Confined Space Gas Detectors
| Portable Gas Detectors designed for use when entering a Confined Space are among our most popular items. The technology, reliability and ease of use that is built in to every unit allow our customers to enter what would otherwise be potentially dangerous Confined Spaces with confidence. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Gas Detection equipment intended for Confined Space Entry has features and benefits specific to the task that make them unique relative to the larger field of gas detection. For instance, we sell Photo Ionization Detectors (PIDs) for Environmental Sampling and even wirelessly monitored and controlled AreaRAE instruments for perimeter monitoring of HazMat spills, to name just a few. And this is just in the narrow group of products that we offer. Beyond that are gas detectors and monitors for process control in manufacturing, Fixed Point monitors to turn on the fans in a parking garage, to the handheld gas sniffer that the utility repairman uses to find a gas leak in your home. So, when talking about Confined Space Entry, we start with a so-called �permit required� entry procedure. Access to the space is governed by a written procedure that spells out what steps must be taken. This likely includes things besides using a gas detector, but since that is the point of this story, we�ll stick with this one aspect. Testing should begin prior to entry, and if possible, prior to opening whatever hatch, manhole cover or door guards the space. For instance, in the case of a manhole cover, sticking a probe through one of the vent holes is a good idea. This is because a majority of methane explosions take place as the space is being opened. Check for Oxygen deficiency first, next for explosive gases and then for toxic gases such as Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen Sulfide. Even though this is the order prescribed by OSHA, all of the gas detectors we sell check for all these gases at once. The Oxygen concentration is not only important to provide a breathable atmosphere, having too little will affect the performance of a combustible gas sensor. The catalytic hot bead used in virtually all LEL sensors depends on sufficient oxygen to give an accurate reading. Once we have made the pre-entry checks with our gas detector, it is time to open the space and investigate further. Using the remote sampling tube, and this may be a powered sample draw pump or a hand aspirator bulb, we need to check both high and low. An explosive gas such Methane is lighter than air and may rise to the top, while others such as Hydrogen Sulfide are heavier than air and tend to fall. This stratification can be overblown, since even small disturbances in air will redistribute these components, but in a closed space with time it can be very real. So unless all areas are checked, some pockets of problem gases may remain. Even though we are talking Gas Detectors, at this point it should be noted that Confined Space Ventilation is the next step. Forced air ventilation with sufficient volume to change the air about 20 times per hour is recommended. The point being to keep the air fresh and introduce enough turbulence that pockets of bad stuff won�t accumulate, even if all the testing has come back clean Now it is time to enter the confined space. This is where the small size and portability of the modern confined space gas detector comes in handy. Clip the device to your belt or Retrieval Harness (you are wearing a harness attached to a Retrieval Device?) so as to keep a constant eye on the condition of the breathing air while occupying the tank, vault or other containment vessel. With training, planning, a healthy dose of caution and the right equipment you and your company can routinely utilize a variety of Confined Spaces without incident. A Confined Space Gas Detector can help, but training and well thought out procedures are the most important pieces of the puzzle. Rick Pedley pks-store@pksafety.com |
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