Why do gas detectors need to be calibrated regularly？

In any safety-centric industry, the importance of gas detectors cannot be overstated. They are vital tools that can prevent potential disasters, safeguard human lives, and protect the environment. Like all sensitive equipment, gas detectors need regular calibration to function optimally. Here's a comprehensive look at why gas detectors need periodic calibration.

The gas detector is a kind of instrument for gas leakage concentration detection includes a portable gas detector, fixed gas detector, online gas detector and so on. Gas sensors are used to detect the kinds of gases in the environment and the composition and content of gases. When the gas detector leaves the factory, the manufacturer will adjust and calibrate the detector. But why it needs to calibrate regularly? It is mainly to ensure the accuracy of a gas detector.

1. Ensuring Accuracy and Reliability

* Sensor Drift: Over time, the sensors in gas detectors can undergo 'drift.' This means that they might start to show readings that are not 100% accurate, due to factors like prolonged exposure to gases, contaminants, or simply the natural wear and tear of electronic components.

* Critical Decisions: In many industries, a slight change in gas concentration can be the difference between a safe environment and a hazardous one. For decisions that are literally life and death, we can't rely on a possibly faulty reading.

The accuracy of the instrument is an important prerequisite for issuing an alarm when the concentration of toxic and harmful gases or combustible gases in the detection environment reaches the preset alarm limit. If the accuracy of the instrument decreases, the timeliness of the alarm will be affected, which will cause serious consequences and even endanger the lives of staff.

The accuracy of gas detector mainly depends on the sensors, electrochemical sensors and catalytic combustion sensors will be affected by some substances in the environment during the use of toxic failure. For example, the HCN sensor, if injected with H2S and PH3, the sensor catalyst will be toxic and ineffective.LEL sensors can be seriously affected by exposure to silicon-based products. It is emphasized in the factory manual of our gas detector that calibration should be done at least once every 12 months;In case of exposure to a high concentration of gas, a calibration operation should be performed immediately to ensure the accuracy of the instrument measurement.

2. Understanding the Importance of Regular Gas Detector Calibration and Methods for Accurate Readings

Another important reason is that the detector may drift over time and exposure to gas. The detector should display as 000 in the normal environment, but if drift occurs, the concentration will be shown as greater than 0, which will affect the detection results. Therefore, the gas detector should be calibrated regularly to ensure the accuracy of the measurement. It is difficult to suppress the zero point drift by other means.

There are some calibrating methods as below for your reference:

1) Zero calibration

Long press the zero button for about 2 seconds, the 3 LED lights flash at the same time, after 3 seconds, the LED lights return to normal, the zero mark is successful。

2)Sensitivity calibration

If the key calibration is performed without the standard gas, the standard gas will fail.

Enter the standard gas, press and hold the standard gas + or the standard gas -, the running light (Run) will turn on and enter the standard gas state. Press the standard gas + once, the concentration value increases by 3, and the Err light flashes once； If you do not press the standard gas + or the standard gas-for 60 seconds, the standard gas state will be exited, and the running light (Run) will return to normal flashing.

Noted: Only when there is no display board, can the mainboard buttons be used for operation. When there is a display board, please use the display board menu for calibration.

3. Adherence to Regulations and Standards

* Temperature and Humidity: Gas detectors are often used in a variety of environmental conditions. Changes in temperature and humidity can affect their accuracy. Regular calibration ensures that they provide accurate readings regardless of the environment.

* Physical Shocks and Exposure: If a detector is dropped, or exposed to physical stresses, its readings can be impacted. Regular calibration checks ensure any such anomalies are identified and rectified

4. Changes in Environmental Conditions

5. Ensuring a Long Equipment Lifespan

* Wear and Tear: Like any equipment, regular check-ups help in identifying potential issues before they become major problems.

* Cost-Effective: In the long run, regular calibrations can be more cost-effective, as they can prevent potential accidents or the

need to buy replacement equipment prematurely.

6. Varied Lifespan of Sensors

* Different Gases, Different Lifespans: Different sensors for different gases have varied lifespans. For example, an oxygen sensor might need more frequent calibrations compared to a carbon monoxide sensor.
* Ensuring All Sensors are Functional: Regular calibration checks ensure that all sensors in a multi-gas detector are working optimally.

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