Guidelines to improve operation, ease of maintenance and calibration reproducibility of automated air monitoring instrumentation

Some of the techniques that have evolved in six years of air monitoring activities in Riverside County are summarized. Instrumentation concerned will be automated total oxidant, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and low volume sequential tape samples. Experience has shown that frequent inspection, conscientious and scheduled maintenance, as well as defined calibrations are of necessity to afford confidence in the validity of data accumulated for any air monitoring network. To achieve this, certain detailed physical modifications were made for improved flow and concentration checks, solution pumping reliability, pH stability, and general lowering of overall maintenance cost in man hours as well as replacement parts. Detailed elaboration will include performance, records, accessory equipment drawings, performance records, efficient equipment layout, glasswood filters on oxidant samples lines, and programmed timers to facilitate three channel operation from a single channel recorder.