This standard specifies a Reverse Dispersion Modelling method to qualify the fugitive emission rates of diffuse fine and coarse dust sources of industrial plants or areas. The application needs calculations using a dispersion model, and the definition of a sampling experimental set-up taking into account field data such as number, height and width of diffuse dust sources, sampling distances, and meteorological information.
The RDM method does not allow quantification in absolute figures of the dust emission rates because of an undetermined accuracy depending on various site conditions, but it is a tool which enables each industrial plant to identify its dust sources that emit the most, and then to implement actions reducing their importance by self-control and related improvement process as part of environmental management.
In this framework, the RDM method should not be used to control or verify any compliance with air quality threshold global values which might be contained in an operating permit, or to carry out comparison between different plants belonging to the same industrial sector.