Knowing the Difference Between Gas Detectors and Gas Monitors

Commercial spaces can have a number of confined spaces as well as toxic or combustible atmospheres that make the environment dangerous for workers. Avoiding accidents, especially in manufacturing, comes down to having a reliable system for monitoring and detecting gases. Most gases are clear, odorless, and undetectable to human senses, so the right tools are necessary to identify problems before they become dangerous. There’s a lot of gas detection and monitoring products out there, so here are the important distinctions to keep in mind before you make a purchase right for your workers.

Gas Detectors

A gas detector will alert a building that there’s a gas present. Gas detectors are usually part of a larger alarm system in a building that lets everyone inside know when it’s dangerous and they need to leave. They can come in different sizes and types and can be used to detect toxic, flammable, or combustible gases as well as oxygen depletion. For a gas detection unit that works with your Building Automation System to keep your workers safe, try the Honeywell E3Point Network Single Gas Monitor programmed to your choice of toxic and combustible gases.

Gas Monitors

Unlike gas detectors, which are tied into a building’s system, gas monitors are portable, wireless, and hands-free. They’re usually easy to use and light, which makes them ideal for personal use in areas that may have pockets of gas, such as confined spaces. They also tend to be durable and can withstand the impacts, dust, and dampness that come with the tough working conditions in confined spaces. There gas detection tools that monitor a single type of gas and others that can detect a range of gases, such as the Honeywell BW Ultra Five-Gas Portable Gas Detector, which can be programmed to detect four gases plus a fifth gas of your choice. What Do I Need to Do My Job?

Differences in gas monitors can come down to how they sample the air and what you need them to do. Diffusion-style monitors have sensors designed to be brought in physical contact with the gases they’re designed to monitor, and pump monitors are designed to pull gases from a remote location to test: PK Safety carries both styles. Some monitors can convert from pump to diffusion if remote sensing isn’t necessary, which also extends the unit’s battery life and cuts down on noise. Gear like the BW Honeywell GasAlert Quattro Deluxe Confined Space Kit can help you make such a conversion possible on top of giving you the tools you need to extend the life of your gas monitors and keep them properly maintained and calibrated.

PK Safety has been in business for 70 years and is proud to remain a leader in safety product expertise and customer service. If you have questions about what would work best for your work site, any of the monitors or accessories we carry, or want to talk about custom calibrations or settings for your new single gas detectors, get in touch at 8003829.9580 or ask us online.

Related Searches

4 Gas Monitor, Gas Monitors, H2S Monitor, How To Select A Gas Detection Kit For Your Confined Space