The purpose of gas detection monitors is to alert workers about the toxic gases, flammable and oxygen-deficient atmosphere. Moreover, this instrument protects employees from unseen gas hazards. Now, the question arises, why they should be calibrated. Calibration and maintenance of these gas detection monitors ensure their accuracy in hazardous environments. In this article, we’ll discuss why it is important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for calibration of gas detection monitors.

Why Do You Need to Calibrate Your Gas Detection Monitor?

Workers work in different hazardous environments, such as confined spaces, enclosed spaces, and manholes where the entry permit is required. In such places, workers must use gas detection monitors. According to OSHA, there must be a standard procedure and documentation for the calibration and maintenance of these instruments.
Irregular calibration and maintenance can lead to exposure to oxygen-deficient and hazardous atmospheres. This hazardous gas exposure can cause different injuries or even deaths of workers. In addition to personal injury, explosive gas exposures can destroy property.
The best way to detect gas accurately is to keep the gas detection monitors maintained and calibrated. Properly maintained monitors ensure the device’s reliability in the known concentration of gas. It will help you identify whether the device sensors respond accurately and alarms work properly.

How Calibration is a Key to Accurate Readings?

Workers use gas detection monitors to detect the presence and concentration of combustible and toxic gases. Moreover, they use it to check oxygen deficiency and enrichment. Workers smelling sense isn’t enough to inform them about the hazard. It’s the employer’s responsibility to ensure workers use these detection devices while working in hazardous areas.
Calibration is a term used to test the accuracy of the equipment. As mentioned earlier, you can test your equipment with a known gas concentration. Additionally, the responsiveness of a sensor depends on the workplace environmental conditions. Therefore, workers need to calibrate their gas detection devices in an environment where the actual work conditions and environmental conditions are the same.
The best way is to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. When workers follow the standard procedures, guidelines, internal company policy, regulatory agency guidelines, and manufacturer’s instructions, then the instruments give accurate readings.
There must be a record for the calibration of each device. It enables workers to check which device gives the wrong reading and which sensor needs to be replaced.

What is Calibration Drift and what are the Causes of Calibration Drift?

Calibration drift occurs as a result of a shift in reference points of a device. This shift changes the reading, and the reading becomes unreliable. This calibration drift can affect the instrument’s reliability.
The gas detection monitor still measures the gas presence inside a specific environment but could not convert it into an accurate numerical reading. You need to update the reference point of the device with a traceable gas concentration test. Operators are responsible for performing this action daily or when required. This practice will ensure that instrument gives an accurate and reliable reading.

The main causes of calibration drift are:

• Degradation due to exposure to phosphates
• When the device is exposed to phosphorous-containing components
• The device is used in extreme weather conditions such as high levels of airborne particles, high temperature, and humidity.
• Due to the decomposition of lead-containing components
• Gradual degradation of sensors and electrical components
• Exposure to highly corrosive gases and solvent vapors

When any of these conditions are suspected or occurred during use, the operators must validate DRPGM’s (Direct-Reading Portable Gas Monitor’s) operability. After exposure to these conditions, the sensor will give a failure message, or the operator will not be able to adjust the display reading.
Moreover, harsh storage and operating conditions also affect the performance of equipment. If a device is undamaged from outside, there is a strong possibility that it got damaged internally. In such conditions, the operator needs to replace the sensor or send the device for repair. Follow the manufacturer’s policy regarding the servicing or replacement of the sensor. You can contact http://paramountgas.com/contact for more information.

Why Proper and Regular Calibration of Gas Detection Monitors is required

First of all, it’s essential to understand why workers use such instruments. The first reason is to ensure the employee’s safety. When the device gives an accurate reading, it prevents worker’s injury and death. Moreover, when the device is calibrated correctly, it will ensure that the device accurately records the reading for which it is designed.
The purpose of these instruments is to alert workers about the hazardous conditions before things get out of control. These devices have two alarms. One is a warning alarm, and the second one is an emergency alarm.
Warning alarms tell workers about the increased concentration of toxic gases. Emergency alarm alerts workers that the concentration of toxic gas exceeds the threshold limit. Both these alarms work well when the device is up-to-date and detect the right concentrations.
When to Perform Bump Test and a Full Calibration?
There has been a lot of fuss about the calibration frequency and procedures in the past few years. Therefore, ISEA (International Safety Equipment Association) clears its statement about the calibration of the instrument. ISEA states that the bump test or calibration of gas detection monitors must be performed before use each day in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
In case the device fails a bump test, there must be a full calibration performed on a device before using it. If the results are the same, the device must be taken out for repair or service.

Some Calibration Rules Every Worker Needs to Follow:

• For proper calibration, workers must follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. Operators must have the right tools to perform the calibration of gas detection monitors. Sample tubing, calibration adapters, flow regulators, and concentration of calibration test gas are key elements for calibration.
• For testing, the gas should be certified traceable, and testing must be done before it’s expiration date. The instrument’s accuracy depends on the gas used for its calibration. Get a certificate for each test gas cylinder. Some gases remain stable for a specific period. So be careful and do not use reactive gases like chlorine and hydrogen sulfide after expiration.
• It’s the safety personnel’s responsibility to train workers about all the calibration methods. Most devices can be calibrated best in the field, and you have to follow the manufacturer’s manual. Employees must train all the personnel who are responsible for performing calibration of gas detection monitors.

Recommendations for Using Gas Detection Monitors

Gas detection devices are used at a variety of workplaces, so every worker should pay attention to:

• Check the device daily for power supply, cleanliness, and to ensure that it’s in good condition.
• Conduct regular bump tests by using certified gas. Do this as recommended by the manufacturer.
• There must be formal calibration testing every six months or as recommended by the manufacturer. It will help verify the correct working of sensors and alarms. The testing authority will issue a certificate for the calibration.
• Ensure that all the staff who will be using these detectors have full training to use and maintain these detectors and keep the record sheets of bump test so that readings must be readily available for inspection.

Contact Paramount Gas Products and we can help you with any questions you have regarding gas detection. Using a properly calibrated device helps ensure a safe and healthy working environment.

Calibration is Paramount – Paramount is Calibration