Portrait
About gas analysis at METAS
Accurate measurement of gas mixture fractions is of great importance in many areas. For example, in environmental protection, gaseous air pollutants or climate-relevant gases must be reliably and accurately measured over long periods of time. Other areas of application are biotechnology, medicine, road safety, industry and personal protection.
In the gas analysis laboratory, we ensure traceability to internationally agreed reference values with our high-precision measurement devices and measurement procedures. With our services we support the administration, industry and research in their quest for reliable and accurate measurements.
In order to always remain at the cutting edge of technology, we are continuously expanding our measurement capabilities. To that end, we carry out various research and development projects. Our area of expertise is the dynamic generation of reference gas mixtures and their analysis down to trace quantities. This includes, in particular, reactive substances such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ammonia, nitrogen dioxide, etc. We offer calibrations both in the laboratory and directly on site.
Services
What we offer
Our services include the measurement of gaseous amount of substance fractions in the pmol/mol to mmol/mol (or %) range.
Analyses and calibrations
We offer calibrations and measurements for various volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ammonia, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, etc. in our laboratory or on your premises. If you cannot find the desired service under the following link, please do not hesitate to contact us!
Services (PDF, 119 kB, 24.09.2024)
Reactive Gas Standard (ReGaS) brochure (PDF, 2 MB, 27.02.2025)
Registration for the next ozone analyser campaign (DOCX, 64 kB, 05.03.2025)
Pattern approvals and conformity assessments
We perform national pattern approvals of flue gas measurement instruments and breath alcohol measurement instruments. Please contact METAS Cert for conformity assessments of exhaust gas analysers in accordance with the new, global approach instruments.
Official verifications
Every year we verify around 300 flue gas measurement instruments and more than 3,000 breath alcohol measurement instruments.
Consulting
If you have any questions concerning our services or need consulting, we will be pleased to help. Contact us without obligation.
Research & Development
Development and realisation of references
With research and development projects, we keep our measurement facilities and expertise at the forefront of technology. This enables us to continue offering the services you need and foster innovation over the long term. We work together with other metrology institutes, higher education institutions, public administration and industry. We are involved in several European projects in the context of the EURAMET research programmes.
Since summer 2023, our gas analysis laboratory has been the international reference laboratory of the “Global Atmosphere Watch” (GAW) network of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for halogenated volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the atmosphere (see “CCL” tab). Thanks to the references developed as part of the “MetClimVOC” project, METAS is now able to offer reference gas mixtures for ten halogenated VOCs.
As a research partner of Innosuisse (Swiss Innovation Agency), you can leverage our metrology research and development capabilities in the area of reactive gases at trace levels.
Projects
Standardizing long-term remote sensing and in situ measurements of atmospheric halogenated VOCs based on SI-traceability
GCOS-CH SI-haloVOCs (2024 – 2028)
Fundamental principles of sensor network metrology
EPM 22DIT02 FunSNM (2023 – 2026)
On farm quantification of ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from livestock production
EPM 21GRD10 quantiAGREMI (2022 – 2025)
Metrology for Climate Relevant Volatile Organic Compounds
EMPIR 19ENV06 MetClimVOC (2020 – 2023)
Balloon-borne laser spectrometer for UTLS water research
GCOS-CH ALBATROSS (2020 – 2022)
Novel SI-traceable low-cost sensor system for air quality monitoring
Innosuisse 36779.1 IP-ENG LCSS (2019 – 2022)
Metrology for Nitrogen Dioxide
EMPIR 16ENV05 MetNO2 (2017 – 2020)
Metrology for VOC indicators in air pollution and climate change
EMRP ENV56 KEY-VOCs (10.2014 – 09.2017)
Metrology for ammonia in ambient air
EMRP ENV55 MetNH3 (2014 – 2017)
Metrology for high impact greenhouse Gases
EMRP ENV52 HIGHGAS (2014 – 2017)
Traceable & portable gas generator for reactive gases
CTI 17752.1 PFIW-IW (2015 – 2017)
Metrology for Chemical Pollutants in Air
EMRP ENV01 MACPoll (2011 – 2014)
CCL
Central Calibration Laboratory (CCL)
Since June 2023, METAS has been recognised globally as the Central Calibration Laboratory (CCL) of the “Global Atmosphere Watch” (GAW) programme for halogenated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere.
What is a GAW-CCL?
The GAW programme of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a partnership involving over 100 countries. Its goal is to measure the chemical composition of the atmosphere in a long-term and comparable manner through a global network of measurement stations. To achieve this, high-quality reference standards are required, which are provided by the central GAW-CCLs.
The CCL function of METAS
The Gas Analysis Laboratory of METAS is the GAW-CCL for the following ten halogenated VOCs: HFO-1234yf, HFC-125, CFC-13, HCFC-132b, 1,2-dichloroethane, HFO-1336mzz(Z), HFC-32, HFC-365mfc, CH2Cl2 and CCl4. METAS has produced primary SI-traceable references for these ten substances. As a CCL, METAS is responsible for maintaining the references and providing reference gas mixtures for calibrations within the GAW network. In addition, METAS supports the GAW stations in questions regarding the dissemination of reference values, the calibration of equipment and the estimation of measurement uncertainties. In close collaboration with the operators of the measuring stations, METAS develops new reference gases in the context of projects. In particular, this includes creating references for substances for which no SI-traceable references currently exist.
The CCL function of METAS is financed by METAS and MeteoSwiss, which coordinates the tasks of the GAW in Switzerland. By assuming the role of CCL, METAS has laid the foundation for ensuring that halogenated VOCs can be measured comparably worldwide within the GAW network.
Why are halogenated VOCs measured?
The atmosphere contains well over 30 different halogenated VOCs. Some of these significantly contribute to global warming and/or destroy the stratospheric ozone layer. Others break down into degradation products that harm the environment. Accurate and comparable measurement of all halogenated VOCs in the atmosphere is critical to deepening our understanding of climate change and defining and verifying measures.
Last modification 05.03.2025
Contact
Federal Institute of Metrology
Laboratory Gas Analysis
Lindenweg 50
CH-3003
Bern-Wabern
T
+41 58 387 01 11