Gas Monitors & Detectors: Portable – Single or Multi Confined Space Gas Detectors

PORTABLE GAS MONITORS AND DETECTORS

Gas detection is a long-time specialty at PK Safety. We have factory-trained techs on staff at our office. This assures you that we have the background and experience to recommend the right solutions and back them up over time.

Instruments have been getting smaller and more reliable. This makes choosing a detector more about finding the right fit than picking the least bad option. That is where we come in. Listening to and understanding your application, then providing honest feedback. For years we have been selling to and supporting instrument users across the country. Our trained customer service staff picks up the phone when you call-there's no impersonal auto greeting.

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As with any life safety purchase, the after-sale support becomes important long after the product has been delivered. Buying from a company that actually understands both the product and customer can pay dividends apart from the price.

At PK Safety, we sell dozens of high-quality portable multi gas monitors and single gas monitors, so you can protect yourself from a range of hazardous substances and poor air quality. You'll find some of the biggest and most trusted names in the industry below, including BW Honeywell, RKI Instruments, and RAE Systems. Our monitors are both compact and highly dependable, so you don't have to lug a bunch of heavy equipment around on the job or in confined spaces. Just keep it on your person or attach it to your bag for more peace of mind.

What are the different types of gas detectors?

Portable gas monitors are good for confined spaces or other applications that require a compact device to be brought into the work area with the worker: first responders, maintenance, and utility workers can all benefit from having a gas detector on their collar, lapel, or bag. These gas monitors can come in single-gas form, where they detect one hazardous gas at a time, or multi-gas, where there's more than one sensor to detect a range of gases all at the same time. They can sense various gases including oxygen (O2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon monoxide (CO), and Lower Explosive Levels (LELs) of combustible gases.

Fixed gas detectors are designed for continuous monitoring of the atmosphere of a workplace. Unlike portable gas monitors, these must be installed and maintained and are generally mounted to a wall or ceiling. They're designed to track known hazards in a single space continuously and over time. They might be integrated into a network of devices or self-contained.

Both types of monitors will emit bright lights and loud alarm sounds to alert workers when an area's atmosphere has become dangerous. Portable monitors may also offer a vibrating alarm. Which one you'll need depends on the needs of your workplace and the hazards you face.

What are the benefits of a portable gas leak detector?

Gas detection equipment is crucial for worksites with toxic atmospheres. Many of the most dangerous gases, like carbon monoxide, are difficult if not impossible to detect without gas detection equipment until it's too late. So many toxic or reactive gases can't be seen, tasted, or smelled with human senses alone. Teams will need to have access to a gas detector to ensure that the air is safe enough to work in. The monitor will track the gases and alert you to hazardous levels in the air, giving you time to get out of danger or bring other PPE as needed.

Bringing that protection with you to a job in the form of a portable gas leak detector is a great idea. Portable gas monitors are often hands-free devices that can clip to a collar, lapel, or bag, which keeps your hands free to work. They can go just about anywhere that's comfortable and accessible for you, but they should be worn in the “breathing zone” for the most accuracy of what you can potentially be breathing in. Portable monitors are battery-operated and typically have a very long battery life, which means that they can be worn or carried very easily with no wires or other bulk. Finally, these monitors have many different types of alarms to alert you of an emergency-an alarm sound, vibration, and flashing light will all activate when toxic atmospheres are detected, which means that one way or another, you'll know when it's time to evacuate.

Is there a difference between a gas monitor and gas detector?

While these terms are often used interchangeably, there are differences between gas monitors and gas detectors. Gas detectors refer to portable units designed to alert users to hazards as they're working and interacting with the workplace. Gas monitors are often placed in rooms, hallways, or other areas to monitor the atmosphere of a given area over time. If you're confused about the details or just want a recommendation on how to choose a gas detection device for your business, PK Safety's safety experts can help. We also have in-house technicians that can repair, calibrate, and configure monitors to your specifications.

What is a fixed gas detector?

A fixed gas detector is a unit that's installed in a building or worksite that continuously monitors the atmospheric conditions. Unlike portable gas monitors, which workers carry or wear with them and interact with as they're working, fixed gas detectors are mounted to the physical structure of the building (often the wall or ceiling of a highly trafficked room or hallway) where they can monitor the space continuously over time. This means that fixed gas detectors need to be professionally installed and maintained to retain their effectiveness and your workplace safety. They might do this monitoring in conjunction with other fixed gas detector units or work independently, and they also work best in situations where you know which hazards you might be facing but not necessarily when they'll be at their most hazardous. Like portable gas monitors, when fixed gas detectors detect toxic gases, they will emit an audible alarm and a visible flashing alarm to alert workers.

What is a multi-gas monitor?

Multi-gas monitors don't make you choose which single or specific gas you want to detect at any given time because they can monitor more than one. Multi-gas monitors may be equipped with sensors that can detect different kinds of gases at the same time. Common sensor choices include oxygen (O2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon monoxide (CO), and the Lower Explosive Levels (LELs) of various combustible gases. The number of sensors can vary, and you can order monitors that detect the specific gases you know will be present at your worksite (or ones that you can anticipate based on the kind of work you're doing). PK Safety's in-house technicians can help you repair, calibrate, and configure your monitors to the exact specifications that you need for your job.