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September 26, 2017 / Dave Wagner

Advice for Using Gas Detectors in Cold Weather

With the month of October comes the beginning of cold weather season in the northern hemisphere and concerns about how well your portable gas detection equipment will function when winter puts its death grip on the thermometer. Some instruments are rated as low as -40 degrees Celsius; however, the low-temperature rating for continuous operation of most portable gas monitors is -20 degrees Celsius. Even so, most instruments may be used at lower temperatures for intermittent periods. Sensor response will certainly change as the temperatures get colder, but more sophisticated gas monitors typically use “temperature compensation” to keep gas readings within +/-15 percent of the actual concentrations.

Here are some tips to help you get a warm feeling when using gas detectors in cold weather.

  1. When you walk outside, you feel the cold instantly. However, it will take a while for your gas monitor to reach equilibrium with the ambient temperature. The temperature compensation will typically track with the internal temperature of the monitor. If you are going to be using the monitor for 20 minutes or less, there is no reason to allow it to stabilize and adjust to the temperature before using it. Turn it on, take your readings, and get back inside where it is warm.
  2. If you will be using your monitor outside for extended periods longer than 20 minutes, it is best to let it stabilize at the ambient temperature for 15–20 minutes before use, and then turn it on and zero the sensors in fresh air.
  3. Particularly in the Northern Plains, Northwest Canada, and Alaska, the cold winter climate is extremely dry. The dry climate has more impact on the performance of some electrochemical sensors than even the coldest of temperatures. To prevent the aqueous electrolytes from drying out, store and charge your instruments in a humidified area when not in use. Keeping the ambient relative humidity at forty to fifty percent will go a long way toward maintaining the sensitivity of your sensors and will keep them working longer.
  4. The response of the instrument may appear to get sluggish at temperatures below -20 C. The display may get dim and even go blank if it freezes. If this happens, your gas monitor will likely still detect gas and will still alarm. If you have to use it this way, you should bump test it before each use to make sure it responds, and you should get the instrument warmed up as soon as possible.
  5. ​The electrochemical sensors in your instrument typically have an aqueous electrolyte, and in some cases may freeze as temperatures drop below -20 C for an extended period. The oxygen sensor will normally be the first to freeze. When frozen, the sensors will not... click here to continue reading the article on The Monitor Blog.

Dave Wagner

Dave Wagner is the director of Applications Engineering & Product Knowledge at Industrial Scientific. He has more than 20 years of experience in the development and application of portable gas monitoring instruments and systems.