Consulting
Testing
&
Publications/News
Join us for Smoke School
August 2015
Aspen Consulting & Testing along with Complaince Assurance Associates will be hosting a Smoke School on September 2nd at our office. We are offering both the lecture and field certification. Register with the link below.
Informational Testing Leads to Savings
July 2015
Informational testing can be used to optimize any process and insure that your faciltiy is running at it's highest effieciency. This can lead to big savings in your daily operations and also insure that you are in compliance with state regulations well before the compliance test.
Why others choose Aspen again and again
June 2015
At Aspen we pride ourselves on professionalism. By being reliable we are able to provide the most accurate testing and reports each time a testing is required. This combined with our friendly and accomodating nature is why Aspen is chosen again and again.
Simplify your job with simplified reports:
May 2015
Aspen Consulting & Testing Reports are concise. We report what is necessary to get the appropriate data and results across to the client and regulator. Would you give a measurement of 16/32 or simply ½? Saying 16/32 may sound more accurate, but it’s not… Aspen uses the same “straight talk” in their reports.
Avoid Downtime
April 2015
Avoiding "downtime" charges is all about being prepared the day of testing. Anything that can be cleaned, serviced, or checked before testing will likely prevent having to troubleshoot the day of. Also, a plan to access the source and having necessary equipment available for testers will help testing run smoothly from start to finish. Have questions about what needs to be prepared before Aspen arrives to your facility? Give us a call and we will be happy to go over the details before we arrive.
80/20 Rule in Method 1
February 2015
80/20 Rule for Method 1 relates to the optimal placement of sampling ports on a stack or duct for flow determinations or isokinetic sampling. Ideally the sampling location should be a minimum of 8 duct diameters (or equivalent) from the nearest upstream disturbance from ports and a minimum of 2 duct diameters (or equivalent) from the nearest downstream disturbance from ports. When the ideal is not possible use the 80/20 rule when looking for the best placement for sampling ports. On a straight section of pipe or ducting were there are no flow disturbances measure up 80% of that straight section (20% down) and that will be the best placement for sampling ports. Call us if you have questions.
Testing Issues
March 2015
Solutions to Stack Testing problems are as numerous as to the problems that come up. Most common problems are easily remedied on site. Leak check problems can be isolated and fixed, usually within 15 minutes. Broken glassware is a problem if no spares are available, but Aspen always caries spares. Melted pitot tubes. Yes we do carry spares but once it happens once there usually is not a second time. Analyzer malfunctions. Believe it or not but usually these problems can be fixed in the field too. Thermocouple not reading? Easy fix, just open it up and tighten the wires down. What else you got? We have a fix for it.
Method 202 changes
January 2015
The EPA revised Method 202 in December of 2010. The revision replaced the wet impingers with dry impingers and added an out-of-stack low temperature filter. A solvent rinse of Acetone and hexane replaces the methylene chloride rinse. A 1-hour nitrogen purge is mandatory to reduce sulfur artifacts. EPA believes these changes, along with others, is meant to increase accuracy and repeatability.
EPA claims that these changes will likely result in reduced CPM emissions
Due to industry concerns one positive outcome is the revised maximum trip recovery blank that can be used. The previous maximum trip recovery blank that could be subtracted from the total collected CPM was 2.0mg and now has been revised to 5.1mg. This change is based on the EPA Interim Guidance document dated April 8, 2014.
5 Reasons to Choose Aspen
December 2014
1. Highly Educated Staff
2. Great Relationships with State Regulators
3. Uses The latest technologies (ex. FTIR)
4. Flexable schedules and will go the extra mile to get the job done right
5. Success based on repeat business - not overcharging