Gas detector

Sometimes there are shocking news in the papers. In a private house or business, gas escaped and the leak went unnoticed. There is an explosion, people are trapped in a collapsed building. Such a disaster can be caused by an unnoticed gas leak. But it could have been prevented. Our gas detectors keep a watchful eye on the safety of gas pipelines and reliably generate an alarm when limit values are exceeded. We manufacture gas detectors for the international market and for various applications in industry, public and private buildings. We produce safety.

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Gas detectors are indispensable safety guards
Gas detectors for every application
Installation in the best location: Important for reliable operation
Explosion protection and maintenance
Frequently asked questions about gas detectors

Gas detectors are indispensable safety guards

Gas detectors would be a really useful safety feature even in a private house. However, their installation is not compulsory, but it will provide the homeowner peace of mind. The gas detector is indispensable in many operational and public areas – such as hospitals, airports, shopping centers, engine rooms, petrol stations. Our gas detectors deliver extremely accurate measurements for toxic, explosive and flammable gases. They also detect the release of some refrigerants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Gas detectors for every application

The requirements to a gas detector vary greatly depending on the application. The devices are either permanently installed or serve as personal protective equipment monitoring the atmosphere for hazardous substances. They register any exceeding of the alarm threshold value in the LEL, ppb and ppm range and immediately give an alarm in the event of danger.

Let our experts advise you. Together we will find the most suitable gas detector for your application.

Installation in the best location: Important for reliable operation

Each gas detector is only as good as its installation position. Place your gas detector close to potential leaks – such as cable ducts, glands or expansion valves. The installation height of the gas detector depends on the type of gas being monitored. Natural gas/town gas and methane are lighter than air, so the detector should be as close to the ceiling as possible – but only up to four meters high. Butane and propane are heavier than air, they spread near the ground. The gas detector is mounted at a height of about 30 centimeters. We will be happy to advise you on the optimum installation position for our gas detectors.

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Explosion protection and maintenance

Reliability always and everywhere: This is the quality requirement for gas detectors. Our devices are of course explosion-proof. Either we enclose them in a flameproof enclosure or we design the electronics to be intrinsically safe – this means that they are so energy-saving that they cannot heat up or create a spark. A further reliability factor: regular expert inspection of the gas detectors. Some of our models perform a self-test every 24 hours. We offer gas generators for a quick function test of mobile gas detectors.

As a company founded in 1898, we have accompanied the technical development of gas detectors from the very beginning and combine traditional quality work and high-tech applications with our products. Our gas detectors provide reliable safety in public, commercial and private areas. Please contact our customer service if you have any questions about the technology and selection criteria of our gas detectors. We want you to feel safe.

Frequently asked questions about gas detectors

How long does a gas detector last?

Gas detectors have various sensor technologies with different service lives. These are:

– Catalytic sensors (for flammable gases) – long service life of around five years as far as the catalyst is not damaged
– Electrochemical sensors (for toxic gases) – relatively short service life of up to two years
– Infrared sensors (for flammable gases) – relatively long service life
– Photoionisation sensors (for volatile organic compounds) – relatively short service life depending on the exposure

How do you find the right gas detector?

The choice of the right gas detector depends on the application. There are stationary and mobile gas detectors as well as leak detectors for different areas of application, especially for leak detection for toxic and combustible gases and for coolants.

It also depends on which gases are measured in which concentrations, but also which types of hazardous areas are present and which area sizes are to be monitored. There are specific gas detectors for every purpose.

Where should a gas detector be installed?

Stationary gas detectors can only guarantee continuous monitoring at specific points or over a small area. It is therefore best to install them where leaks are most likely to occur, i.e. near valves, fittings or pipes.

Another criterion is the specific weight of the gas to be measured. Gases such as butane and propane are heavier than air and sink to the ground. Detectors for these gases should therefore be installed near the floor. Detectors with CO sensors, on the other hand, should be installed as high as possible, preferably under the ceiling or at least close to the ceiling.

It is also important to ensure that gas detectors are installed at sufficient distance from fans which could potentially blow the gas away from the sensor.

Can a gas detector be calibrated?

Gas detectors cannot only be calibrated, it is even mandatory to do so at regular intervals, including a technical inspection, to ensure and document proper operation.

Calibration and technical inspection may only be carried out by specially trained and authorised specialists. The manufacturers of gas detectors usually also supply the necessary equipment, for example in the form of gas adapters.

Which gases can be measured with a gas detector?

Gas detectors are available for a wide range of applications where gases are used in production (for example in the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries) or can occur due to external circumstances (petrol stations, airports, car parks, sewage treatment plants, etc.).

They are able to recognise the following substances:
– toxic gases (carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen chloride (HCl), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and many others)
– flammable and explosive gases (acetylene, hydrogen, propane, butane, methane, propylene, etc.)
– volatile organic compounds (VOC = Volatile Organic Compounds) such as hydrocarbons, aldehydes and alcohols
– Coolants

It is important that the detectors are accurate enough in order to achieve reliable information about the present concentration, i.e. in the ppm, ppb and LEL range (ppm = parts per million; ppb = parts per billion; LEL = Lower Explosive Limit).

How is a gas detector maintained?

The employers’ liability insurance associations have issued recommendations for handling toxic and explosive gases, which also specify the manner and intervals of maintenance on gas detectors. The person carrying out the maintenance first carries out a visual inspection, a gas access test and display tests. It should be noted that the sensors can wear out over time. Among other things, the response times must be checked, calibrated and adjusted in order to prevent incorrect measurement results. In the case of portable devices, the battery capacity must also be checked. All work carried out must be documented. Records and calibration certificates must be kept.

How does a gas detector work?

A gas warning device detects gas concentrations using various sensors. The information is then converted into electrical signals and sent by cable to the control room. The most importantz factor here is the choice of the appropriate measuring principle, which is based on the type of gas to be measured, the expected concentrations and other ambient conditions.

The measuring principles are
– catalytic for flammable gases
– electrochemical for toxic gases
– Infrared for flammable gases
– Photoionisation for volatile organic compounds

How much does a gas detector cost?

There is no general answer to this question. Professional gas detectors for industry and other commercial purposes are high-precision devices that work reliably even under the harshest conditions. For this reason, they cannot be compared in price with gas or smoke detectors from DIY stores for private domestic use, for example. As a rule, you have to assume a four-digit euro amount.

How is a gas detector put into operation?

Gas detectors may only be commissioned by trained and authorised specialists. After installation, first check that the wiring is correct. Otherwise the detector could be damaged when the supply voltage is switched on. If no sensor head has yet been connected to the control module, the connection is made after setting the correct programm.

Once the sensor head has recognised the sensor, various parameters such as operating and adjustment data are loaded. This happens during the warm – up phase of the sensor. Various menus (gas type, measuring range, date, etc.) then appear alternately on the display. Once the warm-up phase is complete, the device switches to measuring mode. To ensure that this is up to date, the real-time clock must be set correctly, the parameters for the daily self-tests must be set and the alarm relays used must be configured. As a general rule, the specifications in the operating instructions supplied must be observed.

Dr. Josef von Stackelberg
Managing Director COMPUR MONITORS GmbH & Co. KG

+49 89 62038268 · compur@compur.de

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Do you have any questions about our products or would you like a non-binding consultation? We look forward to hearing from you.