The Air Quality Limit Values Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

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The following upper and lower assessment thresholds will apply:

Exceedances of upper and lower assessment thresholds must be determined on the basis of concentrations during the previous five years where sufficient data are available. An assessment threshold will be deemed to have been exceeded if it has been exceeded during at least three separate years out of those previous five years.

Where fewer than five years' data are available, measurement campaigns of short duration during the period of the year and at locations likely to be typical of the highest pollution levels may be combined with results obtained from emission inventories and modelling to determine exceedances of the upper and lower assessment thresholds.

The following considerations will apply to fixed measurement.

Protection of human health

Protection of ecosystems and vegetation

The following guidelines should be met as far as practicable:

• the flow around the inlet sampling probe should be unrestricted without any obstructions affecting the airflow in the vicinity of the sampler (normally some metres away from buildings, balconies, trees, and other obstacles and at least 0.5 m from the nearest building in the case of sampling points representing air quality at the building line);

• in general, the inlet sampling point should be between 1.5 m (the breathing zone) and 4 m above the ground. Higher positions (up to 8 m) may be necessary in some circumstances. Higher siting may also be appropriate if the station is representative of a large area;

• the inlet probe should not be positioned in the immediate vicinity of sources in order to avoid the direct intake of emissions unmixed with ambient air;

• the sampler’s exhaust outlet should be positioned so that recirculation of exhaust air to the sampler inlet is avoided;

  • location of traffic-oriented samplers:

  • for all pollutants, such sampling points should be at least 25 m from the edge of major junctions and at least 4 m from the centre of the nearest traffic lane,

  • for nitrogen dioxide, inlets should be no more than 5 m from the kerbside,

  • for particulate matter and lead, inlets should be sited so as to be representative of air quality near to the building line.

The following factors may also be taken into account:

• interfering sources;

• security;

• access;

• availability of electrical power and telephone communications;

• visibility of the site in relation to its surroundings;

• safety of public and operators;

• the desirability of co-locating sampling points for different pollutants;

• planning requirements.

The site-selection procedures should be fully documented at the classification stage by such means as compass-point photographs of the surrounding area and a detailed map. Sites should be reviewed at regular intervals with repeated documentation to ensure that selection criteria remain valid over time.

Diffuse sources

Point sources

The following data-quality objectives for the required accuracy of assessment methods, of minimum time coverage and of data capture of measurement are laid down to guide quality-assurance programmes.

The accuracy of the measurement is defined as laid down in the “Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty of Measurements” (ISO 1993)^f1 or in ISO 5725-1 “Accuracy (trueness and precision) of measurement methods and results” (ISO 1994)^f2. The percentages in the table are given for individual measurements averaged, over the period considered, by the limit value, for a 95% confidence interval (bias + two times the standard deviation). The accuracy for continuous measurements should be interpreted as being applicable in the region of the appropriate limit value.

The accuracy for modelling and objective estimation is defined as the maximum deviation of the measured and calculated concentration levels, over the period considered by the limit value, without taking account of the timing of the events.

The requirements for minimum data capture and time coverage do not include losses of data due to the regular calibration or the normal maintenance of the instrumentation.

The Department may allow for random measurements to be made instead of continuous measurements for particulate matter and lead by methods for which accuracy within the 95% confidence interval with respect to continuous monitoring has been demonstrated to be within 10%. Random sampling must be spread evenly over the year.

The following information should be compiled for zones or agglomerations within which sources other than measurement are employed to supplement information from measurement or as the sole means of air quality assessment:

• a description of assessment activities carried out;

• the specific methods used, with references to descriptions of the method;

• the sources of data and information;

• a description of results, including accuracies and, in particular, the extent of any area or, if relevant, the length of road within the zone or agglomeration over which concentrations exceed limit value(s) or, as may be, limit value(s) plus applicable margin(s) of tolerance and of any area within which concentrations exceed the upper assessment threshold or the lower assessment threshold;

• for limit values the object of which is the protection of human health, the population potentially exposed to concentrations in excess of the limit value.

Where possible maps shall be compiled showing concentration distributions within each zone and agglomeration.

ISO/FDIS 10498 (Standard in draft) Ambient air—determination of sulphur dioxide—ultraviolet fluorescence method^f1.

