ASTM D6246-98

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or
withdrawn. Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 6246 – 98
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Practice for
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Evaluating the Performance of Diffusive Samplers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6246; 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 1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.1 This practice covers the evaluation of the performance
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
of diffusive samplers of gases and vapors for use over sampling
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
periods from 4 to 12 h. Sampling periods of such duration are
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
the most common in workplace sampling. Given a suitable
exposure chamber, the practice can be straightforwardly ex-
2. Referenced Documents
tended to cover samplers for use over other sampling periods as
2.1 ASTM Standards:
well. The aim is to provide a concise set of experiments for
D 1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of
classifying samplers primarily according to a single numerical
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Atmospheres
value representing sampler accuracy. Accuracy estimates refer
D 4597 Practice for Sampling Workplace Atmospheres to
to conditions of sampler use which are normally expected in a
Collect Organic Gases or Vapor with Activated Charcoal
workplace setting. These conditions may be characterized by
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Diffusive Samplers
the temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, and ambient
D 4598 Practice for Sampling Workplace Atmospheres to
wind speed, none of which may be constant or accurately
Collect Gases or Vapor with Liquid Sorbent Diffusional
known. Futhermore, the accuracy accounts for the estimation
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Samplers
of time-weighted averages of concentrations which may not be
D 4599 Practice for Measuring the Concentration of Toxic
constant in time. Aside from accuracy, the samplers are tested
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Gases or Vapors Using Length-of-Stain Dosimeters
for compliance with the manufacturer’s stated limits on capac-
2.2 International Standards:
ity, possibly in the presence of interfering compounds. The
CEN EN 838 European Standard, Workplace atmospheres -
samplers are, further, classified as to their capability for
Diffusive samplers for the determination of gases or
detecting situations in which sampler capacity may be ex-
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vapours - Requirements and test methods
ceeded.
MDHS 27 Protocol for assessing the performance of a
1.2 This practice is an extension of previous research on
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diffusive sampler, Health and Safety Laboratory, United
diffusive samplers (1-13) as well as Practices D 4597, D 4598,
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Kingdom
D 4599, and MDHS 27. An essential advance here is the
MDHS 80 Volatile organic compounds in air, Health and
estimation of sampler accuracy under actual conditions of use.
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Safety Laboratory, United Kingdom
Futhermore, costs of sampler evaluation are reduced.
1.3 Furthering the latter point, knowledge of similarity
3. Terminology
between analytes of interest can be used to expedite sampler
3.1 Definitions:
evaluation. For example, interpolation of data characterizing
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this practice, refer to
the sampling of analytes at separated points of a homologous
Terminology D 1356.
series of compounds is recommended. At present the procedure
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
of (9) is suggested. Following evaluation of a sampler in use at
3.2.1 Busch Probabilistic Accuracy A—the fractional range,
a single homologous series member according to the present
symmetric about the true concentration c, within which 95 %
practice, higher molecular weight members would receive
of sampler measurements are to be found (14-16).
partial validations considering sampling rate, capacity, analyti-
3.2.1.1 Discussion—In the case considered here, effects on
cal recovery, and interferences.
sampler accuracy from environmental unknowns are all
1.4 Units of the International System of Units (SI) are used
handled as variances, leaving negligible uncorrectable bias.
throughout this guide and should be regarded as standard.
Therefore, the function A is given in terms of the total
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This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-22 on Sampling
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and Analysis of Atmospheresand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.03.
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22.04 on Analysis of Workplace Atmospheres. Discontinued–See 1995 Annual Book of AS
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