The first Interlaboratory Proficiency Test involving stack sampling took place the 27th to 29th of October in Kassel, Germany

   Last year, a total of 40 laboratories from 14 different countries participated in an Interlaboratory Comparison (ILC)  to check proficiency according to European standard EN 13725/2003. However this ILC did not study the influence of  “Sampling” on the overall uncertainty.  Taking an odour sample is another parameter to take into account in the estimation of the overall uncertainty of a lab, and the Hessian Agency for the Environment and Geology (HLUG) organized a regular test with over 15 labs for the very first time. From the 27th to the 28th of October,  the first ILC that considered not only analysis, but also stack sampling was carried out.

   Interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs) also called Proficiency Tests are organised to check the ability of laboratories to deliver accurate testing results to their customers. 

   Laboratories involved in official control activities are required to provide evidence for their competence in carrying out testing. This process is called accreditation. Accredited laboratories shall preferentially use standardised methods of analysis and are required to participate to proficiency tests for demonstrating their technical competence to their customers and to ensure comparability and acceptability of the testing results produced by them. Last year, a total of 40 laboratories from 14 different countries participated in an Interlaboratory Comparison (ILC)  to check proficiency according to European standard EN 13725/2003.

   The Emission Simulation Facility (EmissionsSimulationsAnlage in German and abbreviated to ESA) is a development of the Hessian Agency for the Environment and Geology (HLUG)  which is associated to the regional environmental Ministry of Hessen. The HLUG  is Europe's only simulation facility of emissions dedicated to Stack sampling.

   The ESA is situated at the HLUG's location in Kassel. It serves for qualification of measuring stations regarding the sampling technology and is used in a national as well as in an international context. For the very first time, the ESA was used in a massive ILC for odours in which participated over 15 labs of Germany. From the 27th to the 29th of October was carried out this first ILC that took into account not only analysis, but also stack sampling. This test was performed with the collaboration of the company odournet.

   We must remember that the German VDI 3880 Norm on static sampling for olfactometry allows only 6 hours to analyse a sample, so that means that each lab needs a group of at least 6 people comprising 4 panellists, 1 olfactometrist and 1 sampling guy. A room for olfactometry analysis was arranged at the Agency, but also, many mobile labs could be seen around the ESA.

   We must wait to see the results of this ILC, but it looks like the final results of this test could influence the final draft of the EN 13725, above all in the things related with stack sampling.

Photo: Sampling odours at the ESA. Courtesy of uppenkampundpartner

If you find this article interesting, you might also be interested in these articles.

• How a European Norm about odours was born in 1991
• The 8th Meeting of the group dealing with the updating of the Norm EN 13725 took place in Amsterdam
• 7th Meeting to review the European Norm EN 13725
• A new meeting of the committee reviewing the EN 13725
• Interlaboratory Proficiency Tests carried out in 2014