How good is the measurement method?
Three more interlaboratory tests on safety of chemicals
BAM
The properties of hazardous substances and dangerous goods must be known in order to be able to assess the risks involved in their proper handling. To do this, test methods have been developed which are applied globally; however, many of the method descriptions are ambiguous. "We need to know exactly how good the method is that is used to classify dangerous goods or hazardous substances. One can certainly choose simple methods with large error limits, but these errors must be known and communicated. This would allow safety professionals to be able to assess test results correctly and make well-founded decisions," says Dr. Peter Lüth, scientist in Division 2 Chemical Safety Engineering of BAM, who is the responsible head of the interlaboratory test program.
Mr Lüth launched the first interlaboratory test for the classification of the physical hazards of chemicals 10 years ago. A success story because today around 90 laboratories participate in these interlaboratory tests worldwide. BAM, PTB and QuoData GmbH Quality & Statistics have now established a common centre of excellence for quality assurance, CEQAT-DGHS, for testing dangerous goods and hazardous substances.
Three new interlaboratory tests for methods validation are currently being prepared and will be carried out in 2017 to 2018. These are test methods for corrosion to metals (UN Test C.1), for substances which in contact with water emit flammable gases (UN Test N.5) and determination of the lower explosion limit of gases.
“Interlaboratory tests can show how suitable the method is and whether all laboratories come to the same result. Relying only on the experience of a single analyst, does not mean that the measurements are correct. Controlling capabilities through training, education, reference materials or interlaboratory tests, quality assurance of workflows helps to detect and avoid errors. Thus, we create high safety standards in technology and chemistry", says Lüth.
Other news from the department business & finance
These products might interest you
Starna by Starna Scientific
Highest quality precision quartz and glass cuvettes for all applications
Custom and OEM options. All popular cells available from stock!
Certified Reference Materials for Spectroscopy by Starna Scientific
Starna Scientific: Your solution for precise spectroscopy calibration
ISO-certified reference materials for accurate and safe spectroscopy
Certified reference materials of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre by ERM
Certified reference materials for the analysis of environmental,food,clinical and industrial samples
Certified reference materials (CRMs) provide confidence in the correctness of analytical results
Certified Reference Materials and Pharmacopoeia Reagents by CPAchem
The experts in custom-made Certified Reference Materials and Pharmacopoeia Reagents
Your one-stop supplier of all Certified Reference Materials and Pharmacopoeia reagents
SmartCal by Mettler-Toledo
SmartCal verifies Moisture Analyzer Performance in 10 minutes
Proper verification and documentation assists you to fulfill the demands of industry regulations and company audits
NanoStandard™ / MicroStandard™ by Applied Microspheres
Highly uniform polymer particle size standards, with traceable mean diameters
Traceable both to the international System of Units (SI) and NIST
Get the chemical industry in your inbox
From now on, don't miss a thing: Our newsletter for the chemical industry, analytics, lab technology and process engineering brings you up to date every Tuesday and Thursday. The latest industry news, product highlights and innovations - compact and easy to understand in your inbox. Researched by us so you don't have to.