ASTM D6332-99
(Guide)Standard Guide for Testing Systems for Measuring Dynamic Responses of Carbon Monoxide Detectors to Gases and Vapors
Standard Guide for Testing Systems for Measuring Dynamic Responses of Carbon Monoxide Detectors to Gases and Vapors
SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes testing systems used for measuring responses of carbon monoxide (CO) alarms or detectors subjected to gases, vapors, and their mixtures.
1.2 The systems are used to evaluate responses of CO detectors to various CO concentrations, to verify that the detectors alarm at certain specified CO concentrations, and to verify that CO detectors do not alarm at certain other specified CO concentrations.
1.3 The systems are used for evaluating CO detector responses to gases and vapors that may interfere with the ability of detectors to respond to CO.
1.4 Major components of such a testing system include a chamber, clean air supply module, humidification module, gas and vapor delivery module, and verification and control instrumentation.
1.5 For each component, this guide provides a comparison of different approaches and discusses their advantages and disadvantages.
1.6 This guide also presents recommendations for a minimum configuration of a testing system.
1.7 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For more specific safety precautionary information, see 6.2.
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Designation: D 6332 – 99
Standard Guide for
Testing Systems for Measuring Dynamic Responses of
Carbon Monoxide Detectors to Gases and Vapors
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6332; 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 D 3162 Test Method for Carbon Monoxide in the Atmo-
sphere (Continuous Measurement by Nondispersive Infra-
1.1 This guide describes testing systems used for measuring
red Spectrometry)
responses of carbon monoxide (CO) alarms or detectors
D 3195 Practice for Rotameter Calibration
subjected to gases, vapors, and their mixtures.
D 3249 Practice for General Ambient Air Analyzer Proce-
1.2 The systems are used to evaluate responses of CO
dures
detectors to various CO concentrations, to verify that the
D 3687 Practice forAnalysis of Organic Compound Vapors
detectors alarm at certain specified CO concentrations, and to
Collected by the Activated Charcoal Tube Adsorption
verify that CO detectors do not alarm at certain other specified
Method
CO concentrations.
2.2 Other Standards:
1.3 The systems are used for evaluating CO detector re-
BS 7860 Specification for Carbon Monoxide Detectors
sponses to gases and vapors that may interfere with the ability
(Electrical) For Domestic Use
of detectors to respond to CO.
UL 2034 Single and Multiple Station Carbon Monoxide
1.4 Major components of such a testing system include a
Detectors
chamber, clean air supply module, humidification module, gas
CFR 1910.1450 Occupational Exposure to Hazardous
and vapor delivery module, and verification and control instru-
Chemicals in Laboratories
mentation.
1.5 For each component, this guide provides a comparison
3. Terminology
of different approaches and discusses their advantages and
3.1 Definitions:
disadvantages.
For definitions of terms used in this guide, refer to Termi-
1.6 The guide also presents recommendations for a mini-
nology D 1356.
mum configuration of a testing system.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.7 This guide does not purport to address all of the safety
3.2.1 air change rate—the volume of clean, humidified air
concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
plus contaminants that enters the chamber in 1 h, divided by
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and
the internal volume of the chamber, expressed as air changes
health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
–1
per hour (h ).
limitations prior to use. For more specific safety precautionary
3.2.2 chamber—an enclosed test volume composed of
information, see 6.2.
chemicallyinertmaterialssuppliedwithamixtureofair,gases,
2. Referenced Documents or vapors, or combination thereof, having known composi-
tions.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.2.3 CO alarm/detector—an alarm device consisting of an
D 1193 Specification For Reagent Water
assemblyofelectricalandmechanicalcomponentswithchemi-
D 1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of
cal, electrochemical, solid-state electronic, or other types of
Atmospheres
sensors to detect the presence of CO gas in specified ranges of
D 1945 Test Method for Analysis of Natural Gas by Gas
concentrations.
Chromatography
3.2.4 sensor—the component included in the CO alarm/
detector that senses CO gas.
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD-22onSamplingand
Analysis of Atmospheres and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.05
on Indoor Air.
Current edition approved March 10, 1999. Published May 1999. Originally Available from British Standards Institute, 2 Park St., London, England
published as D 6332-98. Last previous edition D 6332-98. W1A2B5.
2 6
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01. Available from Underwriter Laboratories, Inc., Northbrook, IL.
