AS3547: Breath alcohol testing devices for personal use

S E C T I O N 1: S C O P E A N D G E N E R A L

1.1 SCOPE This Standard specifies requirements for the performance, testing and marking of disposable and re-useable breath alcohol testing devices for personal use, other than those devices used by the Police to obtain evidence which is used in the prosecution of drink-drivers.

1.2 OBJECTIVE The objective of this Standard is to provide manufacturers of breath alcohol testing devices for personal use with a set of minimum performance requirements, in order to enable users to determine their blood alcohol levels.

1.3 CLASSIFICATION Devices specified in this Standard are classified as follows:

(a) Type 1 Single-use, disposable breath alcohol testing devices.

(b) Type 2 Portable electronic breath alcohol testing devices (sometimes known as hand-held devices).

(d) Type 4 Electronic breath alcohol testing devices such as those which are installed

to control the usage of motor vehicles or other machinery (sometimes known as interlock devices).

1.4 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS The following documents are referred to in this Standard: AS 1099 Basic environmental testing procedures for electrotechnology

A1 ½ 1099.2.31 Method 2.31: Test Ec—Drop and topple, primarily for equipment 3100 Approval and test specification—General requirements for electrical equipment

AS/NZS 2596 Seat belt assemblies for motor vehicles

A1 ½ IEC

1.1 SCOPE 60068-2-6 Part 2: Tests—Test Fc: Vibration (sinusoidal)

1.5 DEFINITIONS For the purpose of this Standard, the definitions below apply.

1.5.1 Alcohol—the unmodified term ‘alcohol’ refers specifically to the chemical substance ethanol which, in the context of this Standard, may occur in either a liquid or

gaseous form.

NOTE: Ethanol is also commonly known as ethyl alcohol.

1.5.2 Automatic gas sampling system—a process incorporated into a breath alcohol testing device by which the device determines automatically when an appropriate amount

of sample has been delivered for analysis.

1.5.3 Breath alcohol concentration (BrAC)—the concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream expressed in grams of alcohol per 100 mL of blood.

NOTE: Grams of alcohol per 100 mL of blood is commonly referred to as ‘percent’.

1.5.4 Breath alcohol testing device—a device which measures the alcohol content of an appropriate sample of expired air.

1.5.5 Calibration—the process of adjusting a breath alcohol testing device until the required calibration setting is achieved.

1.5.6 Calibration period—the minimum period over which the calibration setting of a breath alcohol testing device is maintained.

1.5.7 Calibration setting—the result of the adjustment made to a breath alcohol testing device during the process of calibration or recalibration so that the accuracy of the

subsequent results given by the device meet the requirements of this Standard.

1.5.8 Caution result—a display or a colour change which, when interpreted according to the manufacturer’s instructions, indicates a blood alcohol concentration marginally

below the designated blood alcohol concentration.

1.5.9 Corridor air—expired air from the upper part of the respiratory tract, as opposed to deep lung air.

NOTE: The requirements of this Standard are based on the assumption that the first 330 mL of expired air is corridor air containing little or no alcohol.

1.5.10 Deep lung air—expired air from the lower part of the respiratory tract, including a proportion of alveolar air.

1.5.11 Designated breath alcohol concentration—the prescribed blood alcohol concentration against which the user’s blood alcohol concentration is to be compared.

NOTE: The designated blood alcohol concentration is generally the prescribed legal limit for motor vehicle drivers.

1.5.12 Expiry date—for a Type 1 breath alcohol testing device, the date prior to which the accuracy of the result given by the device meets the requirements of this Standard.

1.5.13 Negative result—a display or a colour change which, when interpreted according to the manufacturer’s instructions, indicates a blood alcohol concentration below the

designated blood alcohol concentration.

1.5.14 Nominated flow rate—the rate of flow, nominated by the manufacturer of a breath alcohol testing device and measured in litres per minute, of any gas mixture to be

introduced into the device for test purposes.

1.5.15 Normal room temperature—a temperature of 20 ±2°C.

1.5.16 Positive result—a display or a colour change which, when interpreted according to the manufacturer’s instructions, indicates a blood alcohol concentration equal to or

above the designated blood alcohol concentration.

1.5.17 Recalibration—the process of adjusting a breath alcohol testing device to restore its calibration setting.

NOTE: Periodic recalibration is required because the nature of breath alcohol testing devices means that they may drift from their calibration setting over time.

1.5.18 Recovery time—the time taken for a breath alcohol testing device to be ready to receive another sample of expired air after a peak result from one sample of expired air

has been obtained.

1.5.19 Self-calibration—the process whereby a breath alcohol testing device automatically recalibrates without the need for manual intervention.

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