EN 16976:2024

Ambient air - Determination of the particle number concentration of atmospheric aerosol

This document specifies a standard method for determining the particle number concentration in ambient air in a range up to about 107 cm–3 for averaging times equal to or larger than 1 min. The standard method is based on a Condensation Particle Counter (CPC) operated in the counting mode and an appropriate dilution system for concentrations exceeding the counting mode range. It also defines the performance characteristics and the minimum requirements of the instruments to be used. The lower and upper sizes considered within this document are 10 nm and a few micrometres, respectively. This document gives guidance on sampling, operation, data processing and QA/QC procedures including calibration parameters.

Außenluft - Bestimmung der Partikelanzahlkonzentration des atmosphärischen Aerosols

Dieses Dokument legt ein Standardverfahren zur Bestimmung der Partikelanzahlkonzentration in Außenluft im Bereich bis etwa 107 cm−3 für Mittelungszeiten von mindestens 1 min fest. Das Standardverfahren basiert auf einem im Zählmodus betriebenen Kondensationspartikelzähler (en: Condensation Particle Counter, CPC) mit geeignetem Verdünnungssystem für Konzentrationen, die den Bereich des Zählmodus überschreiten. Weiterhin werden Leistungskenngrößen und Mindestanforderungen für geeignete Geräte definiert. Die in diesem Dokument betrachteten unteren und oberen Partikelgrößen sind 10 nm bzw. einige Mikrometer. Dieses Dokument gibt Anleitungen zu Probenahme, Betrieb des Geräts, Datenverarbeitung und QA/QC Maßnahmen, einschließlich der Kalibrierparameter.

Air ambiant - Détermination de la concentration en nombre de particules de l'aérosol atmosphérique

Le présent document spécifie une méthode normalisée de détermination de la concentration en nombre de particules dans l'air ambiant sur une plage allant jusqu'à 107 cm–3 environ, pour des durées de calcul des moyennes supérieures ou égales à 1 min. La méthode normalisée repose sur l'utilisation d'un compteur de particules à noyaux de condensation (CNC) fonctionnant en mode comptage et d'un système de dilution approprié pour les concentrations en dehors de la plage du mode comptage. Ce document spécifie également les caractéristiques de performance et les exigences minimales relatives aux instruments à utiliser. Les tailles de particules minimale et maximale considérées dans le présent document sont, respectivement, de 10 nm et quelques micromètres. Le présent document fournit des recommandations relatives au prélèvement, au fonctionnement, au traitement des données et aux procédures d'assurance qualité et de contrôle qualité, y compris aux paramètres d'étalonnage.

Zunanji zrak - Določevanje številčne koncentracije delcev atmosferskih aerosolov

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 25-Jun-2024
• ICS: 13.040.20 - Ambient atmospheres
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 264 - Air quality
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 264/WG 32 - Air quality - Determination of the particle number concentration
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 26-Jun-2024
• Due Date: 24-Sep-2024
• Completion Date: 26-Jun-2024
• Directive: 2008/50/EC - Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe
• Ref Project: SIST EN 16976:2024 - Ambient air - Determination of the particle number concentration of atmospheric aerosol

