Determination of carbon monoxide is essential to evaluation of many air pollution complexes. This test method derives significance from providing such determination.

Carbon monoxide is formed in the process of incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon fuels, and is a constituent of the exhaust of gasoline engines. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set primary and secondary air quality standards for CO that are designed to protect the public health and welfare (3, 4).

This test method is suitable for measurements appropriate for the purposes noted in 5.1 and 5.2.

1.1 This test method is applicable to the determination of the carbon monoxide (CO) concentration of the atmosphere between 0.6 mg/m³ (0.5 ppm(v)) and 115 mg/m³ (100 ppm(v)). The measuring principle is based on the absorption of infrared radiation by CO in the 4.7 μm region (1).

1.2 The test method has a limit of detection of about 0.6 mg/m³ (0.5 ppm(v)) carbon monoxide in air.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. See Section 9 for additional precautions.