Random tests

Random tests are where emission measurement is carried out at intervals, such as 6 times a year. Random testing is used at installations with very significant air pollution, where it is not technically or financially feasible to use AMS inspection.

Recommended methods

At the end of 2000, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency reference laboratory for measurement of emissions into air has published a list of recommended methods for performance monitoring, AMS, and random testing. The list also includes method sheets with standard operating procedures for a number of common emission parameters (substances), as well as a method sheet for planning and reporting emission measurements.

The list of recommended methods is available on the reference laboratory website http://www.dk-teknik.dk/ref-lab/ref-lab.asp, where the full text in the method sheets can be seen and downloaded.

Terms

The objective of terms for air pollution is to ensure that such pollution is kept below a specific limit.

These terms may be presented in various ways:

Operating terms

Operating terms are requirements that affect the design and operation of installations and have an impact on air pollution from such installations. Such requirements might involve the maximum capacity of the power plant or the use of specific raw materials.

Emission terms

Emission terms are requirements for air quantities and the concentration of substances emitted by installations, or requirements regarding maximum hourly emissions.

Terms for outlet heights

The objective of terms specifying outlet heights is to ensure compliance with C-values.

Thinner mix

Thinner mixes are defined as a mixture of at least three organic solvents – or at least two organic solvents for water-based paints – of which the relative proportion of a single organic solvent does not exceed 80 per cent by weight. If the mix contains three or more organic solvents, three of these organic solvents must each account for more than 2 per cent by weight . None of the organic solvents included in the mix may be substances belonging to Group 1 or Group 2, class I.

The definition of thinner mixes has been changed as a consequence of a review of the use and composition of thinner mixes. A new C-value of 0.15 mg/m³ has been set for thinner mixes. Thinner mixes are still classified as belonging to Group 2, organic substances, class III.

Thinner mixes include organic solvents in paint products used in paint shops (iron, metal, plastic), at car paint shops, in furniture manufacture, etc.