SKC AirChek Touch (220-5000TC) Personal Air Sampling Pump

Overview

The SKC AirChek Touch (220-5000TC) is a precision-engineered, intrinsically safe personal air sampling pump designed for occupational hygiene and environmental monitoring applications requiring high-fidelity, trace-level collection of airborne contaminants—including respirable dust, vapors, gases, and aerosols. Operating on the principle of volumetric displacement with real-time isothermal flow compensation, the pump dynamically corrects for variations in ambient temperature, barometric pressure, and system backpressure—ensuring metrologically traceable sample volumes across diverse field conditions. Its compliance with OSHA, NIOSH, and ISO 13199 standards for personal sampling makes it suitable for regulatory-grade exposure assessments in manufacturing, mining, pharmaceutical cleanrooms, and industrial hygiene laboratories.

Key Features

• Full-color resistive touchscreen interface with auto-dimming backlight and tamper-resistant lockout mode—enabling intuitive programming, real-time parameter visualization (flow rate, elapsed time, cumulative volume, ambient temperature/pressure), and immediate alarm indication.
• Patented isothermal mass flow sensor technology provides active compensation for temperature, pressure, and backpressure-induced drift—maintaining constant volumetric delivery even under challenging filter loading or sorbent tube resistance.
• Ultra-wide flow range: 5–5000 mL/min (standard), extendable down to 5 mL/min using optional low-flow adapters—supporting both high-volume vapor sampling (e.g., VOCs via charcoal tubes) and ultra-low-flow aerosol collection (e.g., asbestos or crystalline silica).
• Rechargeable 7.4 V / 2.6 Ah lithium-ion battery delivering ≥20 hours runtime at 2000 mL/min and 10 hours at full 5000 mL/min; compatible with continuous AC operation via charging cradle.
• Ruggedized polycarbonate housing with electrostatic-dissipative rubber overmolding; IP54-rated ingress protection; operating temperature range: 0–40 °C (32–104 °F); storage range: −20–45 °C (−4–113 °F).
• Integrated LED status indicators for pump operation, fault detection (e.g., low battery, excessive backpressure, sensor error), and calibration readiness.
• Pre-certified for hazardous locations: UL Class I, Div. 1 (Groups A–D); ATEX/IECEx Zone 0 (Ex ia IIC T3C)—enabling deployment in petrochemical refineries, solvent-handling facilities, and grain silos without external barriers.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The AirChek Touch supports standardized sampling media per NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), OSHA Sampling & Analytical Methods, and ISO 13199. It is validated for use with 37-mm mixed cellulose ester (MCE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polycarbonate filters; charcoal, silica gel, and Tenax sorbent tubes; and impingers for formaldehyde or metals analysis. All configurations comply with GLP data integrity requirements when paired with CalChek verification and DataTrac®Pro audit trails. The device meets FDA 21 CFR Part 11 criteria for electronic records and signatures when used with validated software workflows, and its firmware supports secure user authentication, change logging, and calibration history retention.

Software & Data Management

DataTrac®Pro PC software enables centralized configuration, remote firmware updates, batch calibration management, and automated report generation compliant with ISO/IEC 17025 documentation standards. Each pump logs timestamped flow profiles, cumulative volume, battery voltage, and environmental parameters—exportable as CSV or PDF for integration into LIMS or EHS platforms. CalChek functionality allows on-site verification against primary flow standards (e.g., dry calibrators or bubble meters) with automatic deviation flagging and certificate generation. Audit trails include operator ID, calibration date, reference standard serial number, and pass/fail status—fully traceable for regulatory inspections.

Applications

• Occupational exposure monitoring for respirable crystalline silica (NIOSH 7500), beryllium (OSHA ID-125), and hexavalent chromium (OSHA ID-215).
• VOC and SVOC sampling using thermal desorption tubes (e.g., EPA TO-17) or passive badge validation studies.
• Indoor air quality (IAQ) surveys in schools, offices, and healthcare facilities per ASHRAE Standard 62.1.
• Confined space entry pre-screening where intrinsic safety and real-time flow assurance are mandatory.
• Method validation and laboratory intercomparison exercises requiring multi-pump synchronization and synchronized start/stop logic.

FAQ

Is the AirChek Touch compatible with NIOSH-approved sampling methods?
Yes—the pump meets NIOSH performance criteria for flow accuracy, stability, and backpressure compensation across all certified methods (e.g., 0500, 0600, 1501). Calibration must be performed using NIST-traceable standards prior to each sampling campaign.
Can the pump operate continuously while connected to AC power?
Yes—when docked in the standard or enhanced cradle, the device runs indefinitely on AC power while simultaneously charging the battery, eliminating runtime limitations during long-term stationary monitoring.
What is the recommended calibration frequency?
Per ISO 13199 and AIHA RP-1, calibration shall be performed before and after each sampling event, or at least daily for multi-day campaigns. Field verification using CalChek is required prior to deployment.
Does the touchscreen support glove operation?
The resistive touchscreen responds reliably to gloved fingertips (including nitrile and leather work gloves), and the UI includes large touch targets optimized for industrial PPE environments.
How is data integrity ensured during battery replacement?
All critical sampling metadata—including time stamps, flow logs, and calibration records—is stored in non-volatile memory and retained across battery swaps or power cycles, ensuring uninterrupted chain-of-custody compliance.