Environmental Monitoring & Assessment Flashcards

Which ISO standard provides general guidance for the design of test rooms for sensory analysis?

Answer: ISO 8589

ISO 8589 covers the design of sensory test rooms, including booths, lighting, and ventilation.

Relative to the sample preparation area, how should air pressure in the testing booth area be maintained?

Answer: Slightly positive

Slight positive pressure stops odors from the prep area drifting into the booths.

A panel leader needs to hide small color differences between samples in a difference test. Which lighting option is most appropriate?

Answer: Red or other colored masking light

Colored lighting such as red light masks visual differences that could bias judgments.

Which room temperature range is typically recommended for a sensory testing area?

Answer: About 20–22 °C (68–72 °F)

A comfortable, controlled room temperature near 20–22 °C keeps assessors comfortable and samples stable.

What wall and booth surface finish is generally recommended in sensory test rooms?

Answer: Matte off-white or light neutral gray

Matte neutral colors reduce glare and avoid influencing how samples look.

Why should the sensory booth area be physically separated from the sample preparation kitchen?

Answer: To keep cooking odors, noise, and prep cues away from assessors

Separation stops odor, noise, and visual cues that could bias assessors.

Which ventilation feature is commonly used to remove background odors from the air supplied to sensory booths?

Answer: Activated carbon (charcoal) filtration

Activated carbon filters take odorous compounds out of the incoming air.