Overview
EN ISO 25140:2010 defines an automatic method for measuring methane (CH4) in the waste gas of stationary sources using flame ionisation detection (FID). Published by CEN as the European adoption of ISO 25140:2010, the standard specifies the measurement principle, essential performance criteria, and required quality assurance / quality control (QA/QC) procedures. It applies to both dry and wet waste gases and supports continuous monitoring (CEMS) with permanently installed systems as well as intermittent (periodic) measurements. EN ISO 25140:2010 supplements general QA/QC and performance-testing standards rather than providing an independent reference method.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Measurement principle: Use of flame ionisation detection (FID) to determine methane concentration in stack and duct gases.
- Performance characteristics: Definitions and procedures to determine response time, linearity, lack of fit, residence time, and period of unattended operation for an automatic measuring system.
- Apparatus & operation: Requirements for extractive/in-situ analysers, sampling probes, sample handling (wet and dry conditions), and operational gases.
- Calibration & verification: Procedures for calibration, span/zero checks, and use of reference gases; guidance on traceability and verification frequency.
- Quality assurance / quality control (QA/QC): Ongoing QA/QC measures, performance verification, documentation and corrective actions to ensure reliable methane emissions data.
- Measurement procedure & reporting: Standardized measurement and data-reporting expectations so outputs are suitable for compliance, monitoring and auditing.
- Safety & annexes: Operational gases, methods for determining performance characteristics in QA/QC, safety measures, and comparison test results (informative).
Applications and users
EN ISO 25140:2010 is practical for organizations involved in methane emissions monitoring and compliance, including:
- Environmental regulators and inspection bodies setting or enforcing emissions limits
- Industrial operators and plant owners (landfills, biogas plants, natural gas processing, combustion or biomass facilities) implementing CEMS for methane
- Environmental consultancies and stack-testing labs performing intermittent or continuous methane monitoring
- Instrument manufacturers and integrators designing or certifying FID-based methane analysers
- QA/QC managers responsible for calibration, validation and uncertainty estimation
Common applications: landfill gas monitoring, biogas production plants, natural gas leak monitoring, combustion stack monitoring, and process-emission control where methane is a regulated greenhouse gas.
Related standards
- ISO 9169 - Performance characteristics of automatic measuring systems
- ISO 14956 - Suitability of a measurement procedure vs. required uncertainty
- ISO 20988 - Estimating measurement uncertainty
- ISO 25139 - Independent method of measurement for methane (reference/validation)
- EN 14181, EN 15259 - QA/QC and performance testing frameworks for emission monitoring systems
Keywords: EN ISO 25140:2010, methane measurement, FID, stationary source emissions, methane emissions monitoring, continuous monitoring, QA/QC, stack monitoring.
