This practice establishes a method for characterizing explosives vapor detectors in the laboratory. The practice does not set performance requirements.

This practice is intended for use by the manufacturers of explosives vapor detection equipment and any organization that has the facilities and expertise to perform vapor calibrations. This practice relies upon the use of an explosives vapor generator unit to determine the applicable performance levels of the explosives vapor detectors.

This practice provides a method for evaluation of the following parameters:

3.3.1 Interferent free minimum alarm level,

3.3.2 Probability of detection,

3.3.3 False positive ratio,

3.3.4 False negative ratio,

3.3.5 Interference equivalent,

3.3.6 Temperature and humidity effects,

3.3.7 Sample time,

3.3.8 Response time,

3.3.9 Total analysis time,

3.3.10 Sample throughput, and

3.3.11 Overload level.

Each user or evaluator may choose to evaluate a detector only for those parameters of interest to them.