Gas Detector Calibration Service & Repair

GAS DETECTOR CALIBRATION SERVICE & REPAIR

If your gas detection equipment needs calibration or a diagnosis for a potential repair, we can help! PK Safety’s staff is trained by manufacturers. PK Safety is also a Factory Authorized Service Center for BW Technologies by Honeywell, RAE Systems, and RKI Instruments.

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Fast in-house calibration services (How Often Do You Need to Calibrate? Read our FAQ Answer)
4-Year protection plans for expert diagnosis, complete mechanical maintenance, repairs, and part replacements
Custom alarm point setting and calibrations for small to large quantities of gas monitors

If your gas monitor is not performing properly or needs a calibration, check out the service and protection products below, call PK Safety at 800-829-9580, or email service@pksafety.com.

Each portable gas detector manufacturer deals with warranties differently. We can help handle brand-specific gas detector warranties and after-warranty repairs.

How do you calibrate a gas detector?

Both bump testing and calibration are necessary to verify gas monitor functionality before use. Bump testing verifies that your gas monitor will detect the target gas in a work environment. While calibration is necessary in order to check the accuracy of your readings. If your gas detector fails its bump test before the shift starts, it requires a full calibration. Gas monitor calibration requires you to adjust each of the instrument’s readings to the test gas to ensure that it’s responding correctly and accurately. Gas detectors should be calibrated in conditions that are as close to the environment at the actual work site as you can get, even calibrating on-site if you can. You should also test more frequently if sensor poisons or other potential interference with the device is suspected.

In addition to the gas detectors internal memory function, it is good practice to keep a written record of each instrument’s calibration to identify instruments that need servicing or testing or are at the end of their service life and need to be replaced. Keep information on your test gases as well to ensure that you’re getting the most accurate results possible.

How often should a gas detector be calibrated?

Each manufacturer will have different rules about their specific instruments. We recommend bump testing regularly and calibrating at least every six months. As a general rule, you should be verifying your sensor accuracy before each use. You can do so by testing it with a known quantity of the gas you’re testing for. This will tell you whether the sensors respond accurately and the alarms are working. If the gas detector fails the bump test, a full calibration will need to be performed. More frequent testing should be done if the environmental conditions are especially harsh or fluctuate.

What is the difference between a bump test and calibration?

Bump testing ensures your gas monitor will detect the target gas in a work environment. When bump testing, you don't need to zero the meters or compare the readout to the contents of the test gas. It should be done regularly and prior to using the monitor in the field. If the test passes, then the device is good to be used for that shift. If not, then a full calibration must be performed. Calibration is necessary in order to check the accuracy of your readings and involves adjusting instrument readings to fall in line with a known concentration of gas (or calibration gas). During calibration, instruments self-correct to the appropriate level of sensitivity. This can be vital for older devices where sensors will degrade over time and use. A device that can’t accurately read set values will need to be replaced. If a device has been dropped or otherwise damaged, consider recalibrating.What test is used before calibrating a gas monitor?

A gas monitor bump test is usually done before the calibration process. Bump testing your device before you start working determines whether it can respond to the tested gas. If it can’t, you will have to move on to full calibration.