ISO 29042-8:2011

Overview

ISO 29042-8:2011 is an international standard developed by ISO that specifies a room method for measuring the pollutant concentration parameter of airborne hazardous substances emitted from machinery. This standard is part of the ISO 29042 series focusing on the safety of machinery by evaluating emissions of airborne hazardous substances. Specifically, Part 8 outlines procedures for assessing pollutant concentration in a controlled test room environment for machines equipped with local exhaust ventilation systems having an air flow rate of at least 500 m³/h, and those without recirculated air.

This method facilitates an objective measurement of pollutant concentration near machines under defined operational conditions, enabling consistent evaluation of machine emissions for performance, improvements, or safety comparisons.

Key Topics

• Measurement Environment
  The pollutant concentration is measured within a test room meeting specific criteria:

  • Minimum room size of 200 m³
  • No additional sources of the pollutant within the room
  • Distances from machine to walls/ceiling greater than 2 meters
  • Proper airflow controls to avoid cross-draughts and recirculated air
  • Use of smoke tests to verify air direction towards exhaust ventilation

• Measurement Points & Procedure

  • At least four predefined measurement points around the machine to capture pollutant emissions
  • Operation of machines according to intended use and manufacturer instructions
  • Measurement during normal working cycles with representative sampling times
  • At least three measurements per point to ensure accuracy

• Data Analysis and Reporting

  • Calculation of mean pollutant concentrations and standard deviations for all points
  • Use of statistical confidence intervals (95%) following ISO 2602 for data reliability
  • Expression of the pollutant concentration parameter as the sum of mean values plus confidence interval
  • Detailed test reports including machine and test room data, measurement methods, environmental factors, and results

Applications

• Machine Performance Evaluation
  Organizations can utilize ISO 29042-8 to assess the airborne hazardous substance emissions of machinery, supporting compliance with safety regulations and internal environmental controls.

• Product Improvement and Development
  By measuring pollutant concentrations before and after modifications, manufacturers can quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of engineering improvements aimed at emission reduction.

• Comparative Analysis and Ranking
  This method enables comparison of machines within the same product group, facilitating informed decision-making based on pollutant emission levels and supporting best practice initiatives.

• Establishing State of the Art
  Provides manufacturers and safety engineers with a benchmark to determine current industry capabilities on controlling airborne emissions from machinery.

• Supporting Regulatory Compliance
  Measurement outcomes help organizations meet occupational health and safety norms related to air quality and exposure to hazardous substances.

Related Standards

ISO 29042-8:2011 is part of a broader series under ISO 29042, each addressing different aspects of airborne hazardous substance emission testing for machinery safety:

• ISO 29042-1: Selection of test methods
• ISO 29042-2: Tracer gas method for emission rate measurement
• ISO 29042-3: Test bench method for emission rate
• ISO 29042-4: Capture efficiency of exhaust systems
• ISO 29042-5 & 6: Separation efficiency of air cleaning systems
• ISO 29042-7: Test bench method for pollutant concentration parameter
• ISO 29042-9: Decontamination index

Additionally, ISO 12100 establishes the general principles for machinery safety design and risk reduction, which provide foundational guidance complementing the specific measurement methods described in ISO 29042-8.

Keywords: ISO 29042-8, airborne hazardous substances, pollutant concentration parameter, machinery safety, local exhaust ventilation, emission measurement, test room method, occupational health, air quality standards, industrial machine emissions.