The PCE-PQC 10EU particle counter with included NIST certification is a professional portable instrument designed to measure and monitor airborne particle concentration. It is suitable for air quality control in industrial environments, laboratories, cleanrooms, production departments, pharmaceutical, electronic and medical areas, and in all applications where dust, aerosols, contaminants and airborne impurities must be checked.

The device measures particles in the 0.3 to 25 µm range and features 6 factory-calibrated channels at 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 µm. This configuration allows the particle size distribution in the environment to be analysed and provides a more complete assessment of contamination levels. The 2.83 l/min sampling flow supports stable and controlled acquisition, while the internal pump with automatic flow regulation contributes to repeatable measurements.

The PCE-PQC 10EU is suitable for both spot checks and scheduled monitoring. It can be used in automatic, manual, incremental or differential mode, with the possibility of displaying data as particle count, concentration per air volume or mass concentration. This flexibility makes it useful not only for identifying the number of particles present, but also for assessing contamination trends in different areas of the same plant or during specific production phases.

One of its main applications is the control of cleanrooms and controlled environments. The instrument can generate reports according to ISO 14644-1, EU GMP Annex 1 and FS 209E, making it suitable for documented inspections, periodic checks and environmental qualification activities. The included NIST certification provides metrological traceability for quality departments, internal audits, validation procedures and checks within company management systems.

The 4.3” colour touchscreen allows clear reading of values and intuitive management of the main functions. The internal memory can store up to 45,000 records, including particle counts, environmental data, sampling location and time. The data can then be downloaded and analysed through software, while Ethernet and USB interfaces make connection to PCs, company networks and external storage devices easier.

The environmental sensor allows temperature and relative humidity to be associated with particle measurements, which is important in environments where climatic conditions can affect process quality or monitoring stability. The isokinetic probe helps perform correct sampling, reducing the risk of altering the airflow during sample intake.

In practical use, the counter should be positioned at representative points of the area to be checked, avoiding obstacles, abnormal air currents or locations that are not consistent with the sampling procedure. It is advisable to define the measurement locations, sampling time or volume, alarm thresholds and required report type in advance. In critical environments such as cleanrooms or pharmaceutical departments, validated internal procedures should be followed and the instrument should be kept calibrated according to the quality system schedule.

The PCE-PQC 10EU is particularly useful for identifying contamination sources, checking the efficiency of filtration systems, inspecting production areas after maintenance work, monitoring environmental conditions during sensitive processes and documenting airborne particle levels. The real-time measurement function and graphic display help the operator quickly identify variations or point sources of particles.

The PCE-PQC 10EU particle counter with included NIST certification is therefore a complete solution for professional particle contamination control. The combination of wide measuring range, 6 channels, internal memory, standard-based reports, communication interfaces, environmental probe and traceable certification makes it suitable for quality technicians, laboratories, production departments and companies that need reliable and documentable air monitoring data.