Choosing the Best Technologies for Combustible Gas and VOC Measurement

Most multi-sensor gas detectors include sensors used to measure the four most commonly encountered hazards: oxygen deficiency (and enrichment), LEL combustible gas, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide. However, in some cases, these basic sensors are not capable of measuring the atmospheric hazards that are actually present.

Hundreds of thousands of these basic “four-gas” atmospheric monitors are used every day. The sensors utilised in these portable gas detectors are extremely good at detecting what they are designed to measure. As good as the sensors are,

however, they still have limitations. It is critically important for instrument users to understand what the sensors in their instrument cannot properly measure as well as what they can. In most cases the types of sensors installed in these basic instruments are well suited to the hazards to be measured. However, specific conditions and hazards may require the use of more specialised sensors, or a specialised calibration strategy that will provide more accurate readings for the gases actually present. Combustible gas sensors are particularly subject to limitations that can materially affect their ability to detect certain types of combustible gases and vapours. The good news is that there is an extremely wide range of technologies and types of sensors available for use in portable multi-sensor instruments.