BS ISO 14966:2019

What is ISO 14966 - SEM for inorganic fibrous particles about?

ISO 14966 specifies a method using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the determination of the concentration of inorganic fibrous particles in the air. ISO 14966 provides a method that specifies the use of gold-coated, capillary-pore, track-etched membrane filters, through which a known volume of air has been drawn. Using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA), the method can discriminate between fibres with compositions consistent with those of the asbestos varieties (e.g., serpentine and amphibole), gypsum, and other inorganic fibres. ISO 14966 provides a summary of fibre types that can be measured.

ISO 14966 is applicable to the measurement of the concentrations of inorganic fibrous particles in ambient air. ISO 14966 provides a method that is applicable for determining the numerical concentrations of inorganic fibrous particles in the interior atmospheres of buildings, for example, to determine the concentration of airborne inorganic fibrous particles remaining after the removal of asbestos-containing products. The ability of the method to detect and classify fibres with widths lower than 0,2 μm is limited. If airborne fibres in the atmosphere being sampled are predominantly <0,2 μm in width, a transmission electron microscopy method such as ISO 10312[8] is used to determine the smaller fibres.

Who is ISO 14966 - SEM for inorganic fibrous particles for?

ISO 14966 on SEM for inorganic fibrous particles is useful for:

• The housing industry / the construction industry
• Testing laboratories
• Health and safety personnel
• Quality control personnel

Why should you use ISO 14966 - SEM for inorganic fibrous particles?

ISO 14966 describes a method for measurement of the numerical concentration of inorganic fibrous particles in ambient air using the scanning electron microscope. ISO 14966 is based on VDI 3492. ISO 14966 provides a method that is suitable for determining the numerical concentrations of inorganic fibres in the interior atmospheres of buildings, for example, measurement of residual airborne fibre concentrations after the removal of asbestos-containing building materials.

ISO 14966 provides a method that is used to measure the numerical concentration of inorganic fibres with widths smaller than 3 μm and lengths exceeding 5 μm up to a maximum of 100 μm. Using EDXA, fibres are classified as fibres with compositions consistent with those of asbestos fibres, calcium sulfate fibres, and other inorganic fibres.

What’s changed since the last update?

BS ISO 14966:2019 supersedes ISO 14966:2002, which is withdrawn. BS ISO 14966:2019 includes some technical changes with respect to ISO 14966:2002.

These include:

• Counting rules changed to the recommended method (membrane filter method) of the WHO (World Health Organization)
• Analytical procedure (classification), using normalized peak height ratios in addition to the method of the previous edition— Rule for early termination of filter evaluation (counting and analysis)
• A formula is given to terminate the filter evaluation, if the calculated (asbestos) fibre concentration is above a set limit value for this fibre concentration