Can I use 6 minute or 15 minute averages for filter monitoring for compliance?
Your specific requirements always depends on the specific language within the specific rule or your permit. But normally these are not accepted averaging periods. Bag filter monitoring is different than other Operating Parameter Limits (OPL). OPL monitoring can be Rule specific, but most compliance OPLs require valid 1-minute averages to create a 15-minute average. Valid 15-minute averages are used to create valid hour averages and the valid hourly averages are used to create 3, 6 or 12 hour rolling averages. BLDs are monitored continuously (once per second) for alarms due to the fact that most peaks in baghouses can be less than 5 seconds in duration. Monitoring for events less frequently will provide a biased indication of the filter operation.
