ISO 16000-42:2023

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 16000-42
First edition
2023-08
Indoor air —
Part 42:
Measurement of the particle number
concentration by condensation
particle counters
Air intérieur —
Partie 42: Mesurage de la concentration en nombre de particules au
moyen de compteurs de particules à condensation
Reference number
© ISO 2023
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ii
Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction . vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Abbreviated terms . 3
5 Sources of airborne particles . 4
5.1 General . 4
5.2 Combustion of organic material . 5
5.3 Smoking . 5
5.4 Cooking . 5
5.5 Particle formation — Formation of secondary organic aerosol . 5
5.6 Outdoor air . 5
5.7 Other sources . 5
6 Dynamics of ultrafine particles indoors . 6
6.1 General . 6
6.2 Infiltration and exfiltration . 7
6.3 Deposition . 7
6.4 Particle formation, phase transition and coagulation . 7
7 Principle of measurement .8
7.1 General . 8
7.2 Working fluid . 8
7.3 Minimal detection size . 10
7.3.1 General . 10
7.3.2 Optical detection after enlargement . 10
7.3.3 Particle size distribution. 11
7.4 CPC minimal requirement . 11
7.5 General sampling requirements and recommendations .13
8 Measurement strategy .13
8.1 General .13
8.2 Average room concentration . 14
8.2.1 General . 14
8.2.2 Resting state without activity . 15
8.2.3 Resting state with equipment activity . 15
8.2.4 Active state .15
8.3 Source investigation/identification . 15
8.4 Infiltration from outdoor or connecting rooms . 16
8.5 Measurement in vehicle cabins . 17
8.6 Success of control and mitigation measures . 17
9 Quality assurance and uncertainty evaluation .17
9.1 General . 17
9.2 Instrument parameters . 18
9.3 CPC’s settings check . 18
9.4 Performance check, zero check or leak check . 18
9.5 Uncertainty . 19
10 Evaluation and reporting of the results .19
Annex A (informative) Examples of particle number concentrations encountered during
room user activities .21
iii
Annex B (informative) Determination of the particle number size distribution of indoor
aerosol using a differential mobility aerosol spectrometer .22
Annex C (informative) Water-CPCs .25
Annex D (informative) Checklist to collect information useful for interpreting indoor
measurement of particle number concentration .27
Bibliography .31
iv
Foreword
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Indoor air.
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v
Introduction
People spend most of their day indoors where they are exposed to various sources of particles. Such
particles can be dust particles, particles from combustion processes such as candles, cooking and
fireplaces. Particles can also be emitted by do-it-yourself activities and the operation of electrical
equipment such as printers. Classical building envelope materials are not efficient to prevent particle
transport between indoor and outdoor environments. Sources of outdoor particles are various
and include traffic and other combustion processes, and industrial and agricultural activities. Air
exchanges are driven by natural infiltration and ventilation, but also mechanical ventilation present in
the building.
All this can result in highly variable levels of indoor particles concentration that are not easily
ascertained or assessed in terms of their impacts on health.
Epidemiological studies have shown th
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