Calibration Gas
The Vital Role of Calibration Gas in Industrial Safety and Precision
In the realm of industrial safety and environmental monitoring, the significance of calibration gas cannot be overstated. These specialized gas mixtures are essential for ensuring that analytical devices, such as gas detectors, provide accurate readings, crucial for maintaining safety and compliance in various industries. Whether you're managing a factory, refinery, or chemical plant, or overseeing environmental monitoring in research laboratories or healthcare facilities, the correct use of calibration gas is indispensable.
What is Calibration Gas Used For?
Calibration gases are fundamental in both the calibration and bump testing of portable gas detectors and stationary gas monitoring systems. They establish predictable responses to specific concentrations of gases, ensuring your detection equipment functions accurately and in line with the manufacturer's specifications. This precision is critical for safeguarding personnel and facilities against hazardous gas exposures, enabling prompt evacuation and appropriate medical intervention when necessary.
Understanding The Shelf Life of Calibration Gas
Calibration gases fall into two categories—reactive and non-reactive—each with its own storage requirements and shelf life.
Reactive Gases
Reactive gases, such as hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, and ammonia, can become unstable over time, reacting with other compounds like water or air. Typically packaged in aluminum cylinders with specialized treatments to reduce reactivity, these gases have a shelf life ranging from eight months to one year. As they age, their concentration can diminish, potentially compromising the accuracy of your gas detection equipment.
Non-Reactive Gases
Non-reactive gases, including alkenes, nitrogen, and carbon monoxide, are more stable and less prone to interaction with environmental factors. These gases are usually stored in steel cylinders and have a longer shelf life of up to three years, ensuring sustained accuracy in your gas detection processes.
Essential Equipment For Gas Detector Calibration?
To ensure your gas detectors function correctly, you must conduct two critical tests: bump testing and full calibration.
Bump/Functional Testing
Bump testing involves exposing your gas monitor to a known concentration of gas, verifying that the device's alarm triggers within a specified time frame. This quick test, which typically takes no more than 20 seconds, is crucial for confirming that your equipment is ready for use in the field.
Full Calibration
Full calibration adjusts the gas monitor's readings to align with a precise concentration of calibration gas. This process involves "zeroing" the device and using a gas mixture that triggers the alarm, ensuring the monitor's accuracy. If the readings fall outside the permissible range, a thorough recalibration is necessary to maintain safety standards.
Selecting The Right Calibration Gas For Your Detector?
The choice of calibration gas depends on the specific gas detector in use:
- Combustible Gas Detectors: Typically calibrated using methane or isobutane.
- Oxygen Detectors: Calibrated with clean nitrogen or oxygen gases.
- Toxic Gas Detectors: Calibrated with the specific toxic gas they are designed to detect, such as carbon monoxide or hydrogen sulfide.
For multi-gas detectors, a brand-specific calibration gas mixture is often used, containing four gases: carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, a combustible gas (like methane or isobutane), and oxygen, often balanced with nitrogen.
The bottom line
Calibration gases play a critical role in ensuring the accuracy of gas detection equipment across various industrial sectors. At Premier Safety, our high-quality calibration gas solutions are designed to keep your operations safe from hazardous gases, providing accurate monitoring and timely alerts. Whether you need a standard gas detector or a multi-gas monitor, our products are engineered for reliability and precision. Contact us today for a customized quote tailored to your specific needs.