Design Values

A design value is a statistic that describes the air quality status of a given area relative to the level of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Design values are especially helpful when the standard is exceedance-based (e.g. 1-hour ozone, 24-hour PM10, etc.) because they are expressed as a concentration instead of an exceedance count, thereby allowing a direct comparison to the level of the standard.

Design values are defined in the guidance below and are consistent with the NAAQS in CFR Part 50. As such, they are often based on multiple years of data, ensuring a stable indicator.
Design values are typically used to classify nonattainment areas, assess progress towards meeting the NAAQS, and develop control strategies.
Design values are computed and published annually by EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards and reviewed in conjunction with the EPA Regional Offices.

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Design Values 2005 - 2007

PM2.5 Design Values
(PDF) (8pp, 189k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (11.6 MB) - Detailed Information (Contains Design Values from 1999-2001 to 2005-2007)

PM10 Design Values
(PDF) (8pp, 231k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (454k) - Detailed Information

Ozone Design Values
(PDF) (5pp, 114k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (662k) - Detailed Information

Carbon Monoxide Design Values
(PDF) (4pp, 96k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (123k) - Detailed Information

Sulfur Dioxide Design Values
(PDF) (4pp, 84k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (180k) - Detailed Information

Nitrogen Dioxide Design Values
(PDF) (3pp, 33k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (133k) - Detailed Information

Lead Design Values
(PDF) (5pp, 101k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (159k) - Detailed Information

Design Values 2004 - 2006

PM10 Design Values
(PDF) (4pp, 180k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (45k) - Detailed Information

Ozone Design Values
(PDF) (5pp, 86k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (738k) - Detailed Information

Carbon Monoxide Design Values
(PDF) (4pp, 44k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (28k) - Detailed Information

Sulfur Dioxide Design Values

Lead Design Values

Design Values 2003 - 2005

Report on Air Quality in Nonattainment Areas For 2003-2005 Covering Ozone, Particulate Matter, Carbon Monoxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, and Lead: Technical Summary (November 2006) (PDF) (51pp, 478k)

PM10 Design Values
(PDF) (4pp, 34k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (43k) - Detailed Information

Ozone Design Values
(PDF) (9pp, 71k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (564k) - Detailed Information

Changes in Design Values in Ozone and PM 2.5 Nonattainment Areas (PDF) (3pp, 763k)

For more information:

Guideline on Data Handling Conventions for the 8-hour Ozone NAAQS (PDF) (17pp, 52k) EPA-454/R-98-017, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, December 1998.
Guideline on Data Handling Conventions for the PM NAAQS (PDF) (55pp, 248k) EPA-454/R-99-008, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, April 1999.

Design Values

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