Properly Managing Your Gas Detection System

Managing a gas detection system to optimize all the features offered doesn’t just include implementation, but maintenance, repairs and upgrades. A gas detector is a health and safety tool utilized as fixed, portable and personal forms to monitor the safety conditions at a job site or in the field with potentially hazardous conditions. Maintaining their maintenance schedules, performing repairs and upgrading as needed will help the device deliver top-of-the-line performance. Gas detectors can help ensure that downtime will be minimal and your operation will continue to run as expected. managing your gas detection system

Proper maintenance begins with keeping the monitor clean and free of obstructions to the sensors inside. You should never use a chemical or abrasive cleaner on your gas monitors. The instruments should be wiped down with a damp cloth that can take off the dust, dirt and grime that accumulates on the monitors. Most monitors use some sort of filter that will help keep dust and liquids from the internals of the device.

A detector without a filter or a dirty filter is much more prone to failure. Filters are very cheap to replace and should be replaced regularly. The monitors should always be inspected as well, checking for any cracks, faults or broken pieces. If tubing is being utilized, be sure it has no kinks or lacerations that can affect its performance. If anything looks out of place, ask for a replacement or send it in for repairs before using it again. Batteries should always have a fresh charge to ensure that your lifeline does not go down in the middle of a job, leaving you vulnerable to these gases. managing your gas detection system

Every day before heading into the work area with your monitor, it is crucial to perform a bump test. It is also imperative that a bump test not be confused with a calibration. A bump test should be done with a bottle of gas that will trigger the alarms on the monitor, ensuring the gases have not expired as it would provide inaccurate results. Calibration gas naturally breaks down over time. If the concentration of the gas on the label and the concentration of the gas in the bottle are different, your bump test will perform inaccurately. If the alarms do not go off when performing your bump test, this indicates problems with the monitor and should be sent for repairs or a replacement depending on why it’s not properly performing.

A calibration will make sure that the monitor is accurate as reading gases in the air and accurately reading the percentage of gas in the air are two totally different things. Humidity, lead, phosphorous, high or low temperatures, high concentrations of gas or vapors, and rough handling can all lead to what is known as “calibration drift”. Even though the gases are detected, the percentage reading can be way off. Most users will have their monitors calibrated every 3 months or so and adjust up or down depending on the workload and work environment that it is utilized. When performing bump tests, check the pump as well if the monitor is outfitted with one. After the device has completed its startup and is running in detection mode, place a finger over the inlet to block the airflow. If the pump stall alarm sounds, then the pump is working as it should.

Sensors should be replaced regularly as well. The sensor is what analyzes the gases in your environment and tells the technology within the device to signal an alarm. When performing bump tests before heading out in the field, users can determine if the sensors for the device are good or bad. Sensors register as pass or fail; with that being said if you do your bump test and the reading isn’t correct then it’s safe to assume the sensors need replacements. Overexposure to gases can shorten the life span of a sensor as well as contaminants from solvents or abrasives and contamination from dirt or other debris.

ION Science is a leading gas detection and prevention company offering a variety of fixed, portable and personal solutions across a vast amount of applications, ready to help companies ensure top-of-the-line safety equipment is assisting in turnaround safety. To find out more about products offered by ION Science to help with turnaround safety, or if you have a question for us, contact ION Science today. managing your gas detection system