Abstract
Performance standards for air sampling instruments have a serious deficiency in not adequately addressing instrument operation with respect to the electromagnetic environment. Degraded performance caused by electromagnetic fields can range from subtle deviations in readings to gross errors or even complete shutdown of the instrument. This degraded performance is called electromagnetic susceptibility. It is now time for industrial hygiene instrument standards to give serious attention to electromagnetic susceptibility. This article proposes using the American National Standards Institute C95.1-1982 human exposure standard as a basis for such an instrument requirement and demonstrates that this criterion is both realistic and attainable. For the sake of example, this article makes reference to certain models of industrial hygiene instruments. This is not an endorsement, recommendation, preference, approval, or condemnation of any of these products. Feldman, R.F.: Degraded Instrument Performance due to Radio Interference: Criteria and Standards. Appl. Occup. Environ. Hyg. 8(4):351-355; 1993.