UKAS & MCERTS Environmental Testing Equipment
Alkali Environmental Consultants is an independent UK provider of UKAS-accredited MCERTS stack emissions testing, stack emissions monitoring, FTIR emissions monitoring, isokinetic sampling, CEMS hire, QAL2/QAL3 support and environmental permit compliance services. Alkali operates under UKAS Laboratory No. 24303 and provides UK-wide stack testing support for industrial operators, environmental permit holders, EfW, MCP, IED and manufacturing sites. Operators can request a stack testing quote online by uploading permit or process details.
From portable FTIR gas analysis and isokinetic sampling trains to CEMS hire, QAL2 calibration, dust monitoring, VOC sampling, acid gas testing, metals, mercury and dioxin/furan methods — our equipment and methodologies are selected around your environmental permit, process conditions and reporting obligations.
See our full MCERTS stack emissions testing and stack emissions monitoring service.
Industrial emissions monitoring is not one-size-fits-all. The right equipment depends on your process, stack access, moisture content, temperature, pollutant suite, environmental permit conditions, reporting basis and whether the requirement is periodic monitoring, continuous monitoring, QAL2/AST, abatement checks or process optimisation.
Permit compliance monitoring, commissioning, abatement efficiency, MCPD support and annual/periodic testing. Equipment may include isokinetic sampling trains, FTIR, wet chemistry, sorbent tubes, gravimetric sampling and accredited laboratory analysis.
Live CEMS/AMS monitoring, temporary CEMS hire, QAL2, QAL3, AST, DAHS and CEMS performance checks. Hardware typically includes sample probes, heated lines, analysers, QAL3 calibration systems and data handling.
Ambient air, construction dust, odour, noise, dispersion modelling, H1 stack height, environmental permitting and EA reporting — supported by appropriate field instruments and partner laboratories.
Depending on the monitoring objective, equipment may include portable analysers, isokinetic sampling trains, CEMS, QAL2/QAL3 systems and specialist sorbent media. The categories below summarise the equipment and methodologies our engineers use, specify, hire, calibrate, test alongside or advise on.
Real-time multi-component infrared gas analysis of stacks, ducts and process vents.
Representative particulate, metals, mercury, dioxin, PCB and PAH sampling.
Maintain sample integrity for acid gases, ammonia, VOCs and moisture.
Impinger trains and absorption solutions for acid gases and specialist compounds.
For dioxins, furans, PCBs, PAHs and speciated VOCs.
BS EN 13284-1 dust sampling with controlled filter handling.
Periodic and continuous dust monitoring options.
Temporary monitoring for compliance or process trials.
Calibration, drift checks and Annual Surveillance Testing to EN 14181.
Data Acquisition and Handling Systems for CEMS data validation and reporting.
Combustion gas measurement for CO, CO₂, SO₂, NOx and O₂.
Pitot tubes, thermocouples and reference equipment for stack conditions.
PM10, PM2.5, NO₂ and related ambient measurement equipment.
NO₂, ammonia, Hydrogen sulphide and VOC passive monitoring.
Class 1 sound level meters and vibration monitors for BS 4142 / BS 5228.
Odour bag sampling for olfactometry, plus bioaerosol assessment support.
ADMS / AERMOD-based modelling for permits, planning and stack height.
FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy) is used for simultaneous multi-component gas measurement from stacks, ducts and process vents. It is particularly useful where real-time data, changing process conditions or multiple gases need to be assessed during one monitoring campaign.
