AQ-SPEC can evaluate any type of air quality sensor that measures the following pollutants: ozone (O₃), nitrogen oxides (NO, NO₂, or NO_x), and particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀). We can also evaluate the performance of sensors measuring black carbon, ultrafine particles, and volatile organic compounds (VOC). In order to be considered for evaluation, a sensor must certain requirements (please see below).

• The sensor needs to measure one or more of the following pollutants: ozone (O₃), nitrogen oxides (NO, NO₂, or NO_x), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM_2.5 or PM₁₀), black carbon, and ultrafine particles.
• The sensor needs to be sensitive enough to detect ambient concentration levels of pollutants.
• The sensor needs to be widely commercially-available. In other words, an individual general consumer has to be able to purchase the product in the design, configuration, and firmware that is being submitted for testing. A product that is not available for sale to the public, is a prototype, or is undergoing beta-testing is not considered to be commercially-available.
• The sensor needs to be new and unused.
• There need to be at least three identical units of the sensor supplied for testing.
• The sensor needs to record data in time intervals no longer than 5 minutes. Sensors that record data less frequently can be considered for evaluation on a case-by-case basis.
• The sensor's data must be accessible by AQ-SPEC at any time throughout the evaluation period, and be retrievable as a file.
• AQ-SPEC focuses on so-called "low-cost" sensors. There is no strict sensor maximum price requirement. However, products that cost more than $10,000 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

No. The product sent for testing must either already be integrated with power and data communication/storage, or we need to be provided with components that will supply the sensors with power and log the data. AQ-SPEC will not use resources to integrate raw OE sensors with power and data options.

The AQ-SPEC program is funded by the South Coast AQMD, which is the regulatory agency responsible for improving air quality in large areas of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including the Coachella Valley.

Currently, there is no charge for AQ-SPEC sensor evaluations.

If the product is deemed suitable for AQ-SPEC evaluation, at least three units of the same product need to be shipped directly from the sensor vendor or their distributor. All round-trip shipping and import fees, as well as any data access fees, shall be the responsibility of the party submitting the product for evaluation; all carrier expenses and arrangements must be handled exclusively by the party submitting the product for evaluation. South Coast AQMD and AQ-SPEC will not assume any financial liability for damage or loss of products and accessories.

At least three new identical sensors must be received by AQ-SPEC directly from the vendor to perform an evaluation.

Please ship your sensors to the AQ-SPEC team at the address indicated below:

South Coast AQMD
Attn: AQ-SPEC / Randy Lam
21865 Copley Drive Diamond Bar, CA 91765
USA

Note: Normal business hours are Tues. - Fri. 7:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Our offices are closed on Mondays and holidays.

After sensors are received, a member of the AQ-SPEC team will need approximately 1 week to "bench test" the sensors to ensure they nominally function in the office. A field evaluation at one of South Coast AQMD's fixed air monitoring station requires at least 8 weeks of deployment. A laboratory evaluation, if part of the agreed upon test plan with AQ-SPEC, may also take approximately 8 weeks to complete.

After completion of testing, staff will need additional time to analyze and QC the data and generate the report.

No. AQ-SPEC evaluation reports are made available to vendors and the public at the same time. 

Reports for field and laboratory testing can be found by going to the AQ-SPEC Sensor Evaluation Summary page. 

Yes. Sensors that are not ruggedized can still be tested in the field -- they will be placed in a louvered metal shelter that protects the sensors from the weather while allowing the sensors to be exposed to ambient air. 

Standard 110/120 volt AC power is available at field test sites and in laboratory chambers. For DC-powered sensors, please provide the appropriate AC/DC converter. The plugs must be Type A (NEMA 1-15) or Type B (NEMA 5-15), or adapters must be provided.

Wi-Fi, USB, serial, and Ethernet connectivity are available at both field test sites and in the laboratory test chamber. Sensors that transmit data via cellular networks are better suited only for field tests, since cellular signal can be very weak inside laboratory test chambers.

Field tests will typically take place at either the South Coast AQMD Fontana, Mecca, or I-710 near-road sites.

You may contact us with more questions via email at info.aq-spec@aqmd.gov (preferred) or you may leave us a voicemail message for sensor-related questions only at +1 (909) 396-2713.