
Analysis of Atmospheres and Emissions
special measurements, non-typical indoor air environment
3. Terminology conditions may be desirable or required. Thus, the objectives of
a sampling study may determine the conditions needed for
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this guide
sampling.
refer to Terminology D 1356.
5.2 Passive sampling provides for time integrated measure-
ments. Passive monitors are usually placed in an indoor
This method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D22 on Sampling
environment over a time period to obtain a cumulative sample;
and Analysis of Atmospheres and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
hence, interfering factors should be anticipated and eliminated
D22.05 on Indoor Air.
where possible. Passive monitors often lack the sensitivity to
Current edition approved July 10, 1998. Published November 1998.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.03. measure short-term peak concentrations.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D6306–98
5.3 With suitable instruction regarding placement of passive professional familiar with the monitor used. For specific
monitors, placement and retrieval of the monitors can be diagnostic measurements, a deviation from the guidelines in
performed by unskilled personnel (for example, occupants). this document is permissible.
7.6 Recovery of the Passive Monitor:
6. General Principles
7.6.1 The sampling period is terminated when the monitor is
6.1 The choice of a passive monitor, characteristics of the
sealed and removed from the sampling environment.
sampling site, number of sampling points, number of monitors,
7.6.2 Record the time and date for measurement termination
and number of sampling periods depends on the objectives of
in a logbook or on any appropriate form and on the monitor
the monitoring program.
label. Any damage to the monitor or variation in the monitor
6.2 Passive monitors rely on air currents within an indoor
placement since deployment should be noted in the log-book or
environment for circulation of a representative sample atmo-
on any appropriate form.
sphere to the vicinity of the monitor. Therefore, it is essential
7.6.3 Adequate information should be entered into the
that air circulation in the vicinity of the sampler be sufficient to
logbook to permit interpretation of results and comparison to
keep the boundary layer thin enough so that the analyte can
similar measurements. Any variation in the sampling location,
diffuse across it, preventing a localized concentration depletion
building structure, or building systems should be noted.
by the monitor. The adequacy of the sampling is directly 7.6.4 The monitor should be analyzed within time specifi-
influenced by the location and subsequent exposure of the
cations of the specific monitor used.
monitor to a representative indoor atmosphere.
8. Procedure
6.3 The objective of the study may affect the type of
8.1 Factors Affecting Use of Passive Monitors:
monitor selected and the location of placement. In general
8.1.1 Detection Limit—The detection limit for the passive
terms, Practice D 1357 will acquaint the user with established
monitor may preclude obtaining useful results if the concen-
overall study considerations.
tration in the test area is insufficient to exceed the detection
7. Sampling with Passive Monitors
limit during the minimum sampling duration.
7.1 Inspect the monitor and package carefully. The monitor 8.1.1.1 Minimum Sampling Duration—The duration of
or its protective packaging may have been damaged during sampling can affect the results obtained. If the concentration in
shipment. The user should not directly contact the monitor with the air is low, a short sampling time may not produce an
bare skin and, in no case, permit anything to contact the acceptable mass of sampled material on the monitor. Monitors
sampling face. may require a minimum sampling duration to achieve repre-
7.2 Calibration of the Passive Monitor—Information relat- sentative results.
ing to calibration may be found in Practice D 4597. These 8.1.2 Accuracy—The accuracy of the monitor selected
documents also provide information relating to the determina- should be appropriate for the testing purpose. The duration of
tion of the required minimum sampling time. sampling and the exposure concentration may affect the
7.3 The sampling period begins when lid, cover, or protec- technically claimed accuracy (see 10.2).
tive container of the monitor is removed to permit sampling by 8.1.3 Precision—Precision of all monitors should be deter-
the monitor. The starting time of the sampling period should be mined for each use through the application of field blank
transcribed to a log-book or appropriate form and on the samples, duplicates, and laboratory controls. Five percent of
monitor label. The writing instrument, for example, markers, the monitors should be held for blanks and 10 % used as
should not provide the potential of contamination to the duplicates (see 10.2).
monitor. A means of resealing or replacing the monitor lid or 8.1.4 Selectivity—The monitor chosen should be as selec-
cover should be ensured. tive as possible for the contaminant species and concentration
7.4 The monitor should have a permanently attached iden- range of interest to avoid problems of interference.
tification code or serial number that should be transcribed to a 8.1.5 Interferences—Some passive monitors will measure
log-book or an appropriate form. The logbook should include multiple contaminants as a single integrated result, that is, poor
information describing the location of the monitor and perti- selectivity. The concentration of the interfering species may or
nent information regarding the building and deployment area, may not significantly affect the results of the intended species
such as construction, type of heating system, insulation, of interest. Any interfering species should be investigated for
occupancy number and patterns, and major appliance location. concentration and deleterious effect upon the results of the
A room deployment should additionally list location within the specie
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