Equipment commonly used includes a portable FTIR gas analyser, heated FTIR sampling system, heated sample line and probe, calibration gases and field data logging.
| Technology | Typical use | Strength | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| FTIR | Multi-gas stack emissions testing | Real-time multi-component data | Requires correct calibration, heated sampling and method selection |
| NDIR | CO, CO₂, SO₂ and selected gas measurement | Proven combustion gas analysis | May be more component-specific than FTIR |
| Chemiluminescence | NOx measurement | Strong NO/NO₂/NOx method | Specific to nitrogen oxides |
| Zirconia cell | Oxygen | Robust O₂ measurement | Important for correction and reference conditions |
| FID | Total VOCs | High sensitivity for organic carbon | Needs appropriate method and calibration |
Related services: MCERTS Stack Emissions Testing, CEMS Hire, QAL2/QAL3 CEMS Calibration.
Where FTIR capability is used, it allows real-time measurement of multiple gases from industrial stack emissions, supporting compliance monitoring, troubleshooting, process optimisation and permit-related reporting.
Application
Multi-component stack gas analysis
Typical use
Compliance checks, process trials, abatement checks, MCPD and industrial emissions support
Sampling
Heated line and probe where needed
Reporting
Regulator-ready data interpretation and emissions reporting
Quality
Aligned with UKAS/MCERTS methods where applicable to stack emissions testing
Isokinetic sampling is used when the sample must be collected at the same velocity as the gas stream to obtain a representative particulate or pollutant sample. It is central to many stack emissions monitoring campaigns — especially for dust, metals, mercury, dioxins/furans, PAHs and PCBs.
Typical equipment includes the sampling nozzle, Pitot tube, stack temperature probe, differential pressure measurement, heated probe, filter holder, impingers, condensate traps, XAD resin trap, sorbent media, sampling pump, dry gas meter, moisture measurement, sample recovery and chain-of-custody handling to the accredited laboratory.
Typical isokinetic train flow
Stack sampling port → nozzle → probe → filter → impingers / XAD resin → pump → dry gas meter → sample recovery → laboratory analysis → report.
Combustion emissions monitoring often requires measurement of NOx, SO₂, CO, CO₂, O₂, N₂O and water vapour. The appropriate analyser depends on the pollutant, permit limit, reporting basis, stack conditions and required standard. Common technologies include FTIR, NDIR, chemiluminescence, zirconia oxygen cells, electrochemical sensors, infrared gas sensors and paramagnetic oxygen sensors — all relying on appropriate calibration gases and oxygen / dry-wet basis correction.
| Pollutant | Common analyser / method | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| NOx | Chemiluminescence or FTIR / approved method | Combustion, boilers, engines, EfW, MCPD |
| SO₂ | Wet chemistry, NDIR or FTIR depending on method | Sulphur-bearing fuels, acid gas control |
| CO | NDIR or FTIR | Combustion efficiency and permit compliance |
| CO₂ | NDIR or FTIR | Emissions reporting and reference correction |
| O₂ | Zirconia cell or paramagnetic oxygen analyser | Oxygen correction and combustion control |
| N₂O | FTIR | Combustion/process-specific greenhouse gas |
| NH₃ | FTIR or wet chemistry / approved method | SCR/SNCR slip and process emissions |
| H₂O | Moisture method / FTIR | Dry gas correction and reporting basis |
Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS / AMS) measure and record live emissions from regulated industrial processes. Alkali supports operators with CEMS hire, temporary monitoring, QAL2 / AST support, QAL3 checks, functional testing, calibration support and regulator-ready interpretation.
Equipment terms operators may encounter include CEMS, AMS, T-CEMS / transportable CEMS, extractive CEMS, hot wet and cold dry extractive systems, cross-duct CEMS, DOAS, FTIR CEMS, sample probes, heated sample lines, sample pumps, sample conditioning equipment, analysers, QAL3 calibration systems, calibration gases, DAHS, BS EN 14181, QAL2, AST, linearity testing, functional tests, EN 15267-3 and MCERTS-approved instruments. (Brand-specific equipment such as OPSIS System 400 is referenced as a market term only.)
Particulate monitoring may be required as periodic gravimetric testing, PM10 / PM2.5 sampling, abatement efficiency testing or continuous dust monitoring. The method depends on the permit, sector, process and measurement objective. Relevant equipment categories include stack dust monitors, particulate filter monitors, gravimetric particulate sampling, isokinetic sampling.
