NF ISO 18400-301, X31-009-301 (10/2023)

This document provides specific requirements and recommendations for soil sampling and semi-quantitative analyzes in field investigations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are not explicitly covered in the series of existing standards ISO 18400. In addition, it provides information on the preparation steps (choice of sampling strategy, definition of a sampling plan); describes sampling techniques (drilling techniques, sampling devices and sampling procedures) and field measurements; and provides recommendations on storage, packaging, transportation and delivery to the laboratory in the context of VOCs (see description of the soil sample collection process in Figure 2). VOCs to which this document may be applied include: — volatile aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, naphthalene; — aliphatic ethers such as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) and methyl tert-amyl ether (TAME); — volatile halogenated hydrocarbons such as tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene. The document does not cover non-organic volatile compounds. However, information on these compounds is provided in Annex D. This document provides requirements and recommendations for choosing suitable drilling and sampling techniques for VOC analysis and how to apply them. It clarifies the applicability and limitations of drilling and sampling techniques, taking into account physical, chemical or biological reactions that may take place in the soil. This document provides requirements and recommendations for the use of instrumental techniques for measuring VOCs in air, first in relation to operator safety, then for the semi-quantitative analysis of volatile compounds during taking a soil sample. The following topics are outside the scope of this document: — direct quantitative analysis of volatile compounds by field analytical laboratories; — investigations and assessment of soil gas quality (which are covered in ISO 18400 204); — security risk assessment; and — analytical procedures.
(Automatic translation from French)