Measurement and analysis of odours

Accredited odour measurement ensures documentation to the authorities

Odour emissions from companies such as restaurants, manufacturing companies and sewage treatment plants are regulated by law. Companies must, among other things, know their odour emission, to document compliance with threshold limits and minimise the environmental impacts.

Odour assessment requirements are usually described in the company's own environmental permit. If you, as a business operator, fail to fulfil these requirements, you can risk an injunction from the public authorities and, at worse, a prohibition or a fine.

We can help you to ensure the documentation required as the basis for assessing compliance with the environmental permit. FORCE Technology can perform accredited odour measurement, where we:

• Assess the time and place of odour sampling
• Collect and analyse odour samples
• Calculate outlet heights using dispersion modelling
• Assess compliance with ground level limit values
• Advise on measures to reduce odours.

Odour measurements in conjunction with complaints

In contrast to most chemical pollution, odours can be perceived immediately, and therefore also often lead to complaints from surrounding neighbours. Irrespective of whether the odour is pleasant or unpleasant, it can be a nuisance for the neighbours.

In situations where a company is the subject of complaints from neighbours because of odour nuisance, an environmental authority will be involved and may require the measurement and eventual reduction of odours. In this case, it is vital that you are familiar with the requirements to which your company is subject.

If you do not have an environmental permit, the company will be subject to the Danish Environmental Protection Act. In this case, the environmental authority can impose an injunction to comply with the indicative threshold values in the Odour Guidelines.

Regarding complaints, we can assist your company and the authority in identifying the specific regulations applying to the complaint. We can also advise on methods and technologies that you should consider in order to reduce your emission of odours and avoid future complaints and injunctions.

Call our consultant if you have an urgent need for assistance with a complaint.

Odour measurement based on many years’ experience and professional expertise

As a customer, you are ensured broad-based expertise within odour measurement and analysis, since we:

• Have been undertaking measurement, analysis and advisory services concerning odours for more than 30 years
• Cooperate closely with the authorities in Denmark
• Have our own odour laboratory with a trained odour panel
• Take part in European standardisation committees under CEN auspices in the odour area. In recent years, we have contributed to the revision of the odour analysis standard and to drawing up standards for odour assessment and electronic odour sensors. Our knowledge in this area is thus fully updated.
• Assist the Danish Environmental Protection Agency with investigating odours, including contributing to the ongoing revision of the Odour Guidelines and the recommended odour measurement method.

Our methods for the collection and analysis of odour samples take place in accordance with EN 13.725 and  DANAK accreditation 51. All odour samples are analysed in our odour laboratory with the help of our olfactometer and trained odour panel.

We can always adapt our service according to your requirements – whether this concerns individual odour measurements, or a package solution with odour measurement, analysis and advisory services concerning reduction technologies.

Use the form to contact us for more information on how to ensure compliance with the odour emission regulations and reduce odour emissions to the environment.