Alkali can advise on whether periodic sampling, continuous monitoring, dust alarm systems or equipment performance checks are appropriate for your permit and process.
VOC and odour-related emissions can require total VOC measurement, speciated VOC sampling, sorbent tube analysis, FID monitoring, odour sampling or site odour surveys — depending on the permit and process. Relevant equipment includes FID analysers, sorbent tubes, canister sampling where appropriate, odour sampling equipment and bags for dynamic olfactometry, plus bioaerosol and siloxane monitoring support where relevant.
| Method | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FID | Total VOC measurement | Strong for total organic carbon-style monitoring |
| FTIR | Multi-gas real-time analysis | Useful for selected compounds and process investigations |
| Sorbent tubes | Speciated VOCs | Laboratory analysis and compound identification |
| Odour sampling | Odour concentration | Used for odour impact and permitting contexts |
Market glossary references include Synspec Delta 116 and acoustic cameras (used here as comparison terms only, not Alkali-owned unless confirmed).
Many permit conditions require sampling for acid gases and related compounds using wet chemistry, impinger trains, sorbent media or approved instrumental methods. The correct method depends on the compound, required standard and stack conditions.
Pollutants commonly sampled
Equipment & methodology
Specialist pollutants require precise sampling media, representative stack sampling, accredited laboratory analysis and strict chain-of-custody control. Pollutants commonly covered include total metals (As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb), mercury, dioxins and furans, brominated dioxins/furans, PCBs and PAHs.
Sampling and methodology terms: XAD resin, filter / wet chemistry, isokinetic sampling, sorbent traps, sample media kits, sample recovery, courier chain of custody and accredited laboratory analysis.
Laboratory analytical techniques such as ICP-MS, ion chromatography, CVAFS, analytical balances, water-scrubbed fume cupboards and microwave digestion are referenced here as laboratory analytical methods and in-house / partner laboratory capability.
Alkali’s capability extends beyond stacks to ambient air quality, construction dust, passive diffusion tube monitoring, odour, noise and vibration where required by planning, permitting or nuisance investigations.
Market glossary references include EarthSense Zephyr and AQMesh automatic monitors (referenced as comparison terms only, not Alkali-owned unless confirmed).
Related: Ambient Air Quality Monitoring · Construction Dust Monitoring · Noise Impact Assessments · Odour Impact Assessments · BREEAM Indoor Air Quality
A quick reference matrix linking pollutants and parameters to typical equipment, common standards and Alkali’s support. Use this to scope monitoring against your environmental permit conditions.
| Pollutant / parameter | Typical equipment / method | Common standard | Typical application | Alkali support | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOx / NO / NO₂ | Chemiluminescence, FTIR, approved analyser | EN 14792 / FTIR method where applicable | Combustion, boilers, engines, EfW | MCERTS stack testing & reporting | Get quote → |
| SO₂ | Wet chemistry, NDIR, FTIR | EN 14791 / instrumental methods | Acid gas control, sulphur-bearing fuels | Stack testing & process checks | Get quote → |
| CO | NDIR or FTIR | EN 15058 / FTIR where applicable | Combustion efficiency & permit compliance | Testing & reporting | Get quote → |
| CO₂ | NDIR or FTIR | CEN/TS 17405 / FTIR where applicable | Reference correction & emissions reporting | Testing & interpretation | Get quote → |
