Standardization News

California Vapor Intrusion Guidance Cites Several ASTM Standards

Four ASTM Committees Represented in Standards

ASTM International standards are prominently featured in the Final Guidance for the Evaluation and Mitigation of Subsurface Vapor Intrusion to Indoor Air (Vapor Intrusion Guidance), a document released on Oct. 12, 2011, by the California Environmental Protection Agency's Department of Toxic Substances Control.

Stating that "the intrusion of subsurface vapors into buildings is one of many exposure pathways to be considered in assessing the risk posed by releases of hazardous chemicals into the environment," the guidance document details how developers and site cleanup contractors should address and mitigate volatile organic compound emissions that enter buildings from contaminated soil. The DTSC notes that it anticipates the guidance will be used "by regulators, responsible parties, environmental consultants, community groups and property developers."

Standards from four ASTM International committees are cited in the guidance:

  • D422, Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils (Committee D18 on Soil and Rock);
  • D854, Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by Water Pycnometer (Committee D18);
  • D2216, Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass (Committee D18);
  • D2937, Test Method for Density of Soil in Place by the Drive-Cylinder Method (Committee D18);
  • D6196, Practice for Selection of Sorbents, Sampling and Thermal Desorption Analysis Procedures for Volatile Organic Compounds in Air (Committee D22 on Air Quality);
  • E741, Test Method for Determining Air Change in a Single Zone by Means of a Tracer Gas Dilution (Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings); and,
  • E1739, Guide for Risk-Based Corrective Action Applied at Petroleum Release Sites (Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action).

To purchase ASTM International standards, visit www.astm.org and search by the standard designation number, or contact ASTM Customer Relations (phone: 610-832-9585).


Issue Month
January/February
Issue Year
2012