SKC Limited EPAM-5000 - Manual (Page 11)

Introduction to the SKC EPAM-5000,
Continued
Comparison of
methods The traditional and real-time dust monitoring methods are described below.
Description of
traditional
method Air is drawn by a vacuum pump through a 47mm diameter membrane filter
EPA FRM Style. The fibers and particles collected on the membrane filter
must be counted or weighed in a laboratory for further analysis.
Advantages of
traditional
method
1
• EPA or OSHA compliance reference method.
• High level of specificity and accuracy.
• Collection of dust particles, which are available for further chemical
analysis.
Description of
real-time
method Dust particles are drawn into the sensor head and are detected once every
second. Dust concentrations are instantaneously calculated and displayed on
the SKC EPAM-5000’s LCD. All data points are stored in memory for later
analysis.
Advantages of
real-time
method
1
• Immediate estimations of the concentration of a contaminant, permitting
on-site evaluations.
• Provision of permanent 24-hour records of contaminant concentrations
using continuous monitors.
• Internal audible alarm to warn workers of approaching hazardous
situations.
• Reduction of number of manual filter tests.
• Reduction of number of laboratory analyses.
• Provision of more convincing evidence for presentation at hearings and
litigation proceedings.
• Reduced cost of obtaining individual results.
1 “The Industrial Environment - It’s Evaluation & Control”, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, CDC,
NIOSH, 1973.
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