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Gas is used across many industrial processes, from refrigeration systems to manufacturing and heating. Depending on the site, a leak could involve a flammable or toxic gas, while some releases can affect the amount of oxygen available in an enclosed area. The risks involved therefore depend on the gas itself, where it is being used and what happens if it escapes.
Where a gas-related risk has been identified, detection equipment can provide an early warning that something is wrong. This gives a business the opportunity to respond according to its site procedures before the situation develops further. This blog looks at the types of gases that may be encountered in industrial environments, where detection systems are used and why ongoing maintenance and calibration matter.
Which Gases Can Be Found in Industrial Environments?
The gases found on an industrial site will usually come down to what happens there day to day. A refrigeration plant, for example, has very different requirements from a site using LPG or hydrogen as part of its operations. Ammonia and carbon dioxide are other gases that may be encountered in certain industrial applications.
Each one also needs to be understood in its own context. A gas may be flammable or toxic, while others can create problems by displacing oxygen in an enclosed area. Some gases present more than one hazard. For this reason, the starting point for gas detection is knowing what could actually be released on the site and where that release could occur.
The Risks to People, Equipment and Operations
The risk from a gas leak depends heavily on what has escaped and where. A flammable gas can create a fire or explosion hazard if it reaches a suitable concentration and finds an ignition source. With a toxic gas, the concern is exposure to people working nearby. There are also gases which can build up and displace oxygen, particularly where ventilation is limited.
For an industrial business, the problem may not stop with the immediate area of the leak. Machinery might need to be shut down, access to part of the site could be restricted and work may have to stop while the cause is investigated. That interruption can become particularly disruptive where other stages of production depend on the affected area or process.
The equipment itself may also need attention following a leak, depending on the gas involved and the circumstances. This is one reason the substance, location and process all need to be considered rather than treating every gas-related incident in the same way.
Where Are Gas Detection Systems Used?
Where gas detectors are fitted will vary from one site to another. A refrigeration plant room may need monitoring around equipment where refrigerant could escape, while another facility might be more concerned with gas storage or a particular part of its production process.
Fixed detectors are commonly used where an area needs ongoing monitoring. Portable equipment has a different role and can be useful for certain jobs or areas where workers need to check the atmosphere. Which approach is suitable comes back to what is happening on the site.
Positioning matters as well. A detector needs to be installed with the potential source of a leak and the behaviour of the gas in mind. The layout of the building, ventilation and the equipment being monitored can all influence this, so detector locations need to be considered as part of the system rather than chosen simply because they are convenient.
Providing an Early Warning of a Gas Release
One of the difficulties with a gas leak is that there may be little to alert the people working nearby. You cannot assume that every gas will have a noticeable smell, and by the time a problem becomes obvious, the situation may already have changed.
A gas detection system provides another way of identifying a release. Detectors monitor for the gas they have been selected for and can trigger an alarm when the relevant threshold is reached. From there, the response will depend on the site. Different gases and processes call for different procedures, so staff should already know what an alarm means for the area they are working in.
That response matters just as much as the warning itself. An alarm might mean leaving an area or following another site-specific procedure. What it should not mean is staff having to work out what to do on the spot.
Maintenance, Testing and Calibration
A gas detector needs attention after it has been installed. Sensors can change in their response over time, while dirt, damage or changes around the detector may affect how the equipment performs. Regular maintenance gives these issues a chance to be picked up rather than assuming the system is working simply because no alarm has sounded.
Calibration is slightly different. This involves exposing the detector to an appropriate calibration gas so its response can be checked and, where necessary, adjusted. The exact process will depend on the detector, the sensor and the gas being monitored. Testing can also be used to check that alarms and other parts of the system operate as intended.
How often this work is needed will depend on the detector, its application and the manufacturer’s instructions. Keeping a record of servicing and calibration also gives the business a clearer picture of when the system was last checked and what work was carried out.
Gas Detection Systems from Electric Technics Ltd
Electric Technics Ltd designs and installs gas detection systems for commercial and industrial premises. The setup will depend on what is being monitored on the site, so factors such as the type of gas, potential leak points and the areas that need coverage can be considered when planning the system.
Our involvement does not have to end once the system has been fitted. ET-L also carries out maintenance and calibration of gas detection equipment, including existing systems that need ongoing attention. For sites where detection forms an important part of day-to-day operations, this means the equipment can continue to be checked and looked after throughout its working life.
If you need a new gas detection system, or it has been a while since your existing equipment was checked, get in touch with Electric Technics Ltd and talk us through what you have on site.
