UK FOCUS


Case evidence from real sites Grand Paris Express


A major infrastructure project required continuous PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ perimeter monitoring at multiple active sites. DustTrak™ Environmental Monitor was chosen for its stability under variable dust loads, ability to provide real-time alerts, and clear reporting to stakeholders. The system operated without saturation during high-dust events, supporting rapid mitigation and maintaining community confi dence.


UK demolition site (Clugston)


During a demolition project in Surrey, DustTrak™ monitor recorded PM₁₀ peaks up to 1.9 mg/m³ (1,900 µg/m³) associated with heavy vehicle activity. These peaks were clearly tracked and used to manage suppression. A typical low-cost OPC sensor with an upper range around 150–200 µg/m³ could have saturated or signifi cantly under-reported these events, masking the true scale of emissions.


These examples illustrate the magnitude of real construction dust events and the need for instruments designed to capture them.


• Stable operation under 100–200 mg/m³ continuous loading • Burst tolerance exceeding 400 mg/m³


These conditions are far above the levels at which many low- cost ambient OPC sensors are specifi ed to operate.


TSI DustTrak™ Environmental Aerosol Monitor


Other programmes, including work on air sensor evaluation in North America, have begun to recognise that different monitoring purposes may justify different performance expectations. For construction dust, this highlights a simple point: using an ambient-grade, low-cost sensor for high-dust work is a different question from asking whether a monitor is fi t for purpose on a busy site with coarse particles and rapid peaks.


For now, the most practical approach in the UK is to be explicit in specifi cations about the environment and concentration range the monitor needs to handle, rather than assuming that any ambient sensor or indicative monitor will automatically be suitable for construction dust management.


Photometric measurement: why it suits construction dust


For construction dust monitoring, it is advantageous to use a monitor that measures a signal proportional to mass, rather than inferring PM₁₀ solely from fi ne-particle counts and assumed distributions.


The DustTrak™ monitor uses a real-time photometric measurement method where the intensity of scattered light in the sensing chamber is proportional to the mass concentration of particulate matter, subject to a calibration factor. This offers several advantages for construction environments:


Direct mass-proportional measurement


The photometric signal responds to the total mass of particles within the instrument’s size sensitivity range, so coarse particles contribute directly to the signal. The response is still infl uenced by aerosol properties such as refractive index, density and size distribution, but it does not depend on counting only the fi nest fractions and extrapolating to PM₁₀.


High concentration capability


Because the optical system is designed for high loading, DustTrak™ monitors can remain usable through large spikes. Laboratory evaluation of the DustTrak™ Environmental optical system, including its extended beam dump design, has shown:


Selecting a fi t-for-purpose PM₁₀ monitor


A suitable PM₁₀ monitor for construction must offer more than generic indicative measurement. Minimum requirements include:


• Real-time mass-proportional measurement, rather than purely algorithmic estimation of PM₁₀ from fi ne-particle counts


• Stable operation well above 150 µg/m³, ideally into the thousands


• Protection of optical components (for example sheath air and beam dump) to limit contamination-related drift


• Sampling design and fl ow suitable for robust operation in windy, open environments


• Ability to operate continuously outdoors with manageable drift and realistic maintenance intervals


• Clear, actionable alerts that can be tied to DMP response actions


• Reliable data export for DMPs, planning compliance and stakeholder reporting.


When monitoring is tied to planning conditions or potential enforcement, missing a high-dust event has real consequences. A monitor must be able to remain reliable during the phases where risk is highest.


Sponsored content: This article has been commissioned and placed by TSI Incorporated. The opinions expressed are those of the author. ILM Publications had no input into the content or reviewing of this article. This article is intended for environmental professionals.


A new standard in water pipeline pressure testing, now available in the UK


Synthotech Ltd., a leading UK supplier of specialist pipeline and utility solutions, is the offi cial distributor of Esders GmbH’s innovative ‘smart memo’ system for the United Kingdom. An advanced portable device, smart memo is designed for testing pressure and tightness in water and wastewater pipelines. Fully compatible with a wide range of intelligent external pressure sensors, it enables testing in accordance with BS EN 805, BS EN 806, IGN 4-01-03 and BS EN 1610 all packed into one compact unit.


Thanks to its clever modular design featuring external smart sensors, the smart memo stays lightweight (A5 size) while packing in tons of functionality. Its user-friendly interface blends


a spacious touchscreen with mechanical keys, making navigation a breeze. You can securely upload test results, including geolocation data and digital signatures, to the Esders Live Cloud. Plus, with remote software updates and technical support, you can minimise downtime and keep operating costs low.


The system offers a fully automated way to pressure test water pipelines, boosting both reliability and effi ciency. When paired with the latest motorised test pumps, the smart memo feature allows for remote control of pressurisation and pressure maintenance phases, along with automated pressure drop testing. With the convenient real-time


measurement feature, engineers can keep an eye on tests as they happen, even during those lengthy procedures like the ones detailed in IGN 4-01-03 or BS EN 805.


All it takes is activating the function on any LTE-enabled smart memo through the Esders Connect app. But it doesn’t stop at just water supply systems; the smart memo also handles leak tightness testing in sewers and manholes, fully compliant with BS EN 1610. Plus, when you pair it with the Esders EDS2 level probe, you get accurate water level readings in chambers. With Synthotech stepping in as the UK distributor, utilities, contractors, and engineering fi rms now have a direct line to


Water / Wastewater For more information visit tsi.com/enviro.


Myles Quigley, Global Product Manager, TSI


Tel: +44 (0) 149 4 459200 Email: answerseu@tsi.com Web: https://tsi.com


Optics protection and fl ow design A combination of optics protection, including sheath air and purge fl ows around sensitive components, reduces contamination and drift. The beam dump design helps prevent optical saturation and reduces background scatter, maintaining stability during high-dust bursts. A higher-fl ow sampling system supports robust sampling even in gusty, complex wind conditions typical of open sites.


Baseline control and humidity management


Features such as auto-zero routines and heated inlets support baseline stability and help to reduce humidity-related artefacts. This is important where hygroscopic growth and fog events could otherwise interfere with measurements.


Taken together, these features are designed to support stable, defensible data on the days when dust levels matter most.


Conclusion


Construction sites need PM₁₀ monitors that can withstand coarse dust, rapid bursts, humidity, wind and long operating hours, and still produce reliable data. Many low-cost OPC sensors, designed primarily for ambient fi ne-particle monitoring, struggle to meet these demands. They can saturate early, underestimate coarse fractions, and leave gaps in data exactly when dust levels matter most.


Photometric instruments such as DustTrak™ monitors provide a real-time mass-proportional measurement method supported by an optical and sampling architecture tailored to high-dust environments. They have demonstrated stable performance in both laboratory loading tests and real-world deployments on projects where data integrity is essential.


As local authorities gain expanded powers and as developers adopt more robust DMPs, the distinction between ambient-grade sensors and construction-grade monitors becomes increasingly important. A clear high-dust performance tier within MCERTS would help the market align around this reality, but contractors and consultants do not need to wait for the certifi cation framework to evolve. The technical requirements are already clear, and performance evidence is already available.


Esders’ smart memo. This innovative solution is not only connected and compliant with standards but also ready for the future when it comes to pressure testing.


65897pr@reply-direct.com WWW.ENVIROTECH-ONLINE.COM v


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60