Etalonair at a glance
1. ETALONAIR, GAS ANALYSIS AND MEASUREMENT EXPERT SINCE 2014
Company overview
Founded in 2014 in Saint-Victoret (Bouches-du-Rhône), Etalonair is a French and European expert in industrial and environmental gas analysis and measurement. The company has established itself as a leading provider of gas analyser maintenance services and COFRAC ISO 17025-accredited calibration for the generation of reference gas mixtures.
It provides a comprehensive 360° service offering that includes preventive and corrective maintenance, laboratory and on-site calibration, certified equipment rental, equipment sales, analysis system design and process engineering. Etalonair helps industrial companies ensure reliable gas measurements, from system design through to maintenance and calibration.
As a people-oriented company, Etalonair relies on a multidisciplinary team specialising in scientific instrumentation, gas metrology and sampling solutions. It currently operates two branches in France, in Saint-Victoret (13) and Treillières (44), and plans to open a third location in Lyon (69) by 2027.
Etalonair is a simplified joint-stock company (SAS) with share capital of €150,000 (SIREN: 802 417 311). It employs 20 people and is managed by Alexandre Mohamed-Ali and Laurent Martinez.
The company has a sound financial position, with net income of €366,700 in 2024, profitability of 26% and net cash of €444,400.
In addition to its calibration, maintenance and rental activities, Etalonair has developed dedicated expertise in water quality and industrial instrumentation. These fields complement its overall offering in instrumentation, metrology and industrial analysis. The company is highly active among industry professionals, regularly attends specialist trade shows and organises technical webinars for industrial companies.
In September 2025, Etalonair hosted a webinar entitled “Why gas analysis is essential to industrial companies in their day-to-day operations”. In January 2026, it confirmed its participation in the Mesure Solutions Expo trade show in Lyon. In April 2026, the renewal of its MASE certification reaffirmed its commitment to safety, quality and effective risk management.
Timeline and history
Etalonair was founded in 2014 with the launch of its first calibration and maintenance services. In 2015, the laboratory obtained COFRAC ISO 17025 accreditation, the first official recognition of its metrological expertise. Equipment rental and sales services were introduced in 2016. In 2021, a new COFRAC accreditation for ambient air quality strengthened the company’s leadership in environmental metrology.
In 2022, Etalonair relocated to Saint-Victoret and modernised its facilities. In 2023, the company obtained MASE certification and opened its second branch in Treillières, Loire-Atlantique. In 2024, it obtained COFRAC accreditation for calibration at customer sites and ISO 9001 certification, confirming its position as a European leader.
Certifications and accreditations
Etalonair holds COFRAC ISO 17025 accreditation (scope no. 2-5904), with the broadest scope in Europe for the generation of reference gas mixtures, covering concentrations ranging from ppb levels to percentages. COFRAC accreditation to ISO 17025 recognises the laboratory’s technical competence for the operations defined within its accredited scope.
The laboratory also holds ISO 9001 certification for its quality management system, obtained in 2024, MASE safety management certification, obtained in 2023, as well as AFAQ and AFNOR certifications. Since 2024, its COFRAC accreditation has also covered calibration at customer sites, enabling Etalonair to issue official certificates without instruments having to be transported.
Values and commitments
Etalonair’s core values are active listening to customer requirements, recognised responsiveness in France and internationally, and long-term support. The company is committed to providing quotations within 48 hours, carrying out interventions within 24 to 72 hours and offering free telephone assistance. Its MASE certification and CSR commitments demonstrate the importance it places on safety and environmental responsibility.
Beyond its operational commitments, Etalonair bases its development on technical expertise, attentive listening, responsiveness, reliable measurements and lasting customer support. It favours close working relationships in order to provide technical solutions tailored to the specific challenges of each industrial customer.
Customers and references
Etalonair supports many leading organisations, including Apave, Dekra, Socotec, Groupe Ginger, Air Liquide, Air Products, Linde, IRH Ingénieur Conseil, INERIS, IRSN, Valeo, Bosch, Bodycote, Colas, ExxonMobil, Saint-Gobain, Isover, Seqens, Veolia, SNF Water Science and Eaux de Marseille.
Seventy per cent of its customers are testing laboratories, including five of the largest in France, which have national contracts with Etalonair.
Other customers include Chauvin, Trescal, the French Navy Infrastructure Department (SIMu) and the French armed forces in the military and defence sector. Etalonair is a leading gas metrology company with 12 years of experience and a high customer retention rate.
Locations and contact details
Etalonair operates two branches. Its head office is located at AD PARK – Building A4, 50 allée Jacqueline Auriol, 13730 Saint-Victoret, and can be contacted on +33 (0)4 42 10 43 29. Its second branch is located at ZAC du Ragon, 24 rue Louis Pasteur, 44119 Treillières, and can be contacted on +33 (0)2 40 77 57 69. The laboratory can also be reached by email at contact@etalonair.com or through the quotation request form on etalonair.com.
