Air Quality and Dust

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FAQs

DustTrak EDT: Can I leave the DustTrack Environmental Enclosure out in the rain?

Yes. The case is weather resistant. It can tolerate all weather conditions. It should not be placed in direct contact with the ground.

DustTrak EDT: Does direct sunlight cause a heat problem within the DustTrack Environmental Enclosure?

No. The light gray color acts as a thermal insulator. This will prevent an increase of the temperature inside the Enclosure above the ambient temperature. The thermal mass of the Enclosure will also dampen temperature fluctuations normally experienced outdoors.

DustTrak EDT: How high should I have my enclosure off the ground when sampling?

The Enclosure should be kept a reasonable distance off the ground to prevent any major air flow disturbances caused by the ground from affecting the sample obtained. TSI recommends mounting the Environmental Enclosure 3 to 4 feet off the ground.

DustTrak: How does sampling in high humidity affect the readings obtained from the DustTrak™ Aerosol Monitor?

Relative humidity higher than 80 percent can cause particle concentration readings to be biased high from the actual concentration of dry particles. The amount that an aerosol's mass concentration increases due to water absorption is a complex function of the particle's material and the atmosphere's absolute humidity (i.e. specific humidity). This humidity effect can bias the DustTrak™ Aerosol Monitor's readings up to 60 percent high in the most extreme conditions of high temperature and high relative humidity.

DustTrak: Is the DustTrak™ Aerosol Monitor intrinsically safe?

No. The DustTrak™ Aerosol Monitor has not been tested or certified for operation in a hazardous area where intrinsic safety is required.

DustTrak: What happens if my DustTrak batteries die during a measurement?

Low battery charge is indicated by a battery symbol on the display. The DustTrak™ Aerosol Monitor will continue to operate for approximately 60 minutes before measurement and logging functions stop. Power will shut off automatically, but the logged data will be retained by an internal lithium backup battery.

DustTrak: What is the warm-up time of the DustTrak™ Aerosol Monitor?

When the DustTrak™ Aerosol Monitor is first turned on, it takes about a minute for the instrument to settle down to a stable reading. After warm-up, stable readings can be obtained in 10-15 seconds.

DustTrak: Will the DustTrak™ Aerosol Monitor measure liquid aerosols such as water and oil?

Yes. A major advantage of using the DustTrak™ Aerosol Monitor is its ability to measure volatile aerosols such as water and oil. These cannot be measured accurately gravimetrically because of evaporation from the collection filter.

SidePak: Can I use the SidePak AM520 Monitor outdoors?

Yes . The SidePak AM520 Monitor has been used outdoors but it is not considered weatherproof. To clarify, it is not suitable for long-term, unattended operation in harsh environmental conditions (i.e., rain, snow, etc.).

SidePak: Does the SidePak AM520 Monitor have an audible alarm to warn workers of high dust levels?

Yes . A 95 dB audible alarm sounds and visible red LED lights on the face of the instrument blink when the alarm level is reached.

SidePak: How do I set alarms on the SidePak AM520 monitor?

Five preset alarm levels can be selected from the set up screen on the instrument. TrakPro™ Software can be used on a computer to set alarm levels from 0.001 to 999 mg/m 3 to be loaded into the instrument.

SidePak: What is the battery run time for the SidePak AM520 Monitor?

The battery is a 5400 mAH Li-On battery that provides 20 hours of run time. Impactors and cold temperatures will reduce the battery run time.

SidePak: What is the warm-up time of the SidePak AM520 Monitor?

When the SidePak AM520 Monitor is first turned on, it takes about a minute for the instrument to settle down to a stable reading. After warm-up, stable readings can be obtained in 10 to 15 seconds.