SCAQMD’s AQ-SPEC program aims at being the testing center for low cost air monitoring sensors to establish performance standards by which sensors are evaluated.  The program evaluates sensors in both controlled laboratory conditions and in the field. In the field, sensors are tested alongside one or more of SCAQMD’s existing air monitoring stations using traditional federal reference or equivalence methods to gauge overall performance. Sensors demonstrating acceptable performance in the field are then brought to the AQ-SPEC laboratory for more detailed testing in an atmospheric chamber under controlled conditions.

For more information on field and laboratory testing methods development and results, please visit the Summary, Field and Laboratory pages.