3 7
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.03. Available from Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.05. Office, Washington, DC 20036.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 6332
4. Summary of Guide at least 0.1-m (4-in.) away from the chamber walls. If multiple
detectors are undergoing simultaneous testing, they should be
4.1 This guide describes components of systems for testing
spacedatleast0.05m(2in.)fromeachother.Thechambersize
CO detectors with mixtures of air and CO at different concen-
required by UL 2034 is a 0.9 3 0.9 3 0.9-m (3 3 3 3 3-ft)
trations of CO. The systems are also used for evaluating the
box, which has been found to be practical for testing several
responses of CO detectors to mixtures of air and various gases
detectors at a time.
or vapors, or both. Such systems require clean air with a
6.4 Material of Construction—The chamber should be
preselected level of relative humidity supplied to an environ-
made of relatively inert materials, such as glass, stainless steel,
mental chamber. Gases and vapors are introduced in the clean
or certain types of polymers/plastics. Materials, such as wood
air supply or placed directly in the chamber to achieve desired
or gypsum board, may not be appropriate because of their
chamber concentration. The components of such systems
absorption, adsorption, and leakage characteristics. Joints
include devices or modules for supplying pure air, humidifying
should be well-sealed using inert caulking/sealing materials.
air, supplying gases or vapors, or both, to be tested, reference
Gaskets should be used around doors and other closable
instruments for verifying concentrations of gases and vapors,
openings to achieve a good seal when closed.
and a chamber for placing and exposing CO detectors. The
6.5 Air Change Rate— The air change rate of a dynamic
guide describes various options for each component: chamber
–1
chamber should be sufficient (for example, 1 h or higher) to
(Section 6), clean air supply module (Section 7), humidifica-
overcome loss of chamber air through leakage and the deple-
tion module (Section 8), gas/vapor delivery module (Section
tion of test gases and vapors due to factors, such as consump-
9), and verification and control module (Section 10).The guide
tion through a chemical reaction or deposition.
further provides recommendations on a minimum configura-
6.6 Mixing—Toprovideauniformconcentrationfortesting,
tion for the testing system (Section 11) and reporting results
the chamber air should be well mixed. With an adequate air
(Section 12).
–1
change rate (for example, 1 h or higher), mixing can be
5. Significance and Use achieved through proper placement and design of inlet and
outlet ports. The design and placement should be such that any
5.1 This guide provides information on testing systems and
short-circuiting of flow from inlet to outlet ports is avoided.A
their components used for measuring responses of CO alarms
better alternative to promote mixing is to use a fan that is
or detectors subjected to gases, vapors, and their mixtures.
appropriately sized for the chamber volume. For example,
Components of a testing system include a chamber, clean air
3 3
mixing within a large chamber having 23-m (800-ft ) volume
supply module, humidification module, gas and vapor delivery
–1
can be achieved by an 378 l-s (800-cfm) fan. Ideally, the fan
module, and verification and control instrumentation.
should be mounted on a shaft through the chamber wall, and
5.2 The CO detector is tested by sequential exposure to CO
the fan motor should be external to the chamber to prevent
and interference gases at the specified challenge concentra-
contaminationandheatloadinthechamber.Ifafanisused,the
tions. A properly functioning alarm/detector will sound upon
sensorportsshouldbeshieldedfromdirectairimpingement.In
sufficientexposuretoCObutwillnotsounduponanyexposure
addition to providing a uniform air concentration, the combi-
to interference gases consistent with applicable standards (for
8 nation of air change rate and mixing should be such that it
example, IAS 6-96 (1) , BS 7860, UL 2034).
–1
provides sufficient face velocity (for example, over1ms or
–1
6. Chamber 3.3 ft s ) at sensor head(s) through the detector housing.
6.7 The chamber should be able to provide accurate control
6.1 Types of Chamber—There are two types of chambers—
of temperature and relative humidity at ambient pressure as
static and dynamic. In a static chamber, air and known
indicated in Table 1. The chamber should be airtight to
quantities of gases are introduced and then the chamber is
minimize any leakage of ambient air into or chamber air out of
sealed. In a dynamic chamber, a characterized air-gas mixture
the system. The range of environmental conditions cited in
is continually introduced at a rate sufficient to maintain target
Table 1 cover ranges specified in standards listed in 2.2 and in
concentrations.
the literature (1). Also, UL 2034 prescribes certain time
6.2 Hazards—In a dynamic chamber, the air exiting cham-
period(s) to achieve target concentrations that should be
ber will contain CO and interference gases or vapors that may
adhered to so that undue exposures are avoided.
