Next intercomparison exercise

Participation in a proficiency test offers an opportunity for laboratories to have their performance assessed and to demonstrate their competence in air quality measurements. The proficiency tests are open to all operators of air quality monitoring instruments.

The Environment Agency Austria is accredited for proficiency testing of gaseous air pollutants under EN ISO/IEC 17043:2010.

Requirements

The monitoring instruments should comply with the reference methods EN 14212 for SO₂, EN 14626 for CO and EN 14211 for NO/NO₂ as specified in the Austrian Ambient Air Quality Protection Act (IG-L) and the EU Air Quality Directives.
If you use other measurement methods, participation may also be possible. Please email us at PT_Immission@umweltbundesamt.at for more information. All participants are responsible for the calibration of their measurement instruments and for the recording of their data.

Components and measuring ranges

During the proficiency test different substance amounts of SO₂, CO, NO and NO₂ will be generated in the ranges given below:

SO₂ up to 180 nmol/mol or ppb,
CO up to 20 µmol/mol or ppm,
NO up to 500 nmol/mol or 500 ppb,
NO₂ up to 250 nmol/mol or 250 ppb.

Evaluation of Results

Results will be evaluated according to the “Protocol for intercomparison exercise” (AQUILA N37) which applies to proficiency tests carried out by national reference laboratories. The results will be published in an Environment Agency Austria report in a non-anonymous form, with the option to download the report from the homepage of the Environment Agency Austria.

Dealing with complaints/objections

Any complaint or objection must be submitted in form of an email to PT_Immission@umweltbundesamt.at.

In the event of a complaint or objection, the proficiency testing team will contact the customer. The facts of the case will then be examined internally and the customer will be informed of the investigations carried out or measures required. Complaints or objections are processed by employees of the proficiency testing team who were not involved in the matter in question. It is ensured that the complaint or objection does not result in any disadvantage to the complainant. The customer is informed of the end of the processing of the complaint or objection.

Objections to the assessment

It should be noted that it is possible to lodge an objection to the assessment presented in the draft report. Within 14 days of the submission of the draft report objections must be submitted in form of an email to PT_Immission@umweltbundesamt.at.