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GAS DETECTION O


ne of the most significant industrial hazards –


refrigerant gas leaks – often goes undetected because people cannot always smell it,


taste it, or otherwise discern its presence. In fact, it is estimated that 60 per cent of gas escapes before anyone notices, with many toxic gas leaks going unnoticed until workers start to experience symptoms of distress. Frostbite, chemical burns and even brain damage can all be attributed to prolonged exposure to refrigerant gases. While such serious scenarios are thankfully rare, people are at risk of these and other symptoms, including eye, throat, and skin irritation, if refrigerant gases escape.


While the effect on people can range from mild to extremely serious, an undetected gas leak could also increase energy consumption, driving operational costs higher. According to The Carbon Trust, the average leakage rate in UK systems is around 20 per cent per year. This equates to a reduction in efficiency of around 11 per cent, which directly translates into increased energy costs.


SMART SENSORS ENSURE SAFETY


Gas leaks can occur for a number of reasons, including mechanical damage, equipment failure or poor maintenance. Regardless of the cause, detecting such a leak can be challenging because refrigerant gas is both odourless and colourless. While there are several things that can be done in the case of a suspected leak, nothing can replace the accuracy and efficiency of using specially designed technology for this task. Designers and manufacturers of electronic equipment for the refrigeration and HVAC industries have worked diligently over the past few years to improve the effectiveness of refrigerant, toxic and combustible gas sensors, with modern sensors boasting greater intelligence and capabilities to combat risks posed by toxic and non-toxic gases. Thanks to rapidly evolving technology, the latest generation of sensors and systems are smart, self-contained single fixed gas sensors which are particularly suited to detecting refrigerant gases. Many of these sensors have a proven return on investment of just two years, and that is without taking into consideration the cost of repairs to an existing faulty system.


Smart sensor equipment with signalling alarms, LED lights that indicate the presence and status of each sensor, as well as audio/visual alarms to alert staff, are also available. These systems help ensure that leaks are quickly identified and repaired at the first opportunity, minimising the various associated risks.


ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP While advancements in gas detection technology help keep sites and workers safe, there is also an environmental aspect that


GAS DETECTION IS KEY TO STAFF AND SITE SAFETY


Making sure that all appropriate measures are in place to protect and support workers should be the number one priority for all businesses. Shaun Evers, managing director of Stonegate Instruments, looks at how gas detection technology can ensure employee and site safety and wellbeing.


2030, have been in force since 2020. The regulations stipulate that equipment must be fitted with a leak detection system if it contains


F-Gas equivalent to 500 tonnes of CO2. They have also raised the requirements for regular gas leak checks: leakage checks should be carried out at least once every 12 months if the system contains F-gases in quantities of


five tonnes of CO2 equivalent or more, at least once every six months if it contains F-


gases in quantities of 50 tonnes of CO2 equivalent or more, and at least once every three months if the system contains F-gases in


quantities of 500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent or more.


cannot be ignored – hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have a global warming potential over


3,000 times that of CO2 and as it gets released into the atmosphere, it causes ozone depletion and contributes to global warming. As such, an understanding of fluorinated


gas (F-Gas) regulations is vital for anyone working with refrigerant gas, especially considering that the refrigeration, air- conditioning and heat pump sector is the largest source of F-gas emissions due to refrigerant leakage. F-Gas regulations, which aim to phase


down the CO2 equivalent emissions from HFCs by 79 per cent (relative to 2015) by


32 MAY/JUNE 2023 | INDUSTRIAL COMPLIANCE


While the UK has continued to mirror the European F-gas regulations since Brexit, the government’s own assessment found that the European phase down model may be unfeasible for the UK. As discussions around F-Gas regulations continue, it is important to know that the Environment Agency has the power to impose civil penalties of up to £200,000 for various breaches, including failure to comply with provisions in the regulations or permitting another person to breach those provisions.


ADVANTAGES ALL ROUND


When a leak occurs, a gas detection system can help prevent a minor incident from becoming a crisis. In fact, such systems offer a host of benefits – it alerts workers to a potentially dangerous situation, enabling them to evacuate the area and thus minimising their risk of exposure, it minimises the risk of irreversible damage to equipment and sites, and it prevents potentially harmful – and costly – environmental impacts.


Stonegate Instruments s www.stonegate-instruments.com


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