PPM Technology PPM–400ST Operation Manual
PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter
3 Parameter IAQ Monitor
Operation Manual
www.ppm-technology.com
PPM Technology Ltd • Cibyn Industrial Estate • Caernarfon • Gwynedd • LL55 2BD • Wales • UK
Telephone: +44 (0)1286 676 999 • Fax: +44 (0)1286 671 811 • E-mail: info@ppm-technology.com
Registered in Wales: 3743347 • VAT Number: GB 713 750 842 • ISO 9001 2015 Registered Firm
Amended: Sep 2018 • Issue: 4.7
PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter Operation Manual
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION
3
1.1 Initial Receipt of the PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter
4
1.2 General Description
4
1.3 Instrument Features
6
2 TECHNICAL INFORMATION
8
2.1 Principle Of Operation
8
2.2 Interference
8
3 USING THE PPM–400ST FORMALDEHYDE METER
10
3.1 Taking A Sample
10
3.2 Sensor Recovery Period
11
4 CALIBRATION CHECK AND ADJUSTMENT
12
4.1 General Information
12
4.2 The Formaldemeter Calibration Standard
12
4.3 Calibration Check Procedure
13
4.4 Calibration Adjustment Procedure
14
5 ADDITIONAL FEATURES
16
5.1 Temperature & Humidity Sensor
16
5.2 Limit Setting
17
5.3 Data Retrieval
18
6 MAINTENANCE
20
6.1 Instrument Battery
20
7 TROUBLESHOOTING
21
8 ACCESSORIES
25
9 WARRANTY
26
APPENDICES
27
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PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter Operation Manual
1 INTRODUCTION
The PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter is an easy-touse, hand held, three-parameter, indoor air quality
monitor designed for the rapid measurement of
airborne formaldehyde levels, along with temperature
and humidity readings. The monitor is capable of
displaying formaldehyde readings in both parts-permillion (ppm) and milligrams-per-cubic metre (mg/
m3) and has built-in data analysis functions to
compensate for high humidity readings, that can act
as interference to the instrument’s readings.
This operating manual will provide you with all the
necessary information for the correct use of your
PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter.
Please read these instructions carefully and
familiarise yourself with the instrument before use.
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PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter Operation Manual
1.1 Initial Receipt of the PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter
Your PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter has been
packaged carefully and includes all the components
necessary for full operation. Immediately upon
receipt, please examine the kit contents carefully to
ensure that you have received the items listed below
and that they are all in good condition.
Component list The instrument kit contains:
PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter with battery
Formaldehyde Calibration Standard
Vial of Filters (10)
Ball point pen
Certificate of Calibration
This Operation Manual
Quick Guide
Damage
Inspect all items carefully: any damaged or missing
items must be reported immediately to both the
carrier and your dealer.
1.2 General Description
Unlike other formaldehyde monitoring devices such
as colour stain tubes and badges, the PPM–400ST
Formaldehyde Meter is capable of measuring many
samples consecutively without the need for
inconvenient ancillary equipment. Being compact and
battery operated, the instrument is truly field
portable. The PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter is
also extremely simple to use and provides
immediate, semi-quantitative readings of
atmospheric formaldehyde concentrations in both
ppm and mg/m3.
The PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter is designed to
measure the concentration of formaldehyde in snatch
(discrete) samples of air and should be employed
primarily as a screening device.
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PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter Operation Manual
Important points It is important that you are aware of the following
points when using the instrument:
The PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter is
temperature compensated to operate most accurately
in the range 15–29°C and 40–60%RH.
The results obtained with the PPM–400ST
Formaldehyde Meter are instantaneous readings: a
single reading is not necessarily representative of
long-term personal exposure. A series of readings
taken at short intervals is preferable to infrequent
tests.
Avoid smoking in the environment to be analysed:
tobacco smoke contains aldehydes which will
interfere with the readings.
Care must be taken to ensure that fluid or dust is
not drawn into the instrument. This could
permanently damage the sensor.
The PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter has been
designed to be sufficiently robust for everyday field
use. However, should the unit sustain a severe
physical shock, the operation and calibration of the
instrument should be checked using the supplied
formaldehyde Calibration Standard.
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PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter Operation Manual
1.3 Instrument Features
Fig 1.1 Instrument Diagram
Sampling Port The brass sampling port is the inlet through which
the sample is drawn into sensor.
Battery
Compartment
The battery compartment is located beneath a cover
at the rear of the instrument. See Section 6.1 for
guidance on battery replacement.
Keypad Four buttons operate the instrument; some of which
have multiple functions when used in combination.
The buttons are:
% : On-Off
$ : Sample or select
> and < : Move to next item or adjust current setting.
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PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter Operation Manual
Display The LCD shows the formaldehyde concentration and
also text messages during certain operations:
----
Sensor recovering
0.00
Sensor ready
run
Sampling
ALt=
Alternative result
CAL
Taking calibration sample
SEt
Set calibration level
bAt
Replace battery
ttp Lo
Fuel cell needs hydrating
SEt … CAL
Instrument not calibrated
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PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter Operation Manual
2 TECHNICAL INFORMATION
2.1 Principle of Operation
Electrochemical
Formaldehyde
Sensor
The PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter uses proven
electrochemical sensing technology for determining
the concentration of formaldehyde in air samples.
The instrument contains a formaldehyde sensor
formed from two noble metal electrodes and a
suitable electrolyte.
When air is drawn into the sensor by the internal
sampling system a small voltage is produced as a
result of the oxidation of formaldehyde at one of the
catalytically active electrodes. This voltage is
directly proportional in magnitude to the
concentration of formaldehyde in the sample.
The voltage is amplified and converted to a digital
signal for a microprocessor which in turn
manipulates the signal to give a result on the
instrument display in “parts-per-million by volume”
(ppm). The microprocessor also converts the result
to “milligrams-per-cubic metre” (mg/m3) and
stores the results to non-volatile memory.
All the electronic systems are based on modern,
integrated circuitry employing the latest surface
mount technology to ensure that the PPM–400ST
Formaldehyde Meter is an exceptionally robust and
reliable instrument.
2.2 Interference
Alcohols &
Aldehydes
As with other portable detection equipment, the
meter is not totally specific to formaldehyde alone.
The instrument is susceptible to interference from a
small range of other chemicals. Other aldehydes
and alcohols such as methanol and ethanol in the
atmosphere can cause cross-interference effects.
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PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter Operation Manual
A list of common chemicals that can cause
interference can be found in Appendix C or from the
manufacturer on request.
Phenol &
Resorcinol
The presence of phenol in the air can also cause
cross-interference on the PPM–400ST
Formaldehyde Meter. When monitoring
formaldehyde in situations where phenolic resins
are used, the filters provided should be used. The
filters will completely remove phenols and other
substances from the sample at concentrations in
excess of 1000 ppm without affecting the
formaldehyde reading.
Filter Life These fit on to the sampling port of the instrument.
Each filter should be used no more than ten times
and then discarded. Partially used filters should not
be stored in the vial with unused filters.
Replacement filters can be ordered from PPM
Technology or through your local distributor.
Sensor Background
Reading
Due to the high sensitivity of the sensor a
background reading can often be produced even
when sampling in an atmosphere considered to be
free of interference.
Humidity Extremes As the sensor is very sensitive, it is possible that
extremes of humidity (generally, anything outside
the 40–60% R.H. range) may cause a background
reading. The PPM–400ST Formaldehyde Meter is
specially designed to compensate for this problem
by using the humidity sensor and built-in data
analysis functions.
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