AIR MONITORING
1910.120(h)
Initial Entry
Oxygen
Explosive Vapors
Toxic Vapors
Radiation
FIELD AIR MONITORING
INSTRUMENTS
Collection of real time data to aid in
decisions concerning:
Hazards and risks to public and personnel
Personal protective equipment selection
Site work zones
Effects on environment
Mitigative actions
FIELD INSTRUMENTS
Desired Characteristics
Portable and rugged
Easy to operate
Inherently safe
Reliable and useful results
RELIABLE AND USEFUL
RESULTS
Response time
Sensitivity
Selectivity
Accuracy
Precision
INHERENT SAFETY APPROVAL
Electrical devices, such as portable air
monitoring instruments, are to be
constructed in such a fashion to eliminate
the possibility of igniting a combustible
atmosphere.
SAFETY STANDARDS
Inherent Safety
National Electrical Code (NEC) consensus
standard, presented by National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA), defining:
Hazardous locations
Approval criteria
DEFINITIONS
Intrinsically safe
Designed so that parts are not exposed
to explosive atmosphere or, if so, there
is insufficient energy for ignition
DEFINITIONS
Explosion proof
Designed to contain an explosion and
cool gases to prevent spread
DEFINITIONS (cont.)
Purged System
Inert gas filled system; positive pressure
to prevent explosive gases or vapors
from entering
HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS
Inherent Safety (cont.)
Division
1. Location in which hazardous
concentrations exist continuously,
intermittently, or periodically
under NORMAL operating conditions
HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS
Inherent Safety (cont.)
Division
2. Location in which hazardous
concentrations do NOT normally
exist under normal operating
conditions
HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS
Inherent Safety
Class
ICombustible Gases and Vapors
I I Combustible Dusts
I I I Combustible Fibers, Flyins
HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS
Inherent Safety (cont.)
Group
A,B,C,DGases and vapors found in
Class I Atmosphere
E,F,G Dusts found in
Class II Atmosphere
OXYGEN INDICATORS
Used to determine:
Types of respirator protection
Combustion risk
Use of other instruments
Presence of contaminants
OXYGEN INDICATORS
Exterior sensor
Interior sensor
- Manual pump
- Automatic pump
Combination units
OXYGEN INDICATORS
Interpretation of Data
Instantaneous response
Specific, quantitative results
- 0-25% oxygen
- 0-100% oxygen
Calibrate to ambient oxygen
OXYGEN INDICATORS
Theory of Operation
Oxygen diffusion into detector cell
Chemical reaction establishes current
proportional to oxygen concentration
OXYGEN INDICATORS
Theory of Operation (cont.)
O2 O2 O2 O2 O2 O2 Protective
disk
Membrane
Electrode
Electrolyte
Electrode
OXYGEN INDICATORS
Limitations/Precautions
Atmospheric pressure (altitude)
Interfering gases
Operating temperature
ALTITUDE/OXYGEN INDICATION
OXYGEN
ALTITUDE INDICATION(%)
-1000ft 21.6
sea level 20.8
1000 20.1
2000 19.3
3000 18.6
4000 18.0
5000 17.3
6000 16.7
7000 16.1
8000 15.4
9000 14.9
10000 14.3
COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATORS
(CGIs)
Used to determine:
Risk of fire/explosion
Indication of contaminants