Ever since environmental issues first began to appear on the agenda, ÅF has been involved in checking and measuring environmental performance (for example, in terms of emissions) in most areas of industry.
Experience from several different industries enables us to use the knowledge we have gained to the very best advantage.
In certain types of operation emissions and losses of raw materials have been problematical both for the environment and for the company's own finances. To draw up a list of prioritised measures aimed at reducing emissions requires knowledge of the quantity, quality and "permanence" of the emissions concerned. The same information is also essential to determine whether industrial processes are being carried out in the best possible way and whether environmental conditions are being met.
To ensure that investigations of emissions provide reliable, representative results it is essential to be fully familiar with the analysis procedures, the measuring methods and the industrial processes themselves.
ÅF has extensive experience of both process measurements and emissions measurements to air, soil and water.
The ÅF emissions measuring laboratory is SWEDAC accredited (licence number 1832).
Some examples of the services we offer:
- Odours
Our laboratory works with the problems associated with odour nuisance. This kind of work is frequently integrated into work aimed at reducing emissions. As different people experience the same smells in different ways it is often difficult to quantify odour nuisances. For this reason, technology to assist with odour mapping and dispersion patterns plays a key role in the strategies we employ to help clients control and contain emissions. ÅF has been working for many years with a well established standard method for sensory analysis and has access to a trained "odour panel".
- VOCs
Our capacity with regard to volatile organic compounds (VOCs, solvents) is unique in the entire Nordic region. The resources to which we have access enable us to measure 24 points at the same time.
- Noise and acoustics
We are also accredited for measuring and calculating external noise. This work is usually integrated with the work of producing plans and with measures for reducing noise pollution.
- FT-IR technology
In terms of the equipment at our disposal we are unique in the market in having access to an FT-IR instrument. Infrared spectrometry is a technique for identifying organic molecules. The advantage of this kind of analysis is that it is quick and effective. While the FT-IR instrument we use is, in the first instance, adapted to measure fume emissions, it can of course also be used for other types of gases.