Overview
EN ISO 23861:2022 (ISO 23861:2022) specifies requirements for evaluating measuring procedures that use samplers to determine a chemical agent present as a mixture of airborne particles and vapour in workplace air. The standard covers procedures that report the combined concentration of particle and vapour phases expressed as mass per unit volume. It applies where sampling and analysis are carried out in separate stages and can be used for single substances (e.g., toluene diisocyanate, diethanolamine) and complex mixtures (e.g., metalworking fluids, bitumen fumes). Annex A describes physical behaviour of particle–vapour mixtures; Annexes B and C give sampling approaches and guidance on uncertainty.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Sampler types and configuration - classification and requirements for samplers used to collect mixtures of airborne particles and vapour.
- Sampler performance - flow resistance, stability of airflow, connecting parts and pump interaction (referencing pump requirements in ISO 13137).
- Sampling procedure requirements - how to perform sampling to capture both phases and how to handle multi-substrate (type A) samplers.
- Analytical procedure requirements - requirements for laboratory analysis that report the sum of vapour and particulate mass.
- Test methods - spiking methods, deposit procedures for substrates, transfer handling and storage after sampling.
- Uncertainty evaluation - calculation of combined standard uncertainty and expanded uncertainty for the measuring procedure (see Annex C for estimation guidance).
- General test conditions - recommended reagents, apparatus and environmental considerations for method evaluation.
- Documentation - required contents of the test report describing method performance and validation.
Practical applications and users
This standard is intended to support consistent method validation and performance assessment in occupational exposure monitoring. Typical users include:
- Manufacturers of sampling devices and sampler components validating sampler performance.
- Occupational hygienists and exposure scientists developing or selecting sampling procedures for mixed-phase chemicals.
- Analytical laboratories performing analysis and uncertainty estimation for workplace air samples.
- Regulators and safety managers setting or verifying compliance with workplace air quality requirements.
- Standards developers and method validators seeking harmonized evaluation criteria.
Related standards
- ISO 20581 - general requirements for measurement procedures of chemical agents
- ISO 7708 - particle size fraction definitions for health-related sampling
- ISO 13137 - pumps for personal sampling (requirements and tests)
- ISO 21832 - metals/metalloids in airborne particles (evaluation of procedures)
- ISO 18158 - workplace air terminology
- Supersedes EN 13936:2014; adopted by CEN as EN ISO 23861:2022
Keywords: EN ISO 23861:2022, workplace air, airborne particles and vapour, samplers, measuring procedures, method validation, uncertainty, occupational hygiene.