This document provides specific requirements and recommendations on soil sampling and semi-quantitative measurements in field investigations for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are not explicitly covered in the existing ISO 18400 series. In addition, it provides information on the preparation steps (choosing a sampling strategy, defining a sampling plan); describes sampling techniques (drilling techniques, sampling devices and procedures) and field measurements; and gives advice on conservation, packaging, transport and delivery to the laboratory in the context of VOCs (see soil sampling process described in Figure 2).

VOCs to which this document can be applied include:

—     volatile aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, naphthalene;

—     aliphatic ethers such as methyl tert.-butyl ether(MTBE), ethyl tert.-butyl ether (ETBE) and tert.-amyl methyl ether (TAME);

—     volatile halogenated hydrocarbons such as tetrachloroethene and, trichloroethene.

The document does not cover the volatile non-organic compounds. However, some information about these is provided in Annex D.

This document provides requirements and guidance on the selection of drilling and sampling techniques for determining VOCs and how to use them. It clarifies the applicability and limits of the drilling and sampling techniques, taking into account the physical, chemical or biological reactions that can occur in soil.

This document gives requirements and recommendations on the use of instrumental measurement techniques for determination of VOC concentrations in air, firstly in relation to worker safety, and subsequently for semi-quantitative measurements of volatiles during soil sampling.

The following subjects are outside the scope of this document:

—     direct quantitative measurement of volatile compounds by field analysis laboratories;

—     investigations and evaluation of soil gas quality (these are dealt with ISO 18400 204);

—     safety risk assessment; and

—     analytical procedures.