FRM Filter Change
Purpose: Follow the steps below to perform FRM 2025 filter change.
Note: The FRM impactor has a glass fiber filter inside the collection well to prevent particle bounce. FRM impactor filters should be replaced after every sixth sample run date. This corresponds to every other magazine change out, if samples run on a daily schedule or every sixth change out if samples run on a 3-day schedule. Follow the steps below to replace filters. These steps should be performed after exchanging filter magazines.
Required Equipment: Disposable protective gloves
Reference: SOPMAN
1. Filter magazines must be changed out at least every 3 days, as shown in the sample collection schedules.
2. Remove a supply magazine from the freezer (lowest filter sequence numbers) and record the sample dates on each filter label in month (MM), day (DD), year (YY) format. The sample date on the top filter label should be tomorrow, since this filter will be exposed first. The sample dates for the middle and bottom filters will be the day after tomorrow and two days after tomorrow, respectively.
3. Put on a pair of clean disposable gloves and take the supply magazine to the FRM sampler. Open the enclosure door and note information displayed by the Main Screen. The top line of the screen should read:
Stat: OK Main Screen Mode: RUN
The next line of the screen should read:
Cur: hh.mm yy/mm/dd Flt1 Temp: xx.x
If the displayed information is incorrect, or the current time is off by more than 2 minutes, follow directions below for adjustment.
Set current time
Note: All filter samplers and data loggers operate on local standard time. This means that the time displayed on equipment should be an hour earlier than on your time cube during daylight savings time (April-October) and the same as your watch the rest of the year. Any problems related to data logger time or sampler time (FRM) should be reported to ARA without delay.
· Note the time on the time cube and compare with the time on the FRM sampler. If the difference is more than 2 minutes continue with this procedure, otherwise stop.
· From the Main Screen press the Stop key to interrupt sampling, and then press the Setup key to access the Setup Screen. You should see Mode: STOP in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
· Press the EDIT key to enter the edit mode. The cursor should change from an underline to a black square. Navigate the cursor to Curr Time: using the arrow keys and adjust the hour field (if necessary) and minute field. This can be done from the keypad or by pressing the increment <+List> or decrement <-List> keys. Note that each field must be edited separately. Do not worry about the second’s field. Navigate down to Curr Date: and adjust the year (e.g., 98), month (e.g., 06) and day (e.g., 05) fields, if necessary. Note that year, month and day are separate fields and that they must appear in that order.
· Confirm that you have entered the correct time/date. Press the ENTER key to save changes and to return to browse mode (note cursor change). Caution: Pressing the ESC key while in edit mode will cause the sampler to discard any changes (edits) and return to browse mode.
· Press the ESC key to return to the Main Screen and the RUN/STOP key to return to RUN mode. Confirm that the Main Screen reads Mode: RUN and close the enclosure door.
Resetting the Start/End Times and Dates for the FRM
Note: The FRM will normally keep track of run times, as long as it remains in continuous operation. Follow the step below if the sampler runs out of filters or experiences a disruption in service.
· From the Main Screen press the FiltSet key to go to the Filter Setup screen. Press the RUN/STOP key and the EDIT key. The screen should now display Mode: STOP and the cursor should be a square.
· Using the arrow keys, navigate to the Start Time or End Time fields and adjust to 00.00 (i.e., midnight). Note that the hour and minute fields must be edited separately. Navigate to the Start Date and End Date fields and edit these either with the <+List> /<-List> keys or from the keypad.
· Confirm that the date/time fields are correct. Press the ENTER key to return to browse mode and the RUN/STOP key to return the sampler to operation. Note: If there is a filter in the sampling chamber, the FRM will go into RUN mode and resume air sampling. If there is no filter in the sample chamber, the FRM will go into WAIT mode until the next sample interval and will then begin sampling.
· Confirm that the sampler is in the correct mode of operation (RUN or WAIT, but not STOP). Press the ESC key to return to the Main Screen. Close the enclosure door and record your edits in the Observations section of the Filter Sample Report Form.
