BMW EG 530 HC Emission Measurement in Components - General Information

The standard "BMW EG 530 HC emission measurement on components - General information," developed by BMW, a multinational vehicle manufacturer, contains general information on measuring HC emissions on components. The part description aims to identify emission-critical materials at an early stage. In this standard, the parts list is supplemented with material details for the test parts or test scope. The part description is used for documentation of the test parts and report generation.

This standard defines the test methods, delivery conditions, packaging, and delivery of test samples. Test methods/standards include:

• BGI 505-23 / DGUV info 213-523 (protection against N-nitrosamines)
• BMW AA-0061 (Formaldehyde emission from non-metallic materials and components determined by HPLC)
• BMW GS 97014-2 (emission measurement in SHED chambers)
• BMW GS 97014-3 (Emission measurement with air exchange in the test chamber)
• BMW GS 97014-4 (Emission measurement with air exchange in the test room, determination of odor behavior)
• VDA 270 (Determination of odor properties of trim materials in motor vehicles)
• VDA 278 (Thermal desorption analysis for the characterization of organic emissions) (non-metallic materials for automobiles)

Number of test samples / sample volume: The scope of inspection can be found in the regulations (technical standards, group standards, quality standards and technical specifications).

Sampling: Measurement is always performed on new parts. Sampling should be performed after the last processing step, during the stable operating process (i.e., not at the beginning of the process).

Packaging: Test samples should be wrapped in composite aluminum foil according to DIN 55531 type 1 heavy-duty standard within 2-8 hours after the final processing step. Care should be taken to prevent damage to the foil during transport.

Emission testing is conducted by the supplier at external institutes. For this purpose, the supplier's completed BMW HC emissions data sheet is submitted to the testing institute and BMW. The supplier instructs the institute to transmit the results in BMW Excel format to the BMW exchange server. The supplier receives the results from the institute as a PDF file without any evaluation. BMW evaluates the results. The supplier receives a test report as a PDF document.

For emission measurements, the packaging foil must comply with DIN 55531-1. Other permitted descriptions are:

• TL8135-0003-1
• MIL-PRF-131J-CL1
• DEF STAN 81-75/1
• NFH00.310-Class 4

A tong welding machine from Rische + Herfurth GmbH (Type 600 D or smaller) is suitable as a foil sealing device, for example.

The list of external organisations whose results are approved by BMW is included in the standard.

Hydrocarbon (HC) emissions refer to unburned or partially burned fuel molecules released from internal combustion engines, primarily found in vehicle exhaust. They are a significant pollutant in automotive and industrial engine testing, contributing to smog and air quality problems. Component-level measurement typically refers to the assessment of HC emissions from individual engine components (e.g., cylinders, injectors, or valves) or during component-level testing, as opposed to measurements from the entire vehicle's exhaust pipe. This is common in engine development, diagnostics, and regulatory compliance to isolate issues such as incomplete combustion in specific areas.

HC can be regulated as total hydrocarbons or non-methane hydrocarbons, which are typically measured along with carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide. High HC levels indicate problems such as poor ignition, fuel delivery errors, or cold-start inefficiencies.

HC measurement in components is necessary for the following reasons:

• Diagnostics: Identifies faulty components (e.g., leaking valves or misfiring cylinders) that are causing unburned fuel.
• Development: Engine manufacturers test components under simulated loads to optimize efficiency.
• Compliance: Regulations (e.g. EPA, Euro standards) require validation at the component level before full assembly.
• Real world vs. lab: On-road measurements often exceed lab results due to variables such as temperature.

HC is typically measured in parts per million (ppm) or grams per kilowatt-hour (g/kWh). Measurements are made on engine dynamometers (for isolated components) or chassis dynamometers (for integrated systems). Common methods for measuring HC emissions include:

• Non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) spectroscopy: Infrared light absorption detects HC molecules (e.g., via flame ionization or heated FID detectors for sensitive species identification).
• Flame ionization detector (FID): Burns the sample in a hydrogen flame and measures the ion current from the carbon atoms.
• Gas chromatography (GC): separates and identifies HC species (e.g. methane and aromatics) by means of column retention times.
• Electrochemical sensors: Portable probes measure HC via chemical reactions.
• Remote sensing: Optical/lidar systems scan exhaust fumes without contact.

Measurements follow standardized cycles to simulate component loads. For cold starts, where HC spikes occur due to poor evaporation, specialized protocols use hot canisters to capture and analyze samples.

Our organization, with its competent and experienced team, has been understanding the needs of its customers for years, providing them with the advanced testing services they need, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. In this context, we also provide testing services in accordance with the "BMW EG 530 Component HC Emission Measurement - General Information" standard.