In an industrial environment, relying on visual cues to detect contaminants isn’t always possible. Instead, quality air testing is essential for keeping your facility compliant and your employees safe.
Professional air testing services can easily uncover invisible contaminants, including:
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
- Condensable particulate matter
- Combustion products
- Specific contaminant sources
At Impact Compliance & Testing, we provide professional air quality monitoring services for businesses across the Midwest. Contact us today to learn more about our environmental air testing.
What are the Limits of Standard Filtration?
Most industrial filtration systems use physical barriers that are designed to capture Total Filterable Particulate Matter (FPM).
FPM consists of solid or liquid particles that are captured on a filter, unlike condensable particular matter, which can pass through them. Hazardous Air Pollutants in a gaseous state can pass through even the highest-rated fabric filters.
Most of the hazardous regulated pollutants are completely invisible to the naked eye, and can pass through these physical filters undetected.
Without quality air testing, they can quickly lead to a Notice of Violation for your facility’s contaminant limits.
Professional air quality testing uses specialized sampling trains and chemical filters to capture these invisible gases.
Tests can accurately identify metals, acid gases, mercury, and other particles that your mechanical filters can’t stop.
How Does Professional Air Testing Uncover Invisible Contaminants?
Air sampling services and professional testers can identify invisible contaminants and their sources.
Identifying VOCs
VOCs are one of the main targets for regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, they’re difficult to track because they’re colorless and odorless at low levels.
This means your facility may be under-reporting its emissions simply because you can’t see the amount of VOCs you’re producing.
Professional air testers use gas chromatography and Flame Ionization Detectors to quantify VOC levels. These methods provide insight into your VOC levels, allowing you to adjust your filtration systems and destroy these pollutants before they’re released.
Condensable Particulate Matter
Condensable particulate matter (PM) is one of the most elusive contaminants that facilities deal with. These particles remain as hot gases as they pass through filters, but turn into solid particles once they’re released outside.
Air testing protocols use specialized devices to catch these vapors and mix them with liquid. This allows us to test the true environmental footprint of your facility.
Invisible Combustion Products
Nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide are major contributors behind acid rain and smog. However, they don’t produce a visible plume of smoke upon release. This means your facility could be exceeding your contaminant limit for these regulated gases without even knowing it.
Quality air testing provides Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) auditing and Relative Accuracy Test Audits (RATA).
These tests reveal whether your facility’s invisible output matches falls within your permit limits. That way, you can avoid costly fines and other penalties.
Identifying Specific Contaminant Sources
Sometimes, a facility is blamed for contaminants found in the surrounding environment, even though they aren’t actually theirs.
Without actual testing, you can be blamed for these pollutants and face litigation or fines.
Quality air testing creates a documented chemical profile of your facility’s emissions. That profile can be used to determine whether the contaminants found in the area come from your facility or not.
By knowing the exact pollutants leaving your stacks, you can have a data-driven defense against accusations that you’re at fault.
Work with Impact Compliance & Testing in the Midwest for Quality Air Testing
If you need air testing and environmental services for your facility, contact Impact Compliance & Testing today. Our team can verify that you’re compliant with all local, state, and federal regulations.
With over 70 years of combined experience, our environmental consulting company is the best source for comprehensive air tests and gas sampling.
Based in Farmington Hills, MI, we serve large and mid-sized industrial businesses in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, including:
- Manufacturing plants
- Refiners
- Power generation facilities
- Industrial developers
- Municipalities
- Government agencies
Ready to get started? Call (734) 464-3880 or contact us online today to learn more about our services.