4. Depress the FiltSet key on the Main Screen to access the Filter Setup Screen.
The first line of the screen should read:
Stat: OK Filter Setup Mode: RUN
Note the start time and end time displayed on the screen; both should be 00.00 (midnight).
Observe the start date and end date. Start date should be today and end date should be tomorrow. Use Blanks: should be NO, Flow1: should be 16.7 l/min and Next Filter: should be CONTIN. See instructions below to adjust start/end times and dates.
5. Confirm that the correct sample dates are on the receiver magazine. These should be from top to bottom: yesterday, day before yesterday, and two days before yesterday. The order of filters thus corresponds to the stacking order of filters. Figure FRM-1 illustrates the sequence of steps for exchange of filter magazines. Refer to this figure, as needed. Push upward on the receiver magazine (right side of sampler), rotate counterclockwise and pull downward to remove from the sampler. Place the orange cap from the new supply magazine on the receiver magazine.
6. Disconnect the pneumatic hose from the supply magazine (left side of sampler). Rotate and pull down on the supply magazine to remove it from the sampler. Install the magazine on the receiver (right) side by matching notches in the magazine with mounting studs on the sampler. Push upward and rotate clockwise to lock the magazine in place.
7. Install the new supply magazine on the supply side of the sampler and connect the pneumatic hose.
8. Transfer filter labels from the supply side magazine to the receiver side magazine as shown in Figure 3.2.1 Peel the top label from the supply magazine and apply it to the receiver magazine in the middle position. Apply the middle label from the supply magazine to the top position on the receiver magazine. Confirm the correct order of run dates, they should read from top to bottom: day after tomorrow, tomorrow, today.
9. Press the escape (ESC) key to return to the Main Screen. Close the door to the enclosure and return to the shelter. Record id. #s, sample dates, receiver magazine number (mag. off #) in the FRM Sampler section of the Filter Sample Report Form. Place the receiver magazine in the freezer for storage until shipment.
Note: Filter shipments to ESE should occur whenever you have two receiver magazines with exposed filters provided it is a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. If it is a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, wait until the next site visit to ship samples. Always ship the two oldest filter magazines to minimize time between sample collection and receipt at the laboratory.
1. Remove two magazines with exposed filters from the freezer and record magazine numbers, filter id numbers and sample dates on the FRM Sample Shipping/Receiving Log.
2. Place the magazines (one each) in white magazine shipping boxes and secure the boxes. Remove a 5-foot piece of aluminum foil from the roll. Place the foil in the cooler so that it lines the bottom and the two long sides and hangs over each side by about 1 foot. Do the same with a 3 -foot piece of foil, only covering the bottom and the two shorter sides. You may have to fold the foil to cover the sides. Add the bottom layer of blue ice.
3. Wrap one FRM filter magazine completely with Al foil. Remove a max/min thermometer from the freezer. Depress the reset and then the max/min button. The thermometer should display the same value for max and min temperature (between -15 degrees C and -25 degrees C). If the thermometer does not display max/min temperatures in this range, you may have a faulty thermometer or need to adjust the setting in the freezer (should be 5). Quickly return the thermometer to its box and place at one end of the cooler, standing next to the ice packs and magazine boxes. Place the external Temperature probe in the second magazine box and wrap with Al foil. Place the two FRM shipping containers in the cooler.
4. Fill the remaining space in the cooler with bubble wrap, and then fold the excess Al foil over the top of the bubble wrap. Close the cooler and secure with a turn of shipping tape at either end.
5. Affix a FedEx shipping label to the cooler addressed to:
Andrew Weitz
Harding-ESE, CASTNet Lab
404 SW 140th Terrace
Newberry, FL 32669-3000
Be sure to sign the release signature box (#8) and check the FedEx Standard Overnight box (#4a). Arrange for pickup (or drop off) of the cooler so that it arrives at ESE tomorrow.
6. Sign and date the FRM Sample Shipping/Receiving Log and fax to the attention of Andrew Weitz at ESE: (352) 333-6622. File the shipping log in the site shipping folder.