The CASSEN Chain of Custody for air samples and bulk material samples can be found here.
Need some help with using sampling media or equipment? You can find helpful videos here that will guide you through step by step.
The following instructions are provided for reference. Many analyses have unique requirements and therefore you should always contact our lab if you have any questions.
The links below have been listed to provide you with alternate resources that can give additional information on the topics. We hope you find these sources useful.
Analytical_Methods, Leadership_in_Energy_and_Environmental_Design_(LEED), Chemical_Exposure_Limits, Indoor_Air_Quality_Resources, Chemical_Management_and_Safety
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides analytical methods that are approved procedures for measuring the presence and concentration of chemical compounds in specific environments, such as indoor air.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has a database of analytical methods for determination of occupational exposure to chemical contaminants in air. NIOSH methods include information about sampling and quality assurance and they have been evaluated based on established experimental protocols and performance criteria.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has analytical methods that were developed and tested for internal use by OSHA staff. The index of Sampling and Analytical Methods contains method number, validation status, CAS #, analytical instrument and sampling media.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has industry-specific standards. The most commonly used ISO standards for air quality testing are ISO 16017-1:2000 (“Indoor, ambient and workplace air – Sampling and analysis of volatile organic compounds by sorbent tube/thermal desorption/capillary gas chromatography – Part 1: Pumped samplingâ€) and ISO 16017-2:2003 (“Indoor, ambient and workplace air – Sampling and analysis of volatile organic compounds by sorbent tube/thermal desorption/capillary gas chromatography – Part 2: Diffusive samplingâ€).
HSE Methods for the Determination of Hazardous Substances (MDHS) guidance
Canada Green Building Council outlines Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs), which are basic criteria that a project must meet to be eligible for certification under the LEED Canada rating systems. MPR provide guidance for Canadian projects to determine if they are appropriate for certification and provides information about specific cases, exceptions, and motivation for different requirements.
The United States Green Building Council provides a variety of resources for LEED certification of existing and new buildings, including offices, schools, hotels, etc.
Recommended or mandatory occupational exposure limits (OELs) are available for different countries for airborne exposure to gases, vapours, and particulates.
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States sets permissible exposure limits (PELs) for workplace environments that are regulatory limits on the chemical concentration in the air based on 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) exposure.
The Ontario Ministry of Labour set out Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) to restrict the amount and duration of exposure of workers to hazardous substances.
Threshold Limit Values (TLV) published by ACGIH are guidelines for industrial hygienists regarding safe levels of exposure to different chemicals in workplaces.
Refer to Schedule 1 Chemical Substances
AEGLs describe the risk to humans from single or rare incidents of exposure to hazardous airborne chemicals.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Publication No. 402-R-94-007, 1994.
ATSDR aims to prevent hazardous exposures and diseases associated with toxic substances by providing information, research, and public health initiatives.