2. CALIBRATION OF GAS ANALYSERS
What is calibration?
Calibrating a gas analyser is a fundamental metrological operation that consists of checking and adjusting an instrument’s measurements by comparison with reference standards that are traceable to national standards. Calibration ensures measurement reliability, accuracy and traceability, all of which are essential for regulatory compliance and effective control of industrial processes.
At Etalonair, all calibrations are carried out under COFRAC ISO 17025 accreditation, giving the certificates issued recognised legal and regulatory value. They ensure measurement traceability and demonstrate the laboratory’s competence for the operations covered by its accredited scope.
Laboratory calibration – Patented bench and COFRAC accreditation
Etalonair’s laboratory, accredited by COFRAC under scope no. 2-5904, is equipped with a calibration bench designed and patented by the company, with exclusive manufacturing rights.
This innovative bench can perform single dilution using binary mixtures or double dilution using quaternary mixtures. It meets a wide variety of requirements, generates certified references for complex gases such as ozone (O₃) and trace oxygen, and covers an exceptionally broad range of concentrations, from ppb levels to percentages. Scope no. 2-5904 is the broadest accreditation scope in Europe in this field of gas metrology.
Gases covered by COFRAC accreditation
Etalonair’s COFRAC accreditation notably covers calibration and the generation of reference gas mixtures for the main gases used in industrial and environmental applications.
These gases include O₂ (oxygen, ranges from 0–40%, 0–100% and 0–4,000 ppm), CO (carbon monoxide, from 0–200 ppm to 0–100%), CO₂ (carbon dioxide, from 0–2,000 ppm to 0–100%), NO (nitric oxide, from 0–5 ppm to 0–2%), NO₂ (nitrogen dioxide, 0–200 ppm), N₂O (nitrous oxide, 0–200 ppm), SO₂ (sulphur dioxide, from 0–2 ppm to 0–2,000 ppm), CH₄ (methane, from 0–200 ppm to 0–5%), O₃ (ozone, 0–1,000 ppb), Ar (argon, 0–100%), C₂H₆ (ethane, 0–1,000 ppm), C₃H₈ (propane, from 0–20 ppm to 0–2%) and TVOC (total volatile organic compounds, from 0–60 ppm to 0–6%).
Calibration at customer sites – COFRAC-accredited since 2024
Since 2024, Etalonair has been COFRAC-accredited to carry out calibration directly at customer sites. This major development enables official calibration certificates to be issued without instruments having to be transported, reducing downtime and simplifying logistics for industrial companies. Etalonair’s qualified technicians work with certified reference equipment and can operate in ATEX zones, with self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), and on GIES 1 and 2 industrial sites.
QAL2, QAL3 and EN 14181
The Quality Assurance Level procedures defined by EN 14181 govern the quality assurance of automated measuring systems used for continuous monitoring of atmospheric emissions. Their purpose is to ensure that measurements are reliable and compliant.
Etalonair performs all procedures required by EN 14181: QAL1, the initial laboratory qualification; QAL2, the on-site calibration of automated measuring systems by comparison with a certified reference method, mandatory for large plants subject to the Industrial Emissions Directive; QAL3, the daily or weekly quality control programme used to verify system stability between two QAL2 procedures; and the AST annual surveillance test.
3. GAS ANALYSER MAINTENANCE
Preventive maintenance (levels 1 and 2)
Preventive maintenance anticipates failures and preserves equipment performance over time. Etalonair recommends annual preventive maintenance to minimise analyser downtime, extend equipment service life, reduce the costs associated with unexpected breakdowns and ensure continuous, accurate measurements. It is the only effective way of reducing costly corrective operations.
Etalonair provides level 1 and level 2 maintenance, including routine servicing, inspections, cleaning and adjustments, both in its workshops and at customer sites.
Corrective maintenance (levels 3 to 5)
In the event of a breakdown, malfunction or non-compliance, Etalonair’s teams carry out a comprehensive diagnosis and provide a tailored quotation. Corrective work includes advanced fault detection, replacement of defective components with original parts, equipment optimisation in accordance with the latest standards covering furnaces, mechanical and pneumatic systems, and post-repair compliance tests with validation calibration.
Multi-brand expertise
Etalonair’s multi-brand expertise covers the entire gas analyser market: SICK, Yokogawa, Emerson, Siemens, Horiba, Gas Data, Signal Group, Duran Electronica, Airpointer, JCT, Buhler Technologies, Durag, JUM Engineering, Environnement SA, Envea, Testo, Sauermann, KIMO, Setnag, M&C, ErsaTec, SK Electronics, Tethys Instruments, Servomex, Eco Physics, Thermo, ABB, Dräger, Geotech, Bieler & Lang, Tecora, RAE, BW Technologies, Gardner Denver, KNF, Ecom, Oldham, Gazomat, Sewerin, Multitech, Rupprecht & Patashnick, Ametek, SICK Maihak and many others.