| O₂ | Zirconia or paramagnetic analyser | EN 14789 | Oxygen correction & combustion control | Analyser support & reporting | Get quote → |
| N₂O | FTIR | FTIR method where applicable | Combustion/process emissions | FTIR monitoring support | Get quote → |
| NH₃ | FTIR or wet chemistry | EN ISO 21877 / Method 26 variants | SCR/SNCR ammonia slip | Testing & reporting | Get quote → |
| HCl | Wet chemistry, FTIR where applicable | EN 1911 / FTIR methods | Incineration, acid gas control | Acid gas monitoring | Get quote → |
| HF | Wet chemistry / approved methods | CEN/TS 17340 | Industrial and waste processes | Specialist sampling | Get quote → |
| HBr / Cl₂ / Br₂ | Wet chemistry / Method 26 variants | US EPA Method 26 variants | Waste, chemical and process emissions | Specialist sampling | Get quote → |
| Particulates / dust | Isokinetic sampling, gravimetric, dust monitors | EN 13284-1 | Dust emissions & abatement checks | MCERTS stack testing | Get quote → |
| PM10 / PM2.5 | Size-selective sampling | EN ISO 23210 | Permit monitoring & particulate fractions | Specialist sampling | Get quote → |
| Total VOCs | FID | EN 12619 | Solvents, coatings, industrial processes | VOC monitoring | Get quote → |
| Speciated VOCs | Sorbent tubes / lab analysis | CEN/TS 13649 | Compound identification | VOC sampling & reporting | Get quote → |
| Metals | Filter/wet chemistry, ICP-MS lab analysis | EN 14385 | Incineration, metals processing | Metals sampling | Get quote → |
| Mercury | Filter/wet chemistry, CVAFS lab analysis | EN 13211 | Waste, combustion, industrial processes | Mercury sampling | Get quote → |
| Dioxins & furans | Isokinetic XAD resin sampling | EN 1948-1 | EfW, incineration, specialist processes | Dioxin/furan sampling | Get quote → |
| Brominated dioxins/furans | XAD resin specialist sampling | EN 1948 family / relevant guidance | Specialist waste/process monitoring | Specialist sampling | Get quote → |
| PCBs | XAD resin sampling | EN 1948-4 | Combustion & waste processes | PCB monitoring | Get quote → |
| PAHs | XAD resin / sorbent sampling | ISO 11338-1 | Combustion & process emissions | PAH sampling | Get quote → |
| Water vapour / moisture | Gravimetric/moisture method, FTIR | EN 14790 | Dry/wet correction | Monitoring & reporting | Get quote → |
| Temperature | Thermocouple / probe | EN 16911 family | Stack conditions | Field measurement | Get quote → |
| Pressure | Pitot / differential pressure | EN 16911 family | Velocity/flow calculation | Field measurement | Get quote → |
| Velocity & flow | Pitot tube / flow measurement | EN 16911-1 / EN 16911-2 | Mass flow & CEMS QA | Flow measurement | Get quote → |
| Odour | Odour sampling bags / olfactometry | EN 13725 | Odour impact & permitting | Odour monitoring | Get quote → |
| Bioaerosols | Bioaerosol sampling equipment | EA M9 context | Composting, AD, waste | Bioaerosol assessment | Get quote → |
| Siloxanes | Specialist media / analysis | Application-specific | Landfill / biogas | Siloxane monitoring support | Get quote → |
| Noise | Sound level meter | BS 4142 / relevant standards | Planning & nuisance | Noise assessment | Get quote → |
| Vibration | Vibration monitor | BS 5228 / relevant standards | Construction/industrial | Vibration assessment | Get quote → |
| Ambient PM | MCERTS PM sensors / real-time dust monitors | M17 / IAQM context | Construction & waste facilities | Ambient monitoring | Get quote → |
Equipment selection must match the permit, pollutant, standard, reporting requirement and uncertainty expectations. Alkali’s UKAS Laboratory No. 24303 and MCERTS accreditations apply to stack emissions testing scope; equipment and methods outside that scope are selected to match the relevant Environment Agency, EN, ISO or BS guidance.
