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Personal gas monitors alert employees to the presence of oxygen, flammable gases, and potentially hazardous substances in confined spaces. Instant action is required when the alarm sounds, but what happens when the sensors are ineffective due to a lack of calibration? The delayed reaction can have disastrous consequences for the people in the confined space and their rescuers.
After serving clients for more than six decades, Hetek understands the importance of portable gas detector calibration. That is why we provide a professional calibration service performed by manufacturer-trained technicians at our labs or at customer locations via our mobile service.
Why Portable Gas Detector Calibration Is Necessary
Portable gas detectors are essential personal protective equipment (PPE). Regular instrument calibration ensures accurate gas concentration readings that protect workers from hazardous situations.
Portable gas detection docking stations are increasingly popular among employers and safety managers, according to the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA). Why? The system automatically does the following:
- Performs functional (bump) tests and calibrations
- Records data
- Charges the portable gas monitors.
The range of personal safety monitors offered by Hetek Solutions includes the PS200 portable 4-gas monitor and the PS500 portable 5-gas monitor. Both monitors can be tested, calibrated, and charged via Auto Bump/Calibration (ABC) stations.
What Is The Difference Between a Bump Test and Calibration?
An ISEA position statement on instrument calibration of portable gas monitors defines bump test, calibration check, and full calibration as follows:
- Bump test
A qualitative function check to confirm that gas can get to the sensors and that all alarms are functional. - Calibration check
A quantitative test using a known traceable concentration of test gas to demonstrate that the sensors and alarms respond to the gas within the manufacturer’s acceptable limits or those set by a regulatory agency or internal company policy. - Full calibration
The adjustment of the sensor’s response to match the desired value, compared to a known traceable concentration of test gas, done in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Gas Monitor Calibration Requirements in Industrial Settings
Workers in industrial settings are exposed to various types of gases, including hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Requirements for accurate portable gas detector calibration in these circumstances include exposing sensors to the correct unexpired gas and performing testing in environmental conditions similar to actual workplace conditions.
Follow the manufacturer’s calibration guidelines, internal company policy, and the relevant regulatory agency’s recommendations to maintain the highest standards. Chevron requires United States-based operations to comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance on calibrating and testing portable gas monitors.
How Often Should Gas Monitors Be Calibrated to Maintain Accuracy?
The frequency of portable gas detector calibration depends on the type of industry, company policy, manufacturer instructions, regulatory agency guidelines, how often the device is used, and environmental factors.
ISEA recommends conducting a bump test before each day’s use and a full calibration at regular intervals in accordance with various rules and guidelines. The organization also suggests validating the operability of an instrument under certain circumstances, including chronic exposure to sensor poisons. Employers must retain calibration records for the instrument’s life to maintain accurate measurements, demonstrate compliance, and ensure quality control.
Understanding Sensor Drift and Its Impact on Gas Detector Accuracy
Personal safety gas monitors are robust devices that are often exposed to harsh environments. Sensors naturally experience small signal changes due to slight temperature, pressure, and air concentration fluctuations. A gradual decrease in sensor accuracy when the measured quantity remains the same is called sensor drift. It might indicate the following:
- A gas calibration is required
- There is a physical problem with the sensor
- The monitor’s electronics have an error.
Why is it important to correct sensor drift immediately? The sensor’s measurements become increasingly inaccurate and unreliable, placing workers wearing the device at risk. The briefest exposure to certain gases can result in death.
Hetek provides professional repair and calibration services to municipalities, water utilities, gas utilities, and the midstream and upstream oil and gas sectors. Contact us today to schedule portable gas detector calibration services.
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