Gas Detection Series: RKI Instruments 04 Series Single Gas Monitors | PK Safety

In high-risk environments where the potential for hazardous gases can compromise worker health and safety, you need reliable gas monitoring solutions so your team can confidently face the task at hand. With its compact design, ease of use, and advanced sensor features, RKI Instruments’ 04 Series makes the case for being your go-to single-gas monitor.

Features and Applications of HS-04 H2S Monitor

The RKI Instruments HS-04 Series H2S Single Gas Detector is a compact and reliable device for monitoring the presence of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). At just 2.1”(W) x 2.6”(H) x 0.9”(D) and 2.8 ounces, the HS-04’s portability is only matched by its suite of user-friendly features.

Here’s a rundown of its primary features:

• Continuous Operation: The HS-04 can operate continuously for over 9,000 hours using just two AAA alkaline batteries.
• Field Serviceable: Users can easily replace sensors and filters on the go, ensuring they’re always protected. In addition to being inexpensive, the replacement sensors for the HS-04 are interchangeable with other RKI Instruments gas monitors, including the GX-3R, GX-3R Pro, and GasWatch 3.
• Back by 3-Year Warranty: These sensors have a life expectancy of over three years and are backed by a three-year warranty.
• Customizable Alarms: The HS-04 has three preset alarms users can adjust according to their specific requirements, including OVER alarm, STEL (Short-Term Exposure Limit), and TWA (Time-Weighted Average). The HS-04 produces audible, visual, and vibration alarms, ensuring workers are notified regardless of environmental conditions.
• Digital Display: Constant digital LCD readout, gas name & concentration, auto backlighting during alarm, operation icon, battery icon

The HS-04 is an excellent choice for any application where hydrogen sulfide exposure is a concern. These include sewage treatment plants, utility manholes, tunnels, hazardous waste sites, power stations, petrochemical refineries, mines, paper mills, drilling rigs, and fire fighting stations. As the International Electrotechnical Commission notes, “Gas detectors can also be used to initiate precautionary steps (for example, plant shutdown and evacuation) (IEC, 2021).”

Reliability and Durability in Harsh Environments

RKI’s HS-04 Gas Detector boasts a chock-full of robust features that make it perfectly suited for harsh environments, including:

• Impact Resistance: The HS-04 is built to withstand impacts, ensuring it remains functional even in rugged conditions. It comes standard with a replaceable protective rubber boot to further enhance durability.
• Dust and Water Resistance: The HS-04 hasan IP-67 ingress protection rating. The first numeral refers to the protection against solid objects, rated on a scale from 0 (no protection) to 6 (no ingress of dust). Meanwhile, the second digit rates the enclosure’s protection against liquids using a scale from 0 (no protection) to 9 (high-pressure hot water from different angles (IEC, n.d.). This means the HS-04 is dust-tight and can comfortably withstand temporary exposure to water.
• Intrinsically Safe: The HS-04 is classified as intrinsically safe ATEX/IECEx and by QPS to U.S. and Canadian standards for Class I, Division 1, Groups A, B, C, and D atmospheres. This certifies that the instrument is intentionally designed to be incapable of producing heat or spark that can ignite explosive atmospheres.

With its continuous operation, long battery life, and rugged construction, the HS-04 gas monitor ensures worker safety in confined spaces or unpredictable outdoor environments.

Benefits of Long Battery Life in Industrial Settings

Battery life is a critical factor in the performance and reliability of any device. This is further amplified in gas monitors, where the safety of workers is at stake. The RKI Instruments HS-04 Single Gas Detector can run continuously on two AAA alkaline batteries for up to 9,000 hours, minimizing downtime and eliminating the need for frequent charging. This translates to over a year of uninterrupted use, ensuring consistent worker protection throughout long shifts or multi-day projects.

The HS-04’s impressive battery life is particularly beneficial in remote locations where charging facilities are unavailable.

How the HS-04 Series Enhances Workplace Safety

Like all RKI gas monitors, the HS-04 Gas Detector provides workers across industries with a highly portable, durable, and reliable monitoring solution for environments susceptible to high hydrogen sulfide concentrations. It has a detection range of 0 to 2,000 ppm (parts per million) and multiple alarm set points to ensure workers are promptly notified of potentially hazardous conditions. This enhances workers’ situational awareness while giving them the confidence and peace of mind to focus on their tasks.

In addition, the HS-04 has data logging capabilities, which record the instrument’s alarms, gas readings, calibration and bump test history, and instrument settings. This allows safety managers to analyze historical data and identify trends, patterns, and potential hazards. This information can provide a more nuanced understanding of environmental conditions during specific shifts and workdays, enabling the operation to enhance its safety measures and controls.

FAQs: Optimal Use and Maintenance of H2S Monitors

• How often should HS-04 monitors be calibrated?

The calibration frequency for the RKI Instruments HS-04 Single Gas Detector depends on various factors, including usage patterns and environmental conditions. For most applications, calibration is recommended at least every three months.

However, we recommend bump testing the instrument with a known target gas concentration before each day’s use. You can perform a bump test in User Mode’s BUMP item or introduce gas in Measuring Mode. Calibration is not required if the gas monitor passes the User Mode bump test.

• What are the maintenance requirements for the HS-04?

Aside from bump testing before each use and replacing the batteries when necessary, essential maintenance for the RKI Instruments HS-04 Single Gas Detector includes replacing the sensor and filter as needed, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

For reference, users with 1-ppm H2S alarm setpoints should replace the humidity filter every six months when there’s a noticeable drift on the zero reading or if the filter appears dirty (whichever occurs sooner).

If you need assistance in selecting the appropriate gas monitoring solutions for your specific applications, contact our customer support team. We’re always happy to help.

Comparison Chart

SHOP RKI'S 04 SERIES SINGLE GAS MONITORS

References:

• International Electrotechnical Commission (n.d.). IP ratings. Retrieved from https://www.iec.ch/ip-ratings

International Electrotechnical Commission (2021). International Standard / Workplace atmospheres – Part 2: Gas detectors – Selection, installation, use and maintenance of detectors for toxic gases and vapors. Retrieved from https://webstore.iec.ch/preview/info_iec62990-2%7Bed1.0%7Den.pdf