ISO 7996: 1985 Ambient air—determination of the mass concentrations of nitrogen oxides—chemiluminescence method^f1.

The reference method for the sampling of lead will be that described in the Annex to Directive 82/884/EEC^f1 until such time as the limit value in Schedule 1 to these Regulations is to be met, when the reference method will be that for PM₁₀ specified in Part IV of this Schedule.

ISO 9855: 1993 Ambient air—Determination of the particulate lead content of aerosols collected in filters. Atomic absorption spectroscopy method^f1.

The reference method for the sampling and measurement of PM₁₀ will be that described in EN 12341 “Air Quality—Field Test Procedure to Demonstrate Reference Equivalence of Sampling Methods for the PM₁₀ fraction of particulate matter”^f1. The measurement principle is based on the collection on a filter of the PM₁₀ fraction of ambient particulate matter and the gravimetric mass determination.

These regulations are made in the implementation in Northern Ireland of European Council Directive 96/62/EC on ambient air quality assessment and management, and European Council Directive 99/30/EC relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead (“the relevant pollutants” in ambient air).

Regulation 3 places a duty upon any relevant government department to ensure that in each zone in Northern Ireland concentrations of relevant pollutants do not exceed the limit values. The limit values for each pollutant, and the date by which they are to be met, are set out in Schedule 1.

Regulation 4 requires the Department of the Environment (“the Department”) to assess ambient air quality in each zone in accordance with regulations 5 to 7.

Regulation 5 requires the Department to classify each zone in relation to each of the relevant pollutants in accordance with the method required to assess air quality in that zone. Regulation 5 together with Schedule 2 provide for the determination of upper and lower assessment thresholds for each relevant pollutant, and regulation 5 sets out the requirements for measurement or other assessment of air quality depending on pollution levels in relation to the thresholds.

Regulation 6 places a duty on the Department to review the classification of zones every five years or in the event of significant changes affecting levels of any of the relevant pollutants.

Regulation 7 requires the Department to ensure that specified methods are used for assessing air quality for each pollutant in each zone. Schedule 3 sets out how sampling points for the relevant pollutants are to be determined. Schedule 4 sets out criteria for the minimum number of sampling points for fixed measurements to assess compliance with limit values in zones where that is the only source of information, and with limit values for the protection of ecosystems or vegetation in certain other zones. Schedule 5 makes provision for data quality objectives for the required accuracy of assessment methods, and for compilation of the results of air quality assessment. Schedule 6 prescribes reference methods for the analysis, sampling or measurement of the relevant pollutants. Regulation 7 places a duty on the Department to ensure that measuring stations supply data on concentrations of PM_2.5 particulate matter.

Regulation 8 requires the Department to draw up, after consultation with other relevant government departments, action plans indicating measures to be taken in the short term where there is a risk that limit values for any of the relevant pollutants, or alert thresholds for sulphur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide, will be exceeded. The alert thresholds for sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are set out in Schedule 1.

Regulation 9 requires the Department to draw up lists of zones where the levels of one or more of the relevant pollutants is above the limit value, or between the limit value and any margin of tolerance shown in Schedule 1. For such zones, the regulation places a duty on the Department to draw up, after consultation with other relevant government departments, a plan or programme, which must contain at least the information set out in Schedule 7 (including the location and origin of the pollution, the responsible authorities and the measures taken to deal with the pollution). Such relevant departments are obliged by the regulation to implement the plan or programme.

Regulation 10 requires the Department to list zones where levels of the relevant pollutants are below limit values. The regulation also places a duty on the Department and other relevant government departments to ensure that levels of these pollutants are maintained below the limit values, and to endeavour to preserve the best ambient air quality, compatible with sustainable development.

Regulation 11 requires the Department to ensure that up-to-date information on ambient concentrations of each of the relevant pollutants is routinely made available to the public. It prescribes the frequency and content of such information. Where alert thresholds for sulphur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide are exceeded, further information, set out Schedule 1 must be provided (this includes details of the place and time of the occurrence, forecasts, and precautions to be taken by sensitive populations).

Regulation 12 revokes for Northern Ireland and at different dates parts of the Air Quality Standards Regulations (NI) 1990 giving effect to limit values for the relevant pollutants in earlier directives.