Stack Emissions Monitoring
Stack Emissions Monitoring (also commonly referred to as Stack Emissions Testing and Air Emissions Testing) is often used to demonstrate compliance against limits outlined for permitted processes (including the Environmental Permitting Regulations (2010) and the Industrial Emissions Directive (2011)).
To comply with the Environmental Permitting Regulations, those who carry out most industrial processes are required to report any emissions released into the atmosphere on a periodic basis.
What Is Stack Emissions Monitoring?
Stack Emission Monitoring is essentially the monitoring of air from an emission point. This type of monitoring is often carried out on printer exhausts, thermal oxidisers and boiler stacks amongst others.
Stacks from industrial processes carry pollutants such as solvents, gases, dusts and particles. Local air quality can see a detrimental effect and for this reason such emissions are often regulated.
Air Emission Testing is a very important service used to determine a processes compliance within the regulated emission limits.
How Often Is Air Emissions Testing Required?
Regulation varies from process to process, however measurement of the concentration of such pollutants are required on a regular basis (Periodic stack emission monitoring). The regulator sets limits for the concentration whilst the monitoring will set out to determine whether the emissions are above or below these set limits.
Part A processors are regulated by the Environment Agency whilst lower emitting processors (Part B) are regulated by Local Authority. Individual requirements will be documented within each site’s permit.
The schedule of this type of monitoring can range from quarterly to every three to four years dependant on permit regulations. Sometimes there will be a need for a process to be monitored continuously over a 24 hour period depending on the scale of emissions being emitted.
Who Can Monitor Such Emissions?
Part A processors can only be monitored by MCERTS accredited test houses such as ECL. For smaller Part B processors MCERTS accreditation is not a requirement however Local Authorities do recommend it due to the quality of service, in place management systems and proper training / experience required.
When emission levels exceed the set limits set by the regulator via permits or licences, a non-conformance would be issued and the regulator would need to see that every effort is being made to rectify this. This can be achieved via abatement such as scrubbers, thermal oxidisers, bag filters and/or cyclones depending on the nature of the pollutant. Another option would be to undertake Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling to ensure there is no detrimental effect on the local air (ambient air quality).
This is again where an experienced, fully qualified and accredited Air Emissions Testing company is beneficial.
The Stack Emissions Testing Experts
ECL offers a competitive and high quality Stack Emissions Testing service to all its customers throughout the UK, Europe and around the world. As a result, regularly undertaking stack emissions monitoring as far as the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and North America.
Above all we have an obligation to provide excellent service, safety and compliance, therefore we are committed to the advancement of all monitoring staff to full MCERTS certification status (Level 2 Status with Technical Endorsements TE1, TE2, TE3 & TE4) with several of our MCERTS Level 2 Team Leaders having between 10 to 27 years individual personal experience covering a wide range of industries, situations and scale.
Our Air Emissions Testing Services
All stack emissions monitoring activities by ECL are undertaken to cover the relevant current legislation guidelines and requirements to include:
- Compliance Stack Testing
- Non-Compliance Stack Testing
- Commissioning and Optimisation Trials
- EPR (formerly PPC), WID, LCPD and LAPC authorised processes
- BS EN 15259 (Homogeneity Testing)
- BS EN 14181 (QAL2 and Annual Surveillance Testing “AST”)
- Renewable Heat Incentive
- Process Mapping Abatement Trails
Our Stack Emissions Monitoring Accreditations
Our Stack Emissions Testing team has project managed and delivered contracts for the Environment Agency, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, and numerous Local Authorities.
ECL were the first company to develop a training course for Industrial Companies that covered the requirements of Operator Monitoring Assessment (OMA). This was supported by the Environment Agency and delivered with them for several years.
In addition to this, ECL were also one of the first companies in the to deliver specific BS EN 14181 Training courses and seminars in the UK.
In support to the MCERTS and UKAS accredited Stack Emissions Monitoring teams, our office based staff in Pontypridd, Wales and the West Midlands, England are able to provide technical support and statistical interpretation for all QAL2 (BS EN 14181) and routine monitoring undertaken.
ECL hold UKAS and MCERTS Accreditation for monitoring a vast range of pollutants. An outline of our schedule of accreditation can be viewed below:
ECL Air Emissions Testing Schedule of Accreditation
- QAL2 & AST BS EN 14181:2014, EA TGN M20 & MID EN 14181
- Pressure, Temperature & Velocity BS EN 16911-1:2013
- Particulates BS EN 13284–1:2017
- Sulphur Dioxide PD CEN/TS 17021:2017
- Oil Mist based on BS EN 13284-1:2017
- Sulphur Dioxide BS EN 14791:2017
- Ammonia BS EN 14791:2017
- Total Metal Elements & Mercury BS EN 14385:2004 & MID 14385
- Mercury BS EN 13211:2001
- Hydrogen Chloride (HCl) BS EN 1911:2010
- Hydrogen Fluoride (HF) BS ISO 15713:2006 and MID ISO 15713
- Hydrogen Bromide, Chlorine & Bromine – USEPA Method 26 (UKAS/MCERTS)
- Hydrogen Chloride, Hydrogen Fluoride & Ammonia– USEPA Method 26 (UKAS ONLY)
- Dioxin & Furans BS EN 1948-1:2006 & MID 1948
- PCBs BS EN 1948-4:2010
- PAH BS ISO 11338-1:2003
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) BS EN 12619:2013
- Speciated VOCs (& other TGN M2 sanctioned tube sampling methods) PD CEN/TS 13649:2014
- Oxygen BS EN 14789:2017
- Carbon Monoxide BS EN 15058: 2017
- Nitrogen Oxides (NO and NOx) BS EN 14792: 2017
- Water Vapour BS EN 14790: 2017
- Carbon Dioxide ISO 12039:2001 using NDIR Anlayser
- Carbon Dioxide ASTM D6348-03 using FTIR Anlayser (UKAS ONLY)
- Hydrogen Chloride EA TGN M22 using FTIR
- Sulphur Dioxide EA TGN M22 using FTIR
- Nitrogen Monoxide EA TGN M22 using FTIR
- Carbon Monoxide EA TGN M22 using FTIR
- Ammonia EA TGN M22 using FTIR
- Nitrous Oxide EA TGN M22 using FTIR
Stack Emissions Testing For All Industries
Our experienced Stack Emissions Monitoring teams have conducted various test surveys for a broad range of industries around the world throughout the many years of operation (Including, but not limited to the following):
- Animal Waste Incinerators
- Energy from Waste (EfW)
- Power Generation – Gas Turbines & Boiler Units
- Clinical, Municipal & Hazardous Waste Incinerators
- Metal Refining & Processing
- Chemical & Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
- Automotive Manufacturers
- Electrical Component Manufacturers
- Plating & Coating Processes
- Steel Manufacturers
- Paper Manufacturing
- Food Processing
- Landfill Operators
- Glass Manufacturers
This extensive experience and knowledge ensures ECL can offer your business the best possible Stack Emissions Testing & Stack Emissions Monitoring service available and is one of only a select few companies recognised by the Environment Agency for our Air Emissions Monitoring services due to being equipped with the specialist equipment required to sample emissions for analysis.
Experts In Stack Emissions Monitoring
ECL can offer MCERTS and UKAS accreditation for most ‘Standard Reference Methods’.
Get in touch with us and we can provide you with advice, information and a free quotation.
Contact us via our Enquiry Form or call us on 01443 841 760 for any queries regarding our wide range of Stack Emissions Monitoring, Stack Emissions Testing and Air Emissions Testing services.