New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 7 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Chapter 27B - SAMPLING AND ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES
Subchapter 3 - AIR TEST METHOD 3: SAMPLING AND ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES FOR THE DETERMINATION OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS FROM SOURCE OPERATIONS
Section 7:27B-3.14 - Procedures for the direct detection of fugitive volatile organic compound leaks

Universal Citation: NJ Admin Code 7:27B-3.14

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

(a) The method in this section is applicable for the detection of fugitive VOC leaks. Any alternative test method shall be submitted to the Department for review pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:27B-3.2(c), (d) and (e).

(b) This method is based upon the detection of VOC leaks from individual sources by a portable instrument. The instrument detector type is not specified but shall meet the performance criteria of (d)4 below. This procedure is intended to locate and classify leaks only and shall not be used to measure mass emission rates from individual sources.

1. The detector is calibrated with a standard gas mixture to establish the response of the instrument. A representative sample of fugitive emissions is drawn into the instrument. The response is read directly from the instrument meter.

2. For purposes of this procedure a single test shall be sufficient to establish the presence of a leak.

(d) The following is a list of equipment used in this method:

1. Probe: glass, stainless steel, or Teflon tubing as required by source gas conditions and equipped with 0.4 inch (one centimeter) tip spacer;

2. Pump: a leakless Teflon-coated diaphragm pump capable of maintaining an appropriate flow to the detector;

3. Dilutor: (if circumstances require) capable of diluting the sample gas into the range of the instrument such that concentration levels of 10,000 ppm can be measured. The dilutor tip shall be equipped with a 0.4 inch (one centimeter) spacer;

4. Monitoring instrument, as set forth below:

i. The monitoring instrument shall be certified as safe for operation in explosive atmospheres;

ii. The monitoring instrument detector shall be capable of measuring the leak concentration specified in the appropriate section in N.J.A.C. 7:27-16. Detector types which meet this requirement include but are not limited to catalytic oxidation, flame ionization, infra-red absorption, and photoionization; and

iii. The instrument shall be readable to within five percent of the specified leak concentration and shall have a response time less than or equal to of 30 seconds for 95 percent of scale;

5. Standard calibration gas--8,000 ppmv Hexane or Methane in air.

(e) The procedure for this section shall be as follows:

1. A presampling survey shall be conducted to locate components where potential leaks could occur;

2. Calibration shall be conducted as follows:

i. The instrument should be operated according to the manufacturer's directions;

ii. Adjust the analyzer to zero by using ambient air; and

iii. Introduce the 8,000 ppm calibration gas into the instrument sample probe. Adjust the instrument meter readout and chart recorder to correspond to the calibration value. If necessary, use a dilution system to bring the calibration gas into the instrument range.

3. Sampling and analyses shall be conducted as follows:

i. Place the instrument probe with the 0.4 inch (one centimeter) spacer at the surface of the component interface where leakage is suspected. Move the probe along the interface periphery while observing the instrument readout. If an increased meter reading is observed, slowly probe the interface where leakage is indicated until the maximum meter reading is obtained. Leave the probe at the maximum reading location for approximately two times the instrument response time. If the concentration reading is in excess of the range of the instrument, add the dilution assembly and sample as above using a correction factor to convert the measurements to the undiluted bases. Record the date, time and identity of the leaking components. See Appendix F for the required reporting form. (Any alternative form shall be submitted to the Department for review pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:27B-3.2(c) and (e).)

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