ASTM D4599-20

Standard Practice for Measuring the Concentration of Toxic Gases or Vapors Using Length-of-Stain Dosimeters

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 29 CFR 1910.1000 Subpart Z designates that certain gases and vapors present in work place atmospheres must be controlled so that their concentrations do not exceed specified limits. Other countries have similar regulations.  
5.2 This practice will provide a means for the measurement of airborne concentrations of certain gases and vapors listed in 29 CFR 1910.1000 and in other countries’ regulations.  
5.3 A partial list of chemicals for which this practice is applicable is presented in Annex A1 with current Threshold Limit Values (TLV)5 (2) and typical measurement ranges for the selected chemicals as obtained from various manufacturer’s specifications.  
5.4 This practice may be used for either personal or area monitoring.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes the detection and measurement of time weighted average (TWA) concentrations of toxic gases or vapors using length-of-stain colorimetric dosimeter tubes. A list of some of the gases and vapors that can be detected by this practice is provided in Annex A1. This list is given as a guide and should be considered neither absolute nor complete.  
1.2 Length-of-stain colorimetric dosimeters work by diffusional sampling. The results are immediately available by visual observation; thus no auxiliary sampling, test, nor analysis equipment are needed. The dosimeters, therefore, are extremely simple to use and very cost effective.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 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.  
1.5 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2020
• ICS: 13.320 - Alarm and warning systems
• Technical Committee: D22 - Air Quality
• Drafting Committee: D22.04 - Workplace Air Quality

Standards Content (Sample)

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: D4599 − 20
Standard Practice for
Measuring the Concentration of Toxic Gases or Vapors
1
Using Length-of-Stain Dosimeters
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4599; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
3
1. Scope 2.2 Other Document:
U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Standard—Title
1.1 This practice describes the detection and measurement
291910.1000 Subpart Z
of time weighted average (TWA) concentrations of toxic gases
orvaporsusinglength-of-staincolorimetricdosimetertubes.A
3. Terminology
listofsomeofthegasesandvaporsthatcanbedetectedbythis
practice is provided in AnnexA1. This list is given as a guide
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this
and should be considered neither absolute nor complete.
practice, refer to Terminology D1356.
1.2 Length-of-stain colorimetric dosimeters work by diffu-
4. Summary of Practice
sional sampling. The results are immediately available by
visual observation; thus no auxiliary sampling, test, nor analy-
4.1 Length-of-stain colorimetric dosimeters consist of a
4
sis equipment are needed. The dosimeters, therefore, are
sealed glass tube containing a detector inside the tube (1-5).
extremely simple to use and very cost effective.
The detector is a length of granulated material impregnated
with a reactive chemical that is sensitive to the particular gas
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
for which the dosimeter is designed. To use the tube, one end
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
is opened. The gas, if present, diffuses into the tube and reacts
standard.
with the chemical reagent on the carrier material, causing the
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
latter to change color. Each lot of dosimeters is individually
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
calibratedsothatbymeasuringthelengthofstainandthetime
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ofexposure,theTWAconcentrationtowhichthedosimeterhas
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
been exposed can be measured directly and immediately.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor- 4.2 Information on the correct use of length of stain dosim-
eter tubes is presented.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- 5. Significance and Use
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
5.1 The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administra-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
tion (OSHA) in 29 CFR 1910.1000 Subpart Z designates that
certain gases and vapors present in work place atmospheres
2. Referenced Documents
must be controlled so that their concentrations do not exceed
2
2.1 ASTM Standards: specified limits. Other countries have similar regulations.
D1356Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of
5.2 This practice will provide a means for the measurement
Atmospheres
of airborne concentrations of certain gases and vapors listed in
29 CFR 1910.1000 and in other countries’regulations.
5.3 A partial list of chemicals for which this practice is
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D22 on Air
applicable is presented in Annex A1 with current Threshold
Qualityand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.04 on WorkplaceAir
Quality.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2020. Published December 2020. Originally
approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as D4599–14. DOI:
3
10.1520/D4599-20. Code of Federal Regulations, available from U.S. Government Printing Office,
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Superintendent of Documents, 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Washington, DC 20401-
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM 0001, http://www.access.gpo.gov.
4
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of
the ASTM website. this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D4599 − 20
5
Limit Values (TLV) (2) and typical measurement ranges for inversely proportional to the length of the diffusion path (l).
theselectedchemicalsasobtainedfromvariousmanufacturer’s Theseparametersare
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D4599 − 14 D4599 − 20
Standard Practice for
Measuring the Concentration of Toxic Gases or Vapors
1
Using Length-of-Stain Dosimeters
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4599; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice describes the detection and measurement of time weighted average (TWA) concentrations of toxic gases or
vapors using length-of-stain colorimetric dosimeter tubes. A list of some of the gases and vapors that can be detected by this
practice is provided in Annex A1. This list is given as a guide and should be considered neither absolute nor complete.
1.2 Length-of-stain colorimetric dosimeters work by diffusional sampling. The results are immediately available by visual
observation; thus no auxiliary sampling, test, nor analysis equipment are needed. The dosimeters, therefore, are extremely simple
to use and very cost effective.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheres
3
2.2 Other Document:
U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Standard—Title 29 1910.1000 Subpart Z
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this practice, refer to Terminology D1356.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D22 on Air Quality and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.04 on Workplace Air Quality.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2014Nov. 1, 2020. Published October 2014December 2020. Originally approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 20092014
ε1
as D4599 – 03 (2009)D4599 – 14. . DOI: 10.1520/D4599-14.10.1520/D4599-20.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Code of Federal Regulations, available from U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Mail Stop: SDE, Washington, DC
20401,20401-0001, http://www.access.gpo.gov.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4599 − 20
4. Summary of Practice
4
4.1 Length-of-stain colorimetric dosimeters consist of a sealed glass tube containing a detector inside the tube (1-5). The detector
is a length of granulated material impregnated with a reactive chemical that is sensitive to the particular gas for which the dosimeter
is designed. To use the tube, one end is opened. The gas, if present, diffuses into the tube and reacts with the chemical reagent on
the carrier material, causing the latter to change color. Each lot of dosimeters is individually calibrated so that by measuring the
length of stain and the time of exposure, the TWA concentration to which the dosimeter has been exposed can be measured directly
and immediately.
4.2 Information on the correct use of length of stain dosimeter tubes is presented.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 29 CFR 1910.1000 Subpart Z designates that certain
gases and vapors present in work place atmospheres must be controlled so that their concentrations do not exceed specified limits.
Other countries have similar regulations.
5.2 This practice will provide a means for the measurement of airborne concentrations of certain gases and vapors listed in 29 CFR
1910.1000 and in other countries’ r
...