Turnkey maintenance contracts
Etalonair offers tailored maintenance contracts that include free diagnostics and a detailed service report with recommendations, management of fixed and portable detection equipment, QAL2 assistance and QAL3 monitoring implementation, management of spare-parts and calibration-gas cylinder stocks, insured secure transport, free telephone assistance, interventions within 24 to 72 hours and full retention of inspection records.
Work at high-risk sites
Etalonair’s technicians are trained and qualified to work at all types of high-risk industrial sites, including ATEX zones with explosive atmospheres, confined environments requiring self-contained breathing apparatus, and sites involving hazardous industrial gases subject to GIES 1 and 2 requirements. These qualifications cover the oil, chemical, gas and nuclear sectors, as well as any industry subject to stringent safety requirements.
They enable Etalonair to work safely on facilities subject to demanding regulatory and operational requirements while ensuring continuous measurement operations.
4. GAS ANALYSIS EQUIPMENT RENTAL
A flexible solution for every requirement
Etalonair’s rental service gives industrial companies rapid access to certified gas analysis equipment without capital investment. It provides an alternative to purchasing for occasional requirements, temporary replacement equipment or measurement campaigns requiring immediately available instruments. Rental periods range from as little as three days to long-term contracts.
Rental is recommended when equipment has been sent for maintenance following a breakdown, to handle a temporary peak in activity, for a one-off measurement campaign, to test a model before purchasing it, or to meet a regulatory requirement without incurring capital expenditure.
Equipment available for rental
Etalonair’s rental fleet includes multi-parameter gas analysers for ambient air, emissions and process applications; fixed and portable gas detectors; ISO 17025-certified gas diluters; gas conditioning equipment for heating, filtration and drying; sampling pumps; heated sampling lines; stack and ambient sampling probes; multi-channel data loggers; graphite-piston BIOS flow meters; and PM10 and PM2.5 particle impactors.
Guarantees and services included with rental
Before rental, all equipment undergoes COFRAC ISO 17025-accredited calibration under scope no. 2-5904, meeting 95% of the most demanding customer specifications. Preventive maintenance is performed before every rental. Delivery is available within 24 hours throughout mainland France and includes insurance. Simplified operating instructions, technician training and technical assistance on site or by telephone are also provided.
Budget control is guaranteed, with no hidden maintenance or metrology costs.
Measurement of VOC, SOx and DeNOx abatement by Etalonair technicians
In addition to supplying equipment, Etalonair can provide qualified technicians to carry out measurements directly on site. This service measures concentrations upstream and downstream of systems used to reduce VOCs, sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides, as well as other atmospheric pollutants, including DeNOx systems, in order to assess their effectiveness.
Technicians are trained in the applicable measurement protocols. Services covered by testing accreditation are performed strictly within the relevant accredited scope.
5. ENGINEERING & PROCESS
Custom analysis system design
An analysis system is an integrated turnkey solution that brings together all the instruments required to sample, condition and measure gases in an industrial process. These systems centralise the entire gas measurement chain and ensure the reliability of data used for process control or regulatory compliance.
Etalonair designs, assembles and commissions fully customised analysis systems. Its services include selecting and integrating analysers suited to the target gases and measurement ranges, installing conditioning systems for filtration, heating, drying and dilution, implementing data acquisition and processing, and performing full metrological validation of the entire measurement chain.
Project support from design to completion
Etalonair’s support covers the entire life cycle of a gas analysis project: auditing the existing system, defining technical specifications, selecting technologies and suppliers, integration and installation, commissioning, metrological validation through COFRAC calibration when the service falls within the relevant accredited scope, application-specific QAL1 qualification, technician training and post-commissioning support.
This turnkey service is intended for industrial companies wishing to outsource the complete management of their measurement chain.
Industrial process improvement
Etalonair’s expertise helps identify and correct faults in existing measurement chains by reducing measurement bias, adapting ranges to new regulatory or production requirements, improving sampling representativeness and reducing maintenance costs. This service forms part of a continuous improvement approach to the environmental and operational performance of customer sites.
6. APPLICATION SECTORS
Waste treatment and energy
Energy-from-waste plants, incinerators and thermal power stations are subject to strict continuous atmospheric-emissions monitoring obligations in order to demonstrate regulatory compliance. Etalonair helps operators ensure the compliance of their measurement systems, carry out QAL2 procedures, maintain analysers and provide replacement equipment during scheduled shutdowns.
