Glossary
Standards and regulations
EN 14181 and EN 13284
Also known as EN 14181, EN 13284, CEMS QAL.
EN 14181 sets the European quality-assurance levels (QAL1, QAL2, QAL3 and AST) for continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS) installed on stationary industrial sources. EN 13284 covers manual reference methods for low-range particulate determination — typically used as the reference method against which the CEMS is calibrated.
Why they matter operationally
Industrial operators in the EU must:
- Install QAL1-certified CEMS instruments
- Perform QAL2 site calibration against EN 13284 reference measurements
- Conduct QAL3 daily drift checks
- Schedule AST (Annual Surveillance Test) once a year
Performance of upstream particulate-control equipment (ESP, baghouse) shows up in the CEMS trace. Any drift in collection efficiency from fouling immediately appears as a rising particulate signal — making the case for active cleaning visible to operators in near-real-time.
Related terms
Related terms
- Opacity (stack)Opacity is the percentage of light obscured by particulate in stack flue gas. The headline visual KPI for ESP performance; continuously monitored and permit-limited.
- Electrostatic precipitatorAn ESP removes particulate from flue gas by charging dust and collecting it on plate electrodes. Sonic horns are widely used to dislodge ash from plates and to keep hoppers from bridging.
- BaghouseA baghouse is the structural enclosure that holds the bags, cages, tubesheet, cleaning system and hoppers of a fabric-filter dust collector. Sized in compartments for online isolation.