🌿 Propane (liquefied petroleum gas component) in workplace air — gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID), samples collected into absorption tubes; lowest determinable concentration according to the standard 180 mg/m³, MAC (NDS) 1800 mg/m³; PN-Z-04252-2:2012

Environment PN-Z-04252-2

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN card, in full: "This standard gives a method for determining the content of propane (CAS no.: 74-98-6) in workplace air using gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection. The method is used in the inspection of sanitary and hygienic conditions. The lowest concentration of propane that can be determined under the air sampling and determination conditions described in the standard is 180 mg/m3" (our translation; on the card without a full stop at the end). From the title: samples are collected "into absorption tubes"; the card gives neither the sorbent nor the air volume. We did not have the text of the standard (6 pages). The CIOP index of methods from 2000–2017 lists "Propan – nr 1(63) 2010"; we did not read the article and give nothing from it.

NDS VALUES (list in the annex to the regulation of 26 March 2026, Journal of Laws 2026 item 447). Item 469: "Propane [74-98-6]" — NDS 1800 mg/m³, no NDSCh and no "skin" notation. The lowest determinable concentration according to the card, 180 mg/m³, is 10 % of the NDS.

STATUS (cards as of 04.10.2026). The card of PN-Z-04252-2:2012 (Polish version) has neither the heading "Withdrawn" nor a "Withdrawal date" line: published 28-09-2012, 6 pages, price group C, Health, Environment and Medicine Sector, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30; the card has no "Replaces" field. The withdrawn PN-Z-04252-1:1997 ("… Determination of propane and n-butane at workplaces by gas chromatography", withdrawal date 28-09-2012) determined both components from a sample in a gas pipette, for propane from 290 mg/m³; its card names as successor only PN-Z-04252-1:2012 (n-butane). The PKN search for "PN-Z-04252" (04.10.2026) shows three items: parts 1:2012 and 2:2012 without the label "Withdrawn" and the withdrawn part 1:1997. n-Butane is described in a separate entry of this database (PN-Z-04252-1:2012).

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, data load up to 17.09.2026, read on 04.10.2026). The number 04252-2 appears in 6 records at 3 laboratories — all with the year 2012; in the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026; issues from 26.01.2026 to 02.07.2026) — in 4 rows at the same laboratories (at AB 875 the waste gas row covers three records of the copy: sampling, concentration and emission); a search of all PCA documents downloaded from the BIP found no laboratories outside the database copy; no item is suspended, and no document repeats pages. The form "PN-Z-04252-2:2012" — AB 632 and AB 849; AB 875 — next to Test Procedure PB 052 edition 2 of 02.05.2013. The "Laboratories" tab (search term "PN-Z-04252-2") shows all 3 laboratories — checked with a tab query on the labcoda.pl production server on 04.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (database copy and PCA documents). Working environment — air, samples collected on sorbent tubes: AB 632 — 180–3600 mg/m³ (0.54–10.8 mg per sample); AB 849 — 180–4500 mg/m³ (0.54–13.5 mg per sample); AB 875 — 20–4000 mg/m³ (0.06–3.0 mg per sample). AB 875 also applies the standard to waste gases (general environment, samples collected on sorbent tubes): sampling by the aspiration method, propane concentration 20–4000 mg/m³ and propane emission by calculation. Technique: gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) — all 3 laboratories.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. First — limit of quantification: according to the card 180 mg/m³; AB 632 and AB 849 give this limit, while AB 875 gives 20 mg/m³, which requires conditions different from those in the standard (AB 875 uses its own procedure PB 052) — the report should name them. Second — upper limits: AB 632 ends its range at 3600 mg/m³, i.e. twice the NDS; at higher concentrations it matters at which laboratory the result falls within the accredited range. Third — object: at AB 875 the same standard serves for waste gases, i.e. an emission measurement, for which the NDS is not a reference value. Fourth — two liquefied petroleum gas components: propane and n-butane are today determined according to two parts (2 and 1), while the withdrawn 1997 standard determined them together; a result according to part 2 concerns propane only.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We did not have the text of the standard — we do not give the sorbent in the tubes, the volume or flow rate of air sampling, the way propane is released from the tube, the column, the chromatograph conditions or calculations.

Method principle

Propane from workplace air is collected into absorption tubes (title of the standard) and determined by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (PKN card); the result in mg/m³ is compared with the NDS of 1800 mg/m³. Lowest determinable concentration according to the card — 180 mg/m³. WE DO NOT GIVE details — we did not have the text of the standard.

Applications

• Workplace air — propane (liquefied petroleum gas component) — in the current scopes of 3 laboratories; at AB 875 also waste gases
• Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 1800 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 469 of the list)

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-Z-04252-2:2012

Title (PL)

Ochrona czystości powietrza — Badania zawartości składników gazu płynnego — Część 2: Oznaczanie propanu na stanowiskach pracy metodą chromatografii gazowej z pobieraniem próbek do rurek pochłaniających

Title (EN)

Air purity protection — Tests for liquefied petroleum gas components — Part 2: Determination of propane at workplaces by gas chromatography with sampling into absorption tubes

Step-by-step procedure

1. Sampling

   Air into absorption tubes (title of the standard); WE DO NOT GIVE the sorbent, volume or flow rate.

2. Sample preparation

   WE DO NOT GIVE the way propane is transferred from the tube to the analysis — the card does not describe it.

3. Analysis

   Gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the conditions.

4. Result and assessment

   Concentration in mg/m³; comparison with the NDS of 1800 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447); lowest determinable concentration 180 mg/m³.

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• Propane — chemical laboratory safety rules
• TECHNICAL NOTE: a bottom limit below 180 mg/m³ requires conditions different from those in the standard; propane and n-butane today have separate parts of the standard

Frequently asked questions