LGC Standards has launched a proficiency testing scheme for the determination of pollutants in stacks solutions.
The scheme, entitled Stacks, has been designed for periodic manual measurement.
European Union legislation (Directive 96/61/EC and its codified version 2008/1/EC) dictates that the emissions from stationary stacks such as chimney stacks are monitored.
Participation in a proficiency testing scheme for stack-emission monitoring is a requirement of the UK Environment Agency's Monitoring Certification Scheme (Mcerts).
Participating in Stacks allows results to be compared with industry colleagues in confidence.
It may also be used in method and instrument evaluation and it can demonstrate reliability of analytical performance to customers and regulators.
The scheme runs from September to August with quarterly distribution of material to laboratories.
The test materials used in the scheme will reflect the types of materials generally encountered by participants.
Therefore the parameters available for testing include: mercury; heavy metals; sulphur dioxide (as sulphate); hydrogen fluoride; HCL (hydrogen chloride and hydrochloric acid); and ammonia.
The preparation and analysis of the test parameters are all based on the various EN Standards and are continually reviewed to ensure they meet current laboratory testing and regulatory requirements.