Chemicals, petrochemicals and refining
The chemical and petrochemical industries require high-performance gas analysers for process control involving hydrocarbons, H₂, O₂, CO and CO₂, safety through the detection of flammable and toxic gases, and environmental compliance through atmospheric-emissions monitoring. Etalonair’s technicians are ATEX-qualified to work at these high-risk sites, and the laboratory supports all analyser brands used in these sectors.
Iron, steel, metallurgy and materials
Heat-treatment furnaces, blast furnaces and foundries require accurate measurements of combustion gases such as CO, CO₂, O₂ and H₂, as well as treatment atmospheres. Etalonair maintains and calibrates analysers used in these demanding environments, which often involve high temperatures and corrosive conditions.
Automotive, aerospace and defence
Engine test benches, turbines and automotive and aerospace research centres use gas analysers to measure exhaust emissions and verify compliance with approval standards. Etalonair calibrates these instruments in accordance with manufacturers’ requirements and applicable regulations, including Euro standards and WLTP and RDE procedures.
Medical, pharmaceutical and food industries
The medical and pharmaceutical sectors require analysers for medical gases such as O₂, CO₂ and N₂O, and for medical compressed air, in compliance with the European Pharmacopoeia and Good Manufacturing Practice. The food industry uses analysers for modified-atmosphere packaging, CO₂, O₂ and N₂ gas quality control, and fermentation processes. Etalonair assists these customers with the metrological qualification of their instruments.
Inspection bodies and testing laboratories
Inspection bodies such as Apave, Dekra and Socotec require certified measuring instruments for their inspection work. Etalonair supplies calibrated analysers for rental, performs instrument metrology and issues the COFRAC certificates required for their reports. With testing laboratories accounting for 70% of its customer base, Etalonair has developed an offering specifically tailored to their gas metrology requirements.
Glass, cement and materials
The glass, cement and construction-materials industries are subject to strict requirements for monitoring atmospheric emissions and furnace atmospheres. Etalonair supports these industrial companies with the calibration and maintenance of combustion-gas analysers for CO, CO₂, O₂, SO₂ and NOx under the Industrial Emissions Directive and applicable regulatory requirements.
Defence and military sector
The defence sector and armed forces require reliable gas detection and analysis equipment, particularly for monitoring confined atmospheres and detecting hazardous substances. Etalonair notably works with the French Navy Infrastructure Department (SIMu) and provides certified solutions suited to the sector’s security constraints.
7. MANUFACTURING PARTNERS
A network of leading manufacturing partners
Etalonair relies on a network of leading manufacturers to provide its customers with the best technical solutions: Emerson (Rosemount Analytical) for process analysers, Siemens (SITRANS) for industrial analysers, SICK for in-situ and extractive analysers, Horiba Advanced Techno and Tethys Instruments for water and gas analysis, Fives for process measurement systems, JCT Group and Signal Group for specialist FID, CLD and UV analysers, Testo and Sauermann for portable instruments, Protea for multi-gas FTIR analysers, Ion Science for VOC and PID detectors, Gas Data for biogas analysers, Bieler & Lang for flow meters and diluters, Buhler Technologies for gas conditioning, ErsaTec for high-temperature probes, Rotarex for gas regulation, and Setnag and Winkler for O₂ probes and sensors.
8. APPLICABLE REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS
Industrial Emissions Directive and atmospheric-emissions monitoring
European Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions governs the monitoring of atmospheric emissions from regulated industrial facilities. It requires the implementation of best available techniques and continuous or periodic monitoring of releases.
Measurements must be carried out by accredited service providers such as Etalonair, whose certificates have recognised regulatory value and can be relied upon before the relevant authorities.
EN 14181 – Quality assurance for automated measuring systems
EN 14181 is the European reference standard for quality assurance of automated measuring systems used to monitor industrial atmospheric emissions. It defines the procedures required to ensure the reliability of measurements used to demonstrate regulatory compliance. It is mandatory for large plants subject to the Industrial Emissions Directive.
Etalonair performs QAL1 laboratory qualification tests, QAL2 on-site calibration by comparison with a certified reference method, QAL3 periodic stability monitoring and the AST annual surveillance test.
COFRAC accreditation and metrological traceability
COFRAC accreditation to ISO 17025 means that Etalonair’s laboratory has been assessed and recognised as competent to perform specific calibrations. It ensures the reliability, traceability and quality of results. Scope no. 2-5904, available on the COFRAC website at tools.cofrac.fr, details the gases, concentration ranges and methods covered.
Certificates issued under accreditation are recognised in many countries through international mutual recognition arrangements. The accreditation scope defines the services for which the laboratory is recognised as competent. Any service performed outside that scope is not covered by COFRAC accreditation.