Mandatory Calibration and Testing for SmokeStack Testing Equipment (US EPA Methods)
Document ID: AERHQWW-ecy1-en
Last revised: 1, 23.07.06
This page contains a summary of the mandatory calibration (and testing) required for equipment used in the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) methods for smokestack testing "stack testing" and isokinetic sampling on stationary sources of air pollution. These methods are usually from the US EPA Office of Air and Radiation (OAR).
For smokestack testing (and especially isokinetic sampling), the sampling procedures are more important than the analytical procedures. This is because of the difficulty in getting a representative sample of the flue gas inside the smokestack. The pollutants could be in solid, liquid, or gaseous states, or a mixture (e.g., solid in gas) which is not well mixed, and with many other interferences.
We strongly recommend attaching proof of the below calibrations and tests/verifications to the final smokestack testing report.
Notes:
- Please note that this page will be focusing on the more uncommon calibrations and tests, which are special to smokestack testing.
- This page is based on what is written in the various US EPA Methods. Refer to local authorities for actual local rules!
Other useful links:
- Aer Sampling Basic Training Video with names of equipment and their individual components
- Click here to download free copies of all smoke-stack testing methods (latest revisions), at the website of the Air Emission Measurement Center (EMC), US EPA
- Why is calibration important? Click here to link to YouTube videos:
- To return to Aer Sampling's Smokestack Testing Encyclopedia content page, click here, or scan the QR Code below:
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2450/0535/files/QR_code_on_page_mandatory_cal_test_table_-_EN_-_to_itself_100x100.png?v=1686886302)
Overview of this webpage:
- Images of entire sampling train of equipment for US EPA Method 5 etc.
- Table of mandatory calibrations
- Dry Gas Meter (DGM)
- Critical Orifices (to calibrate DGM)
- Temperature Sensor
- Thermocouple Simulator (to calibrate Temperature Sensor)
- Internal Diameter Micrometers (to test Sampling Nozzle)
- Calipers (to test S-type Pitot Tubes)
- Angle Indicator or Inclinometers (to test S-type Pitot Tubes)
- Profile Projector or equivalent (to test S-type Pitot Tubes)
- Barometer
- Mercury Barometer (to calibrate Barometer)
- Field Balance
- Analytical Balance
- Flue Gas Analyzers
- Other Analytical Instruments
- Table of mandatory tests/verifications
- Leak Check - Pitot Line
- Leak Check - Sampling Gas Line
- Leak Check - Meter Console (Vacuum side, "Front-Half")
- Leak Check - Meter Console (Pressure side, "Back-Half")
- S-type Pitot Tubes - Assembly
- S-type Pitot Tube - Isolated
- Sampling Nozzle
- Optional Calibrations
- Timer
- Manometers, or Pressure Gages
- Flow rate measuring devices
- Probe Heater
- Instrument to calibrate Probe Heater
- S-type Pitot Tubes
- L-type (Standard) Pitot Tube
Table of mandatory calibrations (click individual item for details):
- Including calibrations to ensure metrological traceability
What to calibrate
|
Frequency
|
Calibrated Against
|
1. Dry Gas Meter (DGM), inside the Meter Console
|
After each field use
Refer to:
|
Choose one of the below options:
Refer to:
|
2. Critical Orifice (to calibrate DGM)
|
Periodically (Recommended: Annually)
Refer to:
|
Varies
Refer to:
Click here (or scan QR Code below) to view Aer Sampling's traceable calibration service for Critical Orifices ![]() |
3. Temperature Sensor, inside the Meter Console
Need to calibrate every thermocouple connected to Temperature Sensor (via all the thermocouple plugs and sockets) |
After each field use
Refer to:
|
Thermocouple Simulator etc. (US EPA Method 2, Section 10.3.1) |
4. Thermocouple Simulator "Thermocouple-Potentiometer Systems" (to calibrate Temperature Sensor)
|
-
Refer to Administrator (Regulatory Agencies or ISO/IEC 17025 Technical Assessors)
|
Varies
|
5. Internal Diameter Micrometers (to test Sampling Nozzle)
|
-
Refer to Administrator (Regulatory Agencies or ISO/IEC 17025 Technical Assessors) |
Varies |
6. Calipers (to test S-type Pitot Tubes)
Refer to:
|
-
Refer to Administrator (Regulatory Agencies or ISO/IEC 17025 Technical Assessors) |
Varies |
7. Angle Indicator or Inclinometer, with Bull's Eye Level (to test S-type Pitot Tubes)
Refer to:
|
-
Refer to Administrator (Regulatory Agencies or ISO/IEC 17025 Technical Assessors) |
Varies |
8. Profile Projector "Optical Comparator", or Microscope with image analysis software, or equivalent (to test S-type Pitot Tubes dimension Pa and Pb) Refer to:
|
-
Refer to Administrator (Regulatory Agencies or ISO/IEC 17025 Technical Assessors) |
Varies |
9. Barometer |
Varies
Refer to:
|
Mercury Barometer (US EPA Method 5, Section 10.6) |
10. Mercury Barometer (to calibrate Barometer) |
-
Refer to Administrator (Regulatory Agencies or ISO/IEC 17025 Technical Assessors) |
Varies |
11. Field Balance Used for weighing contents of impingers
|
Daily before use Refer to:
|
