Indoor Air Services

The majority of our indoor air sampling projects consist of sampling for volatile organic compounds, metals and mold at commercial and residential locations.

Air Sampling for Volatile Organic
Compounds using SUMMA® Canisters

Over the years many techniques have been used to sample for VOCs in ambient air. EPA Methods TO-14A and TO-15 (SUMMA Canisters) were designed for analysis of ambient air samples. These methods collect whole air samples in specially prepared stainless steel canisters and analyze the samples by gas chromatograph/ mass spectrometer (GC/MS) detection equipment.
Typically, the SUMMA canisters have settable flow controllers to allow for a time-weighted-average sample to be collected for times ranging from 40 minutes to 24 hours. A grab sample can easily be collected using the SUMMA canister as well.

Analysis of whole air samples by GC/MS means that samples with concentrations ranging from parts per billion (ppbv) to parts per million (ppmv) can be analyzed and detected. The duration of the sampling is not limited by the expected concentration, but can be set with confidence before the samples are collected.

The canister is subject to many QA/QC protocols. Once the canister is received and checked for QA/QC compliance, it is set in the sampling location and the regulator is opened.

Overview of Mold