Fixed gas monitoring systems provide continuous area monitoring and ensure maximum protection for workers and the workplace. Understanding fixed gas detection is the first step in providing a safe work environment.
What are the Common Risks?
- Oxygen Depletion: Oxygen depletion can occur anywhere there is a place for high concentrations of gas other than ambient air. A decrease in even the slightest amount of oxygen can reduce worker efficiency and safety. Nitrogen, a gas we breathe in the most, can become deadly fast, known as nitrogen asphyxiation. Just a 2% dip in oxygen levels can become fatal. OSHA investigations into worker deaths caused by oxygen depletion or toxic gas almost always reveal a failure to install safety monitoring systems or utilize personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Toxic Gases: every toxic gas has a regulated exposure limit, set by OSHA, and should have a specific sensor to continuously monitor that gas. Many gases are toxic in concentrations less than 1,000 ppm. The three most common toxic gases found in commercial and industrial worksites are carbon monoxide, chlorine and methane.
- Explosive Gases: many gases can become volatile/combustible at the right concentration levels. These hazards can be monitored with a variety of monitors and sensors. Examples of flammable gases are propane, hydrogen, butane, methane, ethylene, acetylene, ammonia, ethane and saline.
“A worker dies of toxic exposure in the workplace every 30 seconds” – 2018 UN Report
Premier Safety can provide you with custom-built fixed systems for continuous gas detection and monitoring. These solutions utilize our experts' wealth of technical and engineering expertise allowing us to provide you with a thorough assessment of your needs and priorities. The custom gas leak detector systems we provide maximize worker safety and facility efficiency for your job site.
A free onsite risk assessment can identify all potential hazards before they become a threat to life and environment.
What are the Benefits?
Installing fixed gas detectors can protect you and your company's assets by providing around the clock monitoring to warn workers before they enter a potentially deadly environment. In addition to utilizing personal gas detection, continuous monitoring can reduce the amount of time to assess and record measurements, as well as provide an early notification system for dangerous hazards, thus increasing worker productivity safely.
Fixed gas monitoring systems are often easier and cheaper to maintain due to the lifetime of the instrumentation, minimal worker interference and its limited maintenance needs, as compared to portable gas detection.
Choose custom solutions for your unique situation
Premier Safety will always provide you with the best configuration that can maximize reliability, minimize false alarms and keep your workers and work environment safe. We use components from top manufacturers including RKI Instruments, MSA and Grace Industries.
Premier Safety has fixed gas monitoring systems operating throughout North America, monitoring fixed gas and flame detection in these industries and settings:
Mechanical equipment rooms – these facilities house the equipment for heating and cooling systems, broilers, etc., and can use gases that are explosive or toxic.
Data centers – did you know these account for 2% of the world’s greenhouse gases?
Vehicle emissions – indoor vehicle storage can lead to a hazardous environment.
Cold storage – refrigerators and freezers often use substances like ammonia or carbon dioxide to cool, which can displace oxygen making for a deadly environment.
Battery storage – do you have forklifts, carts, or other machinery that require batteries? Backup power for critical systems? Battery charging areas can emit high levels of flammable hydrogen!
Occupied space – domes, hangers, etc., should be monitored for toxic gases, as well as oxygen levels, to ensure ventilation is functioning properly.
Labs and hospitals – oxygen monitoring is essential in these environments. A decrease in oxygen levels can cause loss of consciousness and high levels pose a risk of fire and explosion.
Breweries – brewing activities create dangerous levels of carbon dioxide, displacing oxygen making for a deadly environment.
Automotive – research and development facilities, and engine testing and environmental chambers face potential hazards including combustible gases, oxygen deficiency or enrichment, and various toxic gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide.
Semiconductor manufacturing – these facilities utilize several hazardous gases in their production processes. Storage, distribution or use of these gases in manufacturing processes can create the perfect mixture for a hazardous environment. The primary hazards associated with these gases include fire, explosion, and contamination resulting in product loss or unscheduled preventative maintenance.
Agriculture – both crop and animal waste create gasses, which can lead to a hazardous environment. Animal waste management and monitoring is required for animal waste sites.
Food processing – monitoring is required for refrigerants such as ammonia, freon and carbon dioxide!
Oil and gas drilling – continuous monitoring is necessary for the detection of hydrogen sulfide, particle pollution, and volatile organic compounds commonly found at and around oil and gas drilling sites.
Wastewater applications – continuous monitoring of toxic and combustible substances processed or present at wastewater facilities is required by NFPA 820 for sewage and wastewater treatment facilities, and necessary to ensure the safety of workers.
Maintenance and Calibration
Premier Safety also provides ongoing technical support with scheduled maintenance and calibration services throughout the life of the system. We repair and maintain the systems we design. We complete the warranty work and document everything with detailed inspection reports. Our trained and certified technicians adhere to manufacturer's specification when making any repair and performing scheduled maintenance. Thank you.
Looking for Lone Worker Safety?
Grace Lone Worker Systems provide an immediate alert for help when a worker is in distress and are often a great addition to your fixed system applications, protecting those who would otherwise be left unseen. Go to Lone Worker >>