In order to be in compliance with EU Air Quality Directive requirements [1], the reference methods given in the Directive for the measurement of mass concentrations of particulate matter are not commonly used for operation in routine monitoring networks. These networks usually apply automated continuous measurement systems (AMS), such as those based on the use of oscillating microbalances or ß-ray attenuation, and on in-situ optical methods. Such AMS are typically capable of producing 24-hour average measurement values over a measurement range up to 1 000 μg/m3 and 1-hour average measurement values up to 10 000 μg/m3, if applicable, where the volume of air is the volume at ambient conditions near the inlet at the time of sampling. The 1-hour average values may be used for: direct information of the public; aggregation to produce daily or yearly average concentration values for regulatory reporting purposes. EU Air Quality Directive 2008/50/EC [1] allows the use of such systems after demonstration of equivalence with the reference method, i.e., after demonstration that these systems meet the Data Quality Objectives for continuous measurements. Guidelines for the demonstration of equivalence are given in Reference [2]. This Technical Specification lays down the minimum performance requirements and test procedures for the selection of appropriate AMS for particulate matter (type approval). This includes the evaluation of its equivalence with the reference method. Further, this Technical Specification describes minimum requirements for ongoing quality assurance – quality control (QA/QC) of AMS deployed in the field. These requirements are necessary to ensure that uncertainties of measured concentrations are kept within the required limits during extended periods of continuous monitoring in the field, and include procedures for maintenance, calibration and control checks. Additional procedures are described that determine whether an instrument’s equivalence to the reference method is maintained through possible pollution climate changes, over periods longer than five years. Lastly, this Technical Specification describes requirements and procedures for the treatment and validation of raw measurement data that are to be used for the assembly of daily or yearly average concentration values. Experiences with existing methods for data treatment and validation – for similar AMS – have learned that the different ways of data treatment and validation applied may lead to significant differences in reported results for similar datasets [3].
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