Gas Detectors – Tips for Maintaining Your Equipment

When was the last time you calibrated the gas detectors in your facility? Probably you don't remember or haven't thought much about it. Suppose your crew's working condition is exposed to potentially hazardous gases or explosives atmospheres. In that case, it's important to have well-maintained gas detectors on board to prevent fatal fire accidents in the workplace.

But, most facility owners often overlook the regular maintenance of life-saving equipment. You might think you had just replaced the gas detectors last year, and there's nothing wrong with them. But you might be wrong. Periodical maintenance of the gas detectors is the only reliable and safest method to detect the presence of hazardous gases in the atmosphere. Since gas detectors are used daily in dusty and harsh environments, they can be subjected to a build-up of grime, compromising the ability to identify hazardous levels of gases in the air.

In this article, we've shared some tips and advice on maintaining your gas detectors.

Bump Tests and Calibration

Regular maintenance, like bump tests and calibration, plays a crucial role in keeping the gas monitors healthy. While these tests are relatively easy and inexpensive, they are overlooked as most workers focus on getting their day started.

So, what is bump testing? Bump testing exposes the sensors of gas detectors to a high concentration of gas higher than the alarm set levels. Bump testing through calibration gas is crucial, and it's the only way to ensure that a methane gas detector and other gas monitors respond to alarms as they should. While bump testing proves that the sensors are picking up gas concentration and the alarms are working, it doesn't guarantee accuracy.

So to verify the accuracy and efficiency of the gas monitors, it's important to perform calibration once a month or according to the manufacturer's safety standards by exposing the monitors to the known concentration of calibration gas for a certain period. This helps to combat the gas readings impacted by gases or sensor drift and ensures the safety of the working personnel and the facility.

Do’s and Don’ts of Gas Monitor Maintenance

·         Keep the monitor clean and free of obstruction to the sensors inside.

·         Never use harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners on the gas detectors. Wipe the monitor with a wipe cloth to remove the dust and dirt.

·         Filters should be replaced regularly.

·         Inspect the monitor regularly, check for cracks, faults, or broken pieces and fix them immediately.

·         If anything looks abnormal, ask for a replacement or repair before using the gas detector.

·         Batteries should have a fresh charge to ensure it doesn’t give up in the middle of the job, leaving you susceptible to dangerous gases.

·         Perform bump tests daily before starting the work.

·         Never use expired gases for performing a bump test.

·         Ensure the gas detectors are calibrated using the same calibration gas every three months or so and adjust it based on the workload.

·         Replace the sensors regularly as they analyse the presence of gas in the environment and trigger the meter to signal an alarm.

Only some facilities have the expertise and employees to perform bump tests, calibrations, and repairs. Let the experts handle it so you can depend on the gas monitors to work in crucial moments. Preventive maintenance can help ensure the efficiency of the gas monitors.

4 Things to Consider When Choosing the Right Calibration Gas

All calibration gases are not created equal, even if they do look the same at first glance. When choosing your calibration gas, it’s important to understand the various types of gases and what each one can do for you in order to find the best option for your situation. This information will help you choose the right type of calibration gas Australia that will be ideal for your application.

Type of Gas Detectors Used:

Of course, before you can buy calibration gas you have to identify the type of detector that you need it for. There are two types of sensor detectors: Single gas detectors and multi-gas detectors.

The calibration of single gas sensors is performed by using purified single gases. Typically, single gas detectors will be calibrated using methane or iso-butane calibration gases. In multi-gas detectors, a specialty gas is used, which is tailored for a particular application in the laboratory or industrial setting. Read and understand the specs carefully when you choose a calibration gas.

Purity of the Gas:

One of the most important factors to consider when buying calibration gas Australia is the purity. Ideally, you want a gas - such as Nitrogen - that is about 99.995% pure for most measurements. Even minor impurities in the calibration gas will impact the sensitivity of the gas sensors. Before any of these can be used, the purity of the helium, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, and argon must be verified. In other words, make sure the calibration gas you select has met all the standards of purification.

Quality of the Gas:

Accurate measurement of the material during lab and manufacturing processes is essential to the success of an operation. C-grade gases can pose a threat to both human safety and your property. In addition, you need to be cautious about expired gases. The certification of a standard calibration gas acts as proof of accuracy. Before use, find out when the disposable calibration gas expires by inspecting them.

Gas Storage and Delivery:

With gases, you want to make sure they are safely stored and transported to minimize any human error in your system. Gases will also go bad if left un-stored and un-used. Before purchasing disposable cylinders, the amount of gas required for calibration should be assessed correctly. This will help ensure accuracy and safety when testing or calibrating instruments.

By following the tips listed above, it will be easier for you to choose your a calibration gas that’s best suited to the application you’re working on. Talk to the calibration gas suppliers before making any purchase. You don’t have to spend money on something that won’t work and save time in the long run by avoiding errors in your work.