Relevant standards include: EN 15259, EN 14181, QAL1/QAL2/QAL3/AST, EN 15267-3, EN 13284-1, EN 14792, EN 15058, EN 14789, EN 14791, EN 1911, EN 1948 (1–4), EN 14385, EN 13211, EN 12619, EN 14790, EN 16911-1, EN 16911-2, EN ISO 23210 and EN 13725.
Reference data: UK Emissions Limits Reference
Pollutants
NOx, SO₂, HCl, HF, CO, CO₂, O₂, dust, metals, mercury, dioxins/furans, NH₃
Equipment / methods
FTIR, isokinetic sampling, wet chemistry, XAD resin, CEMS, QAL2/QAL3
Pollutants
Particulates, acid gases, metals, mercury, dioxins/furans, CO, NOx
Equipment / methods
Isokinetic sampling, FTIR, wet chemistry, CEMS support
Pollutants
NOx, CO, SO₂, particulates, O₂
Equipment / methods
Flue gas analysers, FTIR, NDIR, isokinetic sampling, MCP emissions support
Pollutants
NOx, CO, formaldehyde, VOCs, siloxanes where relevant
Equipment / methods
Gas analysers, FTIR, sorbent tubes, CEMS / periodic testing
Pollutants
Mercury, particulates, CO, NOx, dioxins/furans where required
Equipment / methods
Isokinetic sampling, mercury sampling, flue gas analysis
Pollutants
VOCs, acid gases, particulates, odour, specialist compounds
Equipment / methods
FID, FTIR, sorbent tubes, wet chemistry, odour sampling
Pollutants
Dust, NOx, SO₂, CO, CO₂, HCl/HF, NH₃, mercury
Equipment / methods
CEMS, FTIR/DOAS comparison, dust monitors, QAL2, AST
Pollutants
Metals, particulates, VOCs, acid gases, CO
Equipment / methods
Isokinetic sampling, filter/wet chemistry, ICP-MS lab analysis, dust monitoring
Pollutants
VOCs, oil mist, tar, bitumen fume, particulates
Equipment / methods
VOC/FID, sorbent tubes, gravimetric sampling
Pollutants
Odour, combustion gases, particulates, VOCs
Equipment / methods
Odour sampling, FTIR / flue gas analyser, particulates
Pollutants
Odour, bioaerosols, ammonia, Hydrogen sulphide, VOCs, combustion emissions
Equipment / methods
Bioaerosol sampling, odour sampling, passive monitoring, FTIR where relevant
Pollutants
NOx, CO, CO₂, SO₂, O₂, particulates
Equipment / methods
CEMS, combustion gas analysers, FTIR, QAL2/AST, flow monitoring
Review your environmental permit and emission limit values.
Confirm pollutants, process conditions and monitoring objective.
Select MCERTS / UKAS-appropriate method and sampling strategy.
Mobilise calibrated equipment and MCERTS-qualified personnel.
Complete field monitoring, sample recovery and laboratory chain of custody.
Deliver regulator-ready results, interpretation and next-step advice.
Upload your permit or monitoring schedule and Alkali will identify the most appropriate equipment and method.
Brand-specific terms (e.g. OPSIS, Durag, Sintrol, Synspec, APEX, SIFT-MS, EarthSense Zephyr, AQMesh) are included only as market glossary and comparison terms.
Beyond the core equipment categories above, our monitoring teams use, specify or work alongside the following capabilities to deliver a full stack testing, CEMS and environmental monitoring service.
Alongside FTIR, a fleet of instrumental analysers is used for periodic stack monitoring — combustion gas analysers (O₂, CO, CO₂, NOx, SO₂), FID analysers for total VOCs / THC to BS EN 12619 and EN 13526, and fuel gas analysers for calorific value and composition. Paramagnetic and electrochemical sensor technologies are also used, cross-calibrated on-site against reference standards.
Where the pollutant is gaseous and the method permits, non-isokinetic sampling is used — heated probe + instrumental analyser, sorbent tubes, DNPH cartridges, SUMMA canisters or wet chemistry impingers without isokinetic conditions. Common for combustion gases, ammonia, acid gases, total VOCs, formaldehyde and speciated VOC campaigns.
