As countries expand their ability to monitor air quality, industrial emissions and product safety, the need for reliable gas standards is growing. These standards—used to assign the amount fraction of an analyte in a balance gas such as air, nitrogen, methane or hydrogen—are fundamental for environmental monitoring, manufacturing and many industrial processes.

To support National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) developing these capabilities, the BIPM’s Metrology for Clean Air CBKT programme has facilitated targeted capacity building for Laboratorio Costarricense de Metrología (LACOMET), with sponsorship from National Physical Laboratory (NPL). The initiative focuses on transferring practical skills, strengthening technical understanding, and helping NMIs implement established international procedures in gas metrology.

Developing practical expertise in ISO 6143 and autosampler assembly

During a three-month secondment at the BIPM, visiting scientist Eric Ortiz Apuy from LACOMET received hands-on training in the application of ISO 6143 (Gas analysis — Comparison methods for determining and checking the composition of calibration gas mixtures).

Caption: Eric Ortiz Apuy (LACOMET) and Dr Edgar Flores (BIPM) working on Gas Metrology activities at the BIPM headquarters in Sèvres. Photo credit © BIPM.

The training included:

• the assembly and characterization of autosamplers,
• the use and characterization of appropriate detectors,
• access to and comparison with primary gas standards, and
• the application of appropriate algorithms for linear regression of measurement data.

These elements are essential for implementing ISO 6143 reliably and ensuring high-quality verification and value assignment of gas standards.

At the end of the secondment, the autosampling instrumentation developed under the project—sponsored by NPL—was transferred to LACOMET, supporting Costa Rica as it develops its national Gas Metrology programme.

Caption: New autosampler developed under this project. Photo credit © BIPM.

New eLearning module supports wider knowledge transfer

A new eLearning module has also been produced through the project. It provides step-by-step guidance on assembling an autosampler suitable for gas standard analysis—an essential element for achieving the performance levels required for ISO 6143 value assignment and verification.

The module is available on the BIPM eLearning site to NMIs and Designated Institutes from BIPM Member States and Associates.

This module complements existing BIPM online training resources and supports the CCQM GAWG strategy for capacity building in Gas Metrology.

Key Terms Explained