Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program [MOE] | Simplified VOC, etc. Measurement Technology field (p1)

Target Technology Fields

Simplified VOC, etc. Measurement Technology field

Examples of Technologies: Handy VOC sensor/monitor, etc.

Outline of Technologies

The relevant technologies have such characteristics as ease of operation or control and ability to quickly measure quantities. As such, they are useful for voluntary efforts to reduce the emission of VOC, etc. by business establishments handling VOC, etc. through process control, equipment control and other viable means.

In general, the term “VOC” means causative substances which produce photochemical oxidants and suspended particulate matters (SPM) through photochemical and physical reactions. When the term “VOC, etc.” is used, it includes, for example, “TVOC in gas emissions”, “VOC in the indoor environment” and “odor”. Accordingly, technologies in a wider range are included in the target technology field.

Examples of Target Technologies

Technologies which are easy to operate and control and which are capable of simultaneously measuring more than one constituent of VOC, etc. (Verified technologies include those related to the catalytic oxidation-detecting tube method, the interference enhanced reflection (IER) method, oxide semiconductor gas sensors and photoionization detectors.)

Reference Materials

Protocol (Version 6: revised on July 18, 2014) [PDF/405 KB]
A protocol defines the basic approach for the implementation of verification tests, test conditions, test methods and other relevant matters in the relevant technology field.
PR materials for simplified VOC, etc. measurement technologies in various foreign languages

For users

The Air Pollution Control Act regulates the level of VOC concentration at the outlet of those facilities which emit a large amount of VOC, considerably affecting the air quality. At the same time, based on the idea of containing the amount of VOC emission by means of a system combining official regulation with the voluntary measures of business operators to contain emission (best mix approach), there must be some kind of assistance to facilitate voluntary measures at small to medium size facilities outside of the regulatory regime to enable a further reduction of the amount of VOC emission.

If business operators emitting VOC, etc. obtain accurate data on the emission amount of VOC, etc. through day-to-day management and adopt optimal VOC, etc. emission reduction measures, positive effects can be expected. These effects include further improvement of the working environment, reduced cost of solvents and fulfillment of CRS through the increased transparency of environmental data. Meanwhile, even though many different simplified measuring instruments are available for use for voluntary measures, the existing data on the accuracy, operability, measurement cost and other relevant matters of these instruments is only that published by their manufacturers.

The ETV Program assists the selection of technologies suitable for the needs of users by means of disclosing the results of technology verification tests conducted by third party organizations and providing various types of information required to judge the effectiveness of individual technologies.

For verification applicants

The ETV Program assists the dissemination and wider use of useful technologies of verification applicants by means of bringing out the potential needs of users through the introduction of usable environmental technologies to users, disclosure of the results of technology verification tests conducted by third party organizations and provision of various types of information required by users to select technologies.

A questionnaire survey with verification applicants in the past received such replies as “The number of enquiries about the technology has increased since verification” and “There have been certain positive effects on sales promotion and technological development activities”. Another reply concerning the issued logo was that “The logo has been attached to the product pamphlet, technical reports, company brochure, and company website”.