Authoritative guide to gas detection

A Sira product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jun 17, 2004

A comprehensive new reference guide, sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry, covers selection and calibration of gas detection equipment.

A comprehensive new reference guide, sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry, covers selection and calibration of gas detection equipment.

Sira, sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry, has developed a comprehensive new reference guide for the selection and calibration of gas detection equipment.

It provides best practice advice on measurement traceability to improve the validity of gas concentration measurements throughout industry.

The objective of the guide is to improve awareness of the factors that affect the accuracy of the various sensor technologies and hence improve gas monitoring capability and safety.

It is aimed at those responsible for quality assurance, calibration, health and safety and environmental management, in industries where gas monitoring is conducted, such as process engineering (especially pharmaceutical), oil and gas production, waste treatment and disposal, environmental monitoring and general engineering.

The guide is expected to be of interest to detector manufacturers and experienced users.

Its format, however, makes the guide equally accessible to nonspecialists.

The "Gas detection selection and calibration guide" provides definitive information on: gas - properties, distribution and units of measure; health and safety issues; sensor technologies; factors to consider in the selection of a detection system; results from independent detector performance evaluations; calibration methods; gas mixture production techniques; sources of error and uncertainty; and scope for improvement of calibration methods.

Sira led a team of experts from the Council of Gas Detection and Environmental Monitoring (CoGDEM), the National Physical Laboratory, the Gas Analysis and Sensing Group, the Society of Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO) as well as individual consultants.

The depth and range of expertise enabled the team to produce a reference manual with an associated web-based guide to assist users, manufacturers and regulators to really understand the issues associated with selection of gas detectors.

It is based on a thorough understanding of current sensor technologies and calibration methods, and an investigation of the quality of commercially available calibration gas mixtures, backed up by an extensive programme of testing and evaluation to validate published performance claims.

Ray Hewett, Sira's Head of Test and Calibration said: "Our aim was to increase user confidence in gas detector performance by raising awareness of the need for correct technology selection and appropriate calibration regimes".

"We hope to encourage detector manufacturers and users to employ and promote improved calibration methods through the use of what is now recognised as the UK's most authoritative guide to gas detection".

An overview of the project and an extract from the guide - relating to equipment selection - can be accessed by visiting seen on the Sira website.

The full guide will be available later this quarter.