be toxic. To avoid undue exposures of toxic gases and vapors
6.8 Discussion—The advantage of the static chamber is that
to occupants of the laboratory (where the chamber is located),
thesetupissimple,basicallyrequiringonlyasealablebox.The
the chamber should be properly vented to outside with an
major disadvantage of the static chamber is that the gases may
appropriate stack. For a static chamber, exposures to test gases
be consumed or generated in the chamber, resulting in an
should be avoided in operating (for example, opening) the
environment that is different than originally specified. For this
chamber.
reason,thecompositionoftheatmosphereshouldbemonitored
6.3 Size of the Chamber—The chamber size can be large
(that is, room-size) or small and depends on the number of
detectors to be tested. Detectors should be placed on a wire
TABLE 1 General Specifications for Test Chamber
rackorsimilarsupportingstructure.Detectorsshouldbeplaced
Specification Control Range Control Precision
Temperature –10 to 52°C (14 to 126°F) 6 0.5°C (6 0.9°F)
Relative humidity 15 % to 95 % 6 5.0 %
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to references at the end of this (noncondensing)
standard.
D 6332
continuously for CO concentrations and other related param- 7.4 Alternate Clean Air Module—Air from outdoors or
eters. The dynamic chamber requires a continuous and con- from the laboratory can be conditioned and cleaned by passing
trolled supply and exhaust of air and gases to be tested but it through particulate filters to remove suspended solid par-
provides an environment that does not undergo changes as an ticles, preheat coil and a chilled water dehumidifying coil to
artifact of testing. remove excess moisture, a desiccant dehumidifier to further
dehumidify air, a catalytic bed to remove background CO, and
7. Clean Air Supply Module
an activated carbon adsorbent bed to remove volatile organic
compounds in the air.
7.1 Types—There are two approaches for obtaining a clean
7.5 Discussion—The use of prepackaged clean air requires
air supply: (1) to use a prepackaged supply of clean air; and (2)
to generate clean air by processing ambient air to remove a minimal initial investment. The laboratory shall provide for
safe storage of pressurized cylinders. Pressurized cylinders of
impurities and moisture. This second approach requires equip-
ment for removing particle and gas contaminants and moisture clean air that meet or exceed specifications can be purchased
through commercial gas supply vendors. However, this can
from the ambient air. Clean air can be generated to meet
specifications for different requirements of stringency. Preas- become costly depending on the level of use of clean air. The
sembled equipment for processing ambient air is also available use of a clean air module, on the other hand, requires an initial
from commercial gas supply vendors. Some details on the two investment in a compressor and filtration/dehumidification
approaches are given below. equipment. The completed module supplies clean air at lower
7.2 Packaged Clean Air—Use of packaged air involves cost if the clean air supply is used regularly. Further, proper
purchase of pressurized cylinders of clean air or zero air with selection of specifications will provide adequate repeatability
certain specifications. Recommended specifications are: less in testing results without undue high cost. There are various
–3
than 0.5 ppm(v) (0.33 mg m of methane equivalent) of total levels of clean air that can be achieved. For testing CO
–3
detectors, ultra-pure air (total hydrocarbon content < 0.1
hydrocarbons, water vapor less than 3.5 ppm(v) (2.6 mg m ),
–3 –3
and CO less than 1 ppm(v) (1.1 mg m ). Such gases are ppm(v) or 0.06 mg m ) is generally unnecessary. A total
–3
hydrocarbon content of less than 0.5 ppm(v) (0.33 mg m )is
available from commercial vendors of pure gases and gas
mixtures. considered to be adequate.
7.3 Clean Air Generation Module—A basic clean air gen-
eration module has the following components: oil-less com- 8. Humidification Module
pressor, desiccant to remove moisture, particle filter to remove
8.1 Air from the clean air module is fed to a humidification
suspended particles, and activated charcoal filter or catalyst
module. This module controls the relative humidity of the
bed, or both, to remove gaseous impurities. In addition to these
air-gas mixture delivered to the chamber. Depending on the
components, a storage tank, high pressure lines, and regulator
range of specifications for humidification, the humidification
are necessary. A radiative cooler may be necessary to cool
module can be achieved in one of at least two ways:
compressed air. An example flow diagram for a clean air
8.1.1 The simple module will contain chilled water cooling
generation module is shown in Fig. 1. Room air is compressed
coils, a reheat coil, and steam humidifier to obtain desired
and then cooled by passing the air through a radiative cooler.
temperature and relative humidity. Such conditioning can be
Liquid water generated by the compressing and cooling is
achieved as part of the generation of clean air (instead of the
removed with a coalescer filter and may be stored in a storage
dessicant) described above. The degree of humidity control
tank. The compressed air is purified by passing the air through
may be limited to 65%.
adesiccant,activatedcharcoalfilter,and
...
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