Airgas Awarded NIST Contract for Standard Reference Materials (SRMs)
Airgas-supplied and NIST-Certified SRM gas mixtures serve as the basis for production of EPA protocol gases used for calibrating emissions monitoring equipment
RADNOR, PA - July 7, 2009 -- Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG) announced today that it has signed a five-year contract with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, to provide the agency with Standard Reference Material (SRM) gas mixtures. NIST certifies the concentration and consistency of SRM gas mixtures and provides SRMs worldwide for use in calibrating instruments, such as Continuous Emissions Monitors (CEMs).
"NIST SRMs are the yardstick by which all other gas mixtures are measured," said Bob Davis, director - utilities, Airgas, Inc. "Airgas has made a significant investment in technology over the past few years in order to engineer the most accurate calibration standards available, and we are pleased to now supply NIST with gas samples used in producing their SRMs."
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates the use of EPA protocol gases for power utilities and other stationary emissions sources (Code of Federal Regulations 40, Part 75, Part 60, and Part 58). EPA protocol gases are traceable directly or indirectly to NIST SRMs and are required to produce the accurate measurements necessary for reporting pollutant emissions.
As the sole-source SRM provider for NIST, Airgas will supply more than 500 different high-tolerance gas mixtures within the first year of the five-year contract.
About Airgas, Inc.
Based in Radnor, Pennsylvania, Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG), through its subsidiaries, is the largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical, and specialty gases, and hardgoods, such as welding equipment and supplies. Airgas is also one of the largest U.S. distributors of safety products, the largest U.S. producer of nitrous oxide and dry ice, the largest liquid carbon dioxide producer in the Southeast, and a leading distributor of process chemicals, refrigerants, and ammonia products. More than 14,000 employees work in over 1,100 locations, including branches, retail stores, gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities, and distribution centers. Airgas also distributes its products and services through eBusiness, catalog, and telesales channels. Its national scale and strong local presence offer a competitive edge to its diversified customer base. For more information, please visit www.airgas.com.
For more information on Airgas, please visit www.airgas.com.
Contact Information
Airgas, Inc.
259 N. Radnor-Chester Road
Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087
tel: (610) 687-5253
fax: (610) 687-1052
Jay Worley
Vice President
Communications and Investor Relations
(610) 902-6206
jay.worley@airgas.com