Relations

• Replaces: CEN/TS 16976:2016 - Ambient air - Determination of the particle number concentration of atmospheric aerosol
• Effective Date: 19-Jan-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2024
Nadomešča:
SIST-TS CEN/TS 16976:2017
Zunanji zrak - Določevanje številčne koncentracije delcev atmosferskih aerosolov
Ambient air - Determination of the particle number concentration of atmospheric aerosol
Außenluft - Bestimmung der Partikelanzahlkonzentration des atmosphärischen Aerosols
Air ambiant Détermination de la concentration en nombre de particules de l'aérosol
atmosphérique
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 16976:2024
ICS:
13.040.20 Kakovost okoljskega zraka Ambient atmospheres
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 16976
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
June 2024
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.040.20 Supersedes CEN/TS 16976:2016
English Version
Ambient air - Determination of the particle number
concentration of atmospheric aerosol
Air ambiant - Détermination de la concentration en Außenluft - Bestimmung der
nombre de particules de l'aérosol atmosphérique Partikelanzahlkonzentration des atmosphärischen
Aerosols
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 19 May 2024.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2024 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 16976:2024 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 5
Introduction . 7
1 Scope . 8
2 Normative references . 8
3 Terms and definitions . 8
3.1 Aerosol properties. 8
3.2 Instrument performance . 9
3.3 Flow rates . 9
4 Atmospheric aerosol . 10
5 Description of the method . 10
5.1 Sampling and conditioning . 10
5.1.1 Sampling . 10
5.1.2 Drying . 12
5.1.3 Dilution . 12
5.2 Determination of the number concentration with a CPC . 13
5.2.1 Condensation growth . 13
5.2.2 Optical detection . 15
6 CPC performance criteria and test procedures . 15
6.1 General. 15
6.2 General requirements for the CPC . 15
6.3 Test conditions . 16
6.4 Performance characteristics and criteria . 17
6.5 Test procedures . 18
6.5.1 Calibrated flow rate . 18
6.5.2 Number concentration measurement range . 18
6.5.3 Number concentration detection limit . 18
6.5.4 Calibration factor . 18
6.5.5 Instrument-specific assessment of linearity and slope of response . 18
6.5.6 Detection efficiency curve at low particle size . 19
6.5.7 Upper particle size detection limit . 19
6.5.8 Zero count rate . 19
6.5.9 Response time . 19
6.5.10 Dependence of flow rate on supply voltage. 20
6.5.11 Measurement uncertainty of temperature and pressure sensor calibration . 20
6.5.12 Effect of failure of mains voltage . 20
7 Performance criteria and test procedures for the sampling and conditioning system
................................................................................................................................................................... 20
7.1 General requirements . 20
7.2 Performance characteristics and criteria . 20
7.3 Diffusion losses . 21
7.4 Relative humidity. 21
7.5 Dilution . 21
7.5.1 Dilution factor . 21
7.5.2 General criteria for dilution systems . 22
7.6 Primary sampling flow . 22
8 Measurement procedure . 22
8.1 Measurement planning . 22
8.2 Environmental operating conditions . 22
8.3 Initial installation . 23
8.4 Initial checks on site . 23
8.5 Data processing and reporting . 23
9 Quality control, quality assurance and measurement uncertainty . 24
9.1 General . 24
9.2 Frequency of calibrations, checks and maintenance . 24
9.2.1 General . 24
9.2.2 Full maintenance of CPC . 25
9.2.3 Calibration of linearity . 25
9.2.4 Zero check . 25
9.2.5 Number concentration check . 25
9.2.6 Actual flow rate check . 25
9.2.7 Temperature and pressure sensor calibration . 26
9.2.8 CPC internal diagnostics. 26
9.2.9 Sample system maintenance . 26
9.2.10 Relative humidity sensor . 26
9.2.11 Dilution factor (where applicable) . 26
9.2.12 Leak check . 26
9.3 Measurement uncertainty . 26
9.3.1 General . 26
9.3.2 CPC plateau detection efficiency . 27
9.3.3 CPC detection efficiency drift . 27
9.3.4 Flow determination . 28
9.3.5 Correction to standard temperature and pressure . 28
9.3.6 Diffusion losses in the sampling system . 28
9.3.7 Dilution factor (where applicable) . 28
9.3.8 Calculation of overall uncertainty . 29
Annex A (normative) Determination of diffusion losses in sampling lines . 30
Annex B (informative) Example of the calculation of diffusion losses in a sampling system 32
B.1 Description of the sampling system . 32
B.2 Air properties and diffusion coefficient . 33
B.3 Losses in the primary sampling tube . 33
B.4 Losses in the secondary sampling tube and the dryer . 34
B.5 Overall sampling losses . 34
Annex C (informative) Uncertainty calculation (example). 35
C.1 General .
...