CEMS QA/QC Manuals: Requirements and What to Include
- Dec 8, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 24
Any facility operating a Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) or Continuous Opacity Monitoring System (COMS) is required by federal regulation to maintain a QA/QC manual. Manuals are often missing when a new system is purchased, or become outdated after equipment upgrades or replacements. This article outlines the regulatory requirements and the standard elements a QA/QC manual should contain.
QAQC Manual Guidance Requirements
QA/QC manual requirements are governed by the applicable EPA regulation for your facility:
40 CFR Part 75, Appendix B — applies to electric generating units and other large combustion sources subject to the Acid Rain Program or CSAPR
40 CFR Part 60, Appendix F — applies to sources subject to New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)
40 CFR Part 63 — applies to sources subject to National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
The original equipment supplier typically develops the QA/QC manual, as it requires detailed technical knowledge of the specific equipment and a working understanding of the applicable regulations. Plant personnel can develop or maintain the manual but will generally need significant input from the supplier or manufacturer.
What a QA/QC Manual Must Include
A complete QA/QC manual typically contains the following sections:
1. Introduction: Defines the objective of the manual, the facility's QA/QC policy, the scope of the plan, and document control information. Identifies the applicable regulations and references the facility's operating permit.
2. Description of Facility and Equipment: Describes the facility, organizational structure, and personnel responsible for QA/QC activities. Includes equipment details — make, model, and serial numbers — and describes the overall measurement process and monitoring technology. This section requires updating as personnel change and equipment is replaced or upgraded.
3. Quality Assurance Activities: The core of the manual. Describes all QA activities that ensure the CEMS or COMS remains a compliant measurement system. Covers daily calibrations, quarterly audits, and annual testing, including test methods, drift limits, allowable errors, and timing requirements for each activity.
4. Quality Control Activities: Details the corrective actions taken when QA activities identify problems. Includes maintenance schedules, technician training requirements, and spare parts inventory practices.
5. Data Recording and Reporting: Describes how data is recorded and reported, including notification requirements, recordkeeping procedures, and documentation for component additions, maintenance events, and equipment replacements.
6. Glossary of Terms and Acronyms
7. Attachments: Typically includes copies of report types generated by the system and any equipment certificates of compliance.
Keep Your CEMS QA/QC Manual Current
The manual must be reviewed and updated whenever equipment changes are made — analyzer replacements, system upgrades, or personnel changes all require corresponding updates. An outdated QA/QC manual is a common audit finding. Beyond regulatory compliance, a current manual is a practical training tool for personnel maintaining the equipment.
Alliance Technical Group is an end-to-end CEMS solutions provider — from system design, installation, and hardware to DAS configuration, regulatory services, and ongoing compliance support. That includes QA/QC manual development, permit reviews, and ensuring your DAS is aligned with your monitoring and QA/QC plans. If you operate a CEMS, we can support every layer of it.