Beyond total VOC by FID, our teams deploy thermal-desorption sorbent tubes (Tenax, Carbograph) to BS EN 13649, DNPH cartridges for aldehydes (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde) to EPA TO-11A, SUMMA canisters for speciated VOCs to EPA TO-15, and one-sample-train methodology for formaldehyde and chlorides where appropriate.
Dedicated mercury sampling using both wet chemistry (BS EN 13211) and sorbent trap approaches for low-level mercury on EfW, cement and coal-fired plant. Hg-clean glassware and acid-washed components prevent cross-contamination at µg/m³ detection limits. Hg speciation (Hg⁰ vs Hg²⁺) available on request.
Stack velocity, volumetric flow, temperature, static pressure and moisture content to BS EN ISO 16911-1 (manual reference) and BS EN 14790 (water vapour). Type-S and L-type Pitot tubes, K-type thermocouples and RTDs, digital micromanometers and barometric pressure sensors — bench-calibrated against traceable standards before deployment.
A full inventory of UKAS-traceable certified reference gas mixtures for on-site analyser calibration — NO, NO₂, SO₂, CO, CO₂, O₂, CH₄, N₂O and multi-component blends. Zero, span and linearity checks on-site to support QAL3 control-chart requirements, with permeation tubes for NH₃, HCl and HF calibration where required.
CEMS deployments are supported by Data Acquisition and Handling Systems (DAHS) with secure remote telemetry, automated daily/monthly emissions reports and Environment Agency permit-ready outputs. Data is hosted in the UK with full audit trail and version control — suitable for EPR reporting, EA Operator Self-Monitoring (OSM), Pollution Inventory and MCP/SG returns.
Air dispersion modelling capability using CERC ADMS 6, US EPA AERMOD and CALPUFF for stack height assessments (D1 / H1), permit modelling, planning applications and odour impact studies. Modelling is paired with monitoring data for fully integrated assessments and processed met data from Met Office NWP or site observations.
Class 1 integrating sound level meters, unattended environmental noise loggers, vibration monitoring (PPV, VDV), 1/1 and 1/3 octave frequency analysis and weather-protected outdoor kits — for BS 4142 industrial noise assessments, BS 5228 construction vibration, planning noise surveys and complaint investigation.
Nalophan bag sampling to EN 13725, lung sampler and vacuum chamber systems for point-source odour collection, ambient odour assessment equipment, plus wind direction and stability monitoring for downwind work.
Safe stack access is a core part of every monitoring campaign. Teams are equipped with IPAF / PASMA access kit, fall-arrest harnesses and fixed-line systems, personal 4-gas monitors (O₂, CO, Hydrogen sulphide, LEL), confined-space tripod and rescue winch, and ATEX-rated intrinsically safe instruments where required.
An in-house gravimetric laboratory, calibration bench and equipment preparation facilities give full control over data quality and turnaround. Filters, glassware and sampling trains are conditioned, weighed and prepared under controlled conditions before every campaign, and reference instruments are bench-calibrated against traceable standards.
UKAS Laboratory No. 24303 and MCERTS accreditations apply to stack emissions testing scope. Other capabilities listed above are delivered under appropriate EN / ISO / BS guidance and in-house quality systems.
Practical regulator-side experience embedded in our team.
Accreditation applied to our stack emissions testing scope.
Operating under a recognised laboratory quality system.
Methods accredited for stack emissions testing where applicable.
Mobilised nationally from regional bases.
Method chosen against pollutant, process and standard.
Typically within one working day for standard scopes.
Reports designed for EA review and operator use.
Integrated monitoring, permitting and dispersion modelling support.
A single supplier across the compliance lifecycle.
Send us your permit or monitoring schedule and we’ll recommend the right equipment, method and reporting approach.
