This document, along with ISO 16000-38, specifies the measurement method for determining the mass concentration of primary, secondary and tertiary aliphatic and aromatic amines in indoor air using accumulated sampling and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) or high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The analytical procedure is covered by this document. The sampling procedure and the manufacturing of the samplers are covered by ISO 16000-38.

This document describes specifications for the chromatography and the mass spectroscopy for the amines. Measurement results are expressed in µg/m³.

Although primarily intended for the measurement of amines listed in Tables A.1 and A.2, it can also be used for the measurement of other amines in indoor air. This document gives instructions and describes procedures for the inclusion of other amines.

The range of application of this document concerning the concentrations of amines in indoor air depends on the linear range of the calibration line and hence on the gas sample volume (here: from 5 l up to 100 l), the eluate volume (from 1 ml up to 5 ml), the injection volume (from 1 µl up to 10 µl) and the sensitivity of the analytical equipment (e.g. linear range from 2 pg up to 2 ng amine). The range of application can be expected to be from approximately 0,002 µg/m³ (100 l sample) up to 2 000 µg/m³ (5 l sample) for a common analytical equipment (e.g. Waters „TQD“) for the majority of the amines listed in Tables A.1 and A.2. The analysis of derivatives of ethanolamine is usually about 10 times more sensitive and the analysis of short-chained aliphatic amines is usually about 10 times less sensitive than the analysis of an average amine.

The performance data of the analytical method is given in Annex B, particularly in Tables B.1 and B.2.

This document can be used also for the determination of amines in water if the detection limit is sufficient.

This document does not cover the determination of isocyanates in indoor air (nor in water samples) as corresponding amines (covered by ISO 17734-1 and ISO 17734-2).