What Are The Safety Considerations Of Gas Detection?

In many industries, gas detection is a very important part of ensuring that the air quality of the workplace is kept at safe levels at all times. Failing to do adequately measure these levels could lead to all sorts of problems, including damage to equipment and machinery in the area, health risks to workers and the general public, and even death.

When the sensor of a gas detection device is positioned, it will be done so in one of two ways – point placement (which refers to placing detectors at key locations, such as expansion valves and mechanical joints) and perimeter placement (which refers to placing detectors along the edges of a pre-defined area).

The professionals that work with gas detection devices will generally distinguish between the gas detection sensor itself and the entire system as being completely separate entities. This is because the sensor is considered only one element of a fully integrated system. When dealing with a professional in your workplace, you may hear them refer to either the sensor or the gas detection system – don’t be confused, they are only speaking about parts of a whole.

In the selection of a gas detection unit for your workplace, you will need to decide what type of sensor you would prefer to use:
• Infrared (IR) sensors operate on the basic principle that radiation energy is absorbed at different wavelengths depending on the type of gases present in the atmosphere. The devices monitor for leaks by detecting radiation as it passes through a preset volume of gas.
Substances: carbon dioxide, flammable gases and process emissions.
• Semiconductor sensors only work when they come into direct contact with a gas and related chemical reactions.
Substances: refrigerants, hydrocarbons, VOCs and natural gases.
• Electrochemical sensors use a porous membrane (that is customized to different requirements for each device) and an electrode. The concentration of a particular gas will create a proportional electric current through the electrode.
Substances: ammonia, ethylene, chlorine, fluorine, silane, ozone, so on.
• Ultrasonic sensors are able to use variations in the background noise to detect the rate of a leak from a particular area.

In many cases, there are actually legal requirements in place that determine what types of gases must be measured and what the maximum levels of exposure are. It is the responsibility of the workplace to ensure that they have installed the right kind of gas detection device. Safety considerations aside, these devices are highly important for efficient workplace running.