Overview
EN ISO 15839:2006 (ISO 15839:2003) specifies how to define, test and report the performance of on-line sensors and analysing equipment for water quality. Adopted by CEN from ISO, this standard establishes common terminology and test procedures for evaluating sensor/analysing equipment both in the laboratory and in the field. It is applicable to most types of on-line water quality sensors, while acknowledging that some specific tests may not be feasible for certain devices.
Key Topics
- Definitions and terminology for on-line sensors/analysing equipment and measurement/analytical chains (e.g., determinand, calibration solution, measurement chain).
- Performance characteristics that must be assessed, including:
- Accuracy and bias
- Precision, repeatability, and day-to-day repeatability
- Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ)
- Response time, delay time, fall time
- Long-term drift, memory effect
- Interference and interferents
- Availability and period between maintenance operations
- Test procedures and protocols for:
- Laboratory testing to determine instrument-specific characteristics under controlled conditions.
- Field testing to evaluate performance within the complete measurement chain (sampling, pretreatment, transport, analyser).
- Informative annexes providing guidance on manufacturer information, measurement-chain diagrams, recommended test bench setups, test scheduling and example test reports.
- Normative references that support statistical and analytical quality practices (e.g., ISO 5725-1, ISO 8466-1, ISO/TR 13530).
Applications
EN ISO 15839 is used to:
- Validate and compare on-line water quality sensors before procurement or deployment.
- Support manufacturers in documenting and claiming performance characteristics.
- Guide testing laboratories in performing standardized laboratory and field performance tests.
- Help water utilities, environmental agencies and system integrators evaluate sensor suitability for continuous monitoring, early-warning systems and compliance monitoring.
- Provide a basis for tender specifications and acceptance testing of on-line analysers.
Who should use this standard
- Sensor and analyser manufacturers
- Independent test laboratories
- Water utilities, wastewater operators and environmental regulators
- R&D teams developing water quality monitoring solutions
- Procurement and QA engineers specifying on-line monitoring equipment
Related Standards
Keywords: EN ISO 15839:2006, ISO 15839:2003, on-line sensors, water quality sensors, performance testing, sensor specifications, laboratory and field tests.