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1.1 This practice establishes standardized tests for the performance evaluation of sensor-based continuous instruments for ambient outdoor air quality measurements. It describes both laboratory and field tests that provide information on candidate sensor repeatability, sensitivity, linearity, cross-interferences, drift, and comparability against reference instruments.

1.2 This practice does not apply to sensors or instruments that remotely measure atmospheric pollutants using open path, lidar, or imaging technology.

1.3 The evaluation procedures contained in this practice are for sensors that alone or in combination measure outdoor criteria pollutants in ambient air: particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), ozone (O₃), carbon monoxide (CO), or nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) at concentrations that are relevant to public health.

1.4 Testing is to be performed by a competent entity able to demonstrate that it operates in conformity with internationally accepted test laboratory quality standards such as ISO/IEC 17025.

1.5 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

5.1 This practice establishes standardized tests for the performance evaluation of sensor-based continuous instruments for ambient air quality measurements. Public and private air monitoring interests have manifested themselves as a driving force for the deployment of air quality sensors and instruments to quantify air pollutant concentrations in communities, around schools, around industrial facilities, and elsewhere. Users of air quality sensors require information on the performance and limitations of these devices so that informed decisions regarding their suitability for various purposes can be determined. This practice describes both laboratory and field tests that provide information on candidate instrument repeatability, sensitivity, linearity, cross-interferences, drift and comparability with more costly instruments typically used by entities such as government agencies. The air quality sensors are first evaluated in a laboratory chamber by comparing their response to a reference instrument and challenging the gas sensors with interferents. The sensors are then deployed outdoors for field testing at two sites with different climates against reference air quality instruments. This practice is intended to be referenced in standards and codes that establish minimum performance quality for sensor-based ambient outdoor air monitoring.

5.2 This practice is intended for air quality sensors that measure one or more of the criteria pollutants in ambient air (ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) that can be operated in outdoor environments and can log a concentration reading. It is not intended for devices or transducers that require additional enclosures for deployment outdoors or post-processing to convert their output signal into a pollutant concentration reading.

5.3 It is anticipated that the main users of this practice will be manufacturers, developers, and distributors of outdoor air quality sensors, air quality agencies, and environmental consultants.