ASTM E617-13 Class 6 Weights or better |
12. Analytical Balance
Used for weighing filters
|
Multi-point Calibration: Before first use, and semiannually thereafter
Single-point Calibration: Each day it is used
Refer to:
|
ASTM E617-13 Class 2 tolerance (or better) calibration weight that corresponds to 50 to 150 percent of the weight of one filter, or between 1 g and 5 g |
13. Flue Gas Analyzers
|
Wet-Chemistry Type (Orsat or Fyrite):
Instrumental Type:
|
Wet-Chemistry Type (Orsat or Fyrite):
Instrumental Type:
|
14. Other Analytical Instruments
|
- Refer to Administrator (Regulatory Agencies or ISO/IEC 17025 Technical Assessors) |
Varies |
Related topics: ISO/IEC 17025, ILAC MRA, scope of accreditation, stationary/fixed sources of air pollution
------
List of mandatory tests/verifications (click individual item for details):
What to test/verify
|
Frequency
|
Test Using
|
1. Leak Check: Pitot Line Consist of three items: Pitot Tubes, Pitot Tube connections (Umbilical Cable), Manometers or Pressure Gages (inside Meter Console)
|
After each sample taken (each sampling run), before dismantling the sampling train Refer to:
|
Manometers or Pressure Gages); Analog or Digital), which is inside the Meter Console |
2. Leak Check: Sampled Gas Line From the Sampling Nozzle to the pump valves and fittings inside the Meter Console |
After each sample taken (each sampling run), before dismantling the sampling train
Acceptable leak rate: Leak check must be done at a vacuum equal to or greater than the maximum vacuum reached during sampling. Leak rate must be no greater than 0.00057 m3/min (0.020 ft3/min), or 4% of average sampling rate, whichever is stricter.
Refer to:
|
Dry Gas Meter (DGM), which is inside the Meter Console |
3. Leak Check - Meter Console (Vacuum Side, "Front-Half") From the Sampled Gas inlet to the pump valves and fittings inside the Meter Console |
When needed (example: before calibration of DGM without the entire sampling train)
Acceptable leak rate: Leak check must be done at a vacuum equal to or greater than the maximum vacuum reached during sampling. Leak rate must be no greater than 0.00057 m3/min (0.020 ft3/min), or 4% of average sampling rate, whichever is stricter.
|
Dry Gas Meter (DGM), which is inside the Meter Console
|
4. Leak Check - Meter Console (Pressure Side, "Back-Half") From the pump valves and fittings to the Orifice Meter (downstream after the DGM) |
After each shipment
Refer to:
|
Manometers or Pressure Gages); Analog or Digital), which are inside the Meter Console |
5. S-Type Pitot Tube - Assemblies (in an assembly with other components like the nozzles, thermocouple etc.)
|
After each field use
Refer to:
|
Choose on of the below two options to test the pitot tubes:
Option B1) Calipers, Angle Indicators or Inclinometers, Profile Projectors or equivalent etc. (US EPA Method 2, Section 10.1.1)
Option B2) Wind tunnel etc. (US EPA Method 2, Section 10.1.2, 10.1.3, 10.1.4) |
6. S-Type Pitot Tube - Isolated (by itself, without nozzles, thermocouple etc.)
|
After each field use
Refer to:
|
Choose on of the below two options to test the pitot tubes:
Option B1) Calipers, Angle Indicators or Inclinometers, Profile Projectors or equivalent etc. (US EPA Method 2, Section 10.1)
Option B2) Wind tunnel etc. (US EPA Method 2, Section 10.1.2, 10.1.3, 10.1.4) |
7. Sampling Nozzle
|
Before each use
Refer to:
|
Internal Diameter Micrometers |
Optional Calibrations
These are calibrations that are:
- not mentioned inside the various US EPA Methods, or
- not used to calibrate other instruments, or
- not necessary because some other conditions mentioned in the methods have been met
What to Calibrate | Frequency | Calibrated Against |
1. Timer (Used to countdown to sampling at the next traverse points inside the smokestack)
|
- Refer to Administrator (Regulatory Agencies or ISO/IEC 17025 Technical Assessors)
|
Varies |
2. Manometers, or Pressure Gages (Used to measure pressure head "Delta P" of flue gas inside smokestack, which is then used to calculate velocity)
|
- Refer to Administrator (Regulatory Agencies or ISO/IEC 17025 Technical Assessors)
|
Varies |
3. Flowrate measuring devices
|
- Refer to Administrator (Regulatory Agencies or ISO/IEC 17025 Technical Assessors)
|
Varies |
4. Probe Heater
|
Varies
Not applicable if probe heaters has outlet temperature monitoring capabilities
Refer to:
|
Varies (US EPA Method 5, Section 10.4) |
5. Instruments used to calibrate Probe Heater:
|
- Refer to Administrator (Regulatory Agencies or ISO/IEC 17025 Technical Assessors) |
Varies |
6. S-type Pitot Tubes
Whether in an assembly, or isolated
|
If S-type Pitot Tubes fail construction specifications
Refer to:
|
L-type Pitot Tube in a Wind Tunnel
Refer to:
|
7. L-type (Standard) Pitot Tube
Other names: Prandtl Pitot Tube
|
If L-type (Standard) Pitot Tubes fail construction specifications
Refer to:
|
L-type Pitot Tube in a Wind Tunnel
Refer to:
|
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In case of discrepancy between English version and the non-English version, the English version shall prevail.