Carbon Dioxide Monitoring in the Food and Beverage Industry

A CO₂ portable gas detector could help to keep workers safe while working with CO₂. In this article, different detectors will be outlined to help users make the right choice. Carbon dioxide has exposure limits which are stated by the UK government in multiple documents, most notably BB101 and EH40.

This means you will require gas detection if you are working with CO₂, to ensure you are not being exposed to harmful levels. This verifies that the user is compliant with COSHH regulations and so, The Health and Safety at Work Act. This could be in the form of fixed detection, a portable detector, or a combination of both.

Typically, where it would not be practical to install a fixed gas detection system, portables are the correct choice. Examples could be, but are not limited to:

• Gas shrouding applications
• Refrigeration engineers that work with CO₂ as the refrigerant gas
• Staff delivering bulk CO₂ or CO₂ cylinders
• Delivery drivers utilizing dry ice
• Personal protection for staff in the beverage industry
• Dry ice blasting

Portable Gas Detector Choices

Purchasing a portable to “tick the box” detector is easy, but this can be done without properly considering what is required. CO₂ gas detectors that measure at percentage levels, normally 0-5 % v/v, are extremely common. In reality, these are not sensitive enough to supply sufficient protection and early alarm alerting.

When utilizing a portable gas detector, the key is to remember the device is only measuring the gas concentration near to its location, which is with the user. Some areas will already be at a higher CO₂ concentration if the room has a gas escape. This means the user could already be at a toxic, and even fatal, level.

The higher the range of the gas detector, the more insensitive it is to identifying gas leaks. This means it will take more time to respond and start the alarm. This is where a more sensitive 0-5000 ppm level detector supplies better protection by alarming at a much lower level.

This also means that, for the ppm level detector to alarm, the user does not need to be near to the high concentration gas leak. CO₂ is classed as a toxic gas, so even relatively low concentrations can be sufficient to cause toxic and/or narcotic effects, with potentially fatal results. This is one of the reasons a 0-5000 ppm CO₂ detector is crucial to your personnel safety.

In this instance, the more sensitive detector will alarm much quicker and well before a hazardous level is reached, as can be observed in the graphic. The 0-5000 ppm detector alarms well before entering a high concentration CO₂ area. In extreme cases, only a few breaths are needed to render a person unconscious at high gas concentrations.

IGD’s CO₂ Portable Gas Detector Solution

IGD’s CO2-CHUM utilizes a PPM range for better sensitivity to ensure optimum protection. Utilizing the latest infra-red technology combined with in-vehicle USB charging and long battery life, the CO2-CHUM is the perfect choice for CO₂ portable detection.

Key Features at a Glance

• 0-5000 ppm range – supplying earlier alarm detection and enhanced sensitivity
• Robust shockproof ABS housing
• Lightweight – 140 g
• Audible, vibration, and visual alarm
• USB rechargeable
• One year warranty
• Back-light display – 1.17″ display
• High IR Sensor
• Supplied with charger, carrier case, calibration certificate and cal adaptor
• Alarm record storage
• Detect while charging
• Simple button operation

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by International Gas Detectors Ltd.

For more information on this source, please visit International Gas Detectors Ltd.