How to choose a gas detector in a confined environment?
In confined spaces, the hazards of hazardous substances in gases and the associated dangers are described in **detail in the application articles. These applications will be described as follows:
What is a confined space?
What are hazardous airborne hazards in confined spaces?
How do RAE's products test for restricted access spaces?
What is a confined space?
The Confined Space Entry standard is set forth in OSHA 29CFR 1910.146, April 1993, which defines in detail the operating procedures for confined space entry. Confined space entry operations are encountered every day in industrial production.
Definition of Confined Space:
A large space where workers enter and perform tasks
Access is somewhat restricted
A space that is not intended to be occupied for long periods of time
A space that must be required to be confined: a confined space also includes the following conditions:
Contains hazardous gases and potentially dangerous areas.
A space that contains materials that pose a potential threat
Spaces that pose a hazard to persons entering the interior, such as asphyxiation.
Includes areas that are recognised hazards to human safety and health
Flammable gas
A flammable gas or vapour with a *low explosion limit of 10%. The level exceeds it and continues to rise to reach the *high
explosion limit.
The Lowest Explosive Limit (LEL) is the *lowest* concentration at which a mixture of air and fuel oil can just ignite. Concentrations below the LEL cannot be ignited.
The UEL (Upper Explosive Limit) is the *higher* concentration at which the fuel can be ignited in air. Fuel with too high a content and not enough oxygen cannot be ignited.
The Three Elements of Fire
There are three elements that must be present for combustion to occur:
1, fuel
2, Oxygen to support combustion
3. Heat or ignition point
This is the three elements of combustion. One of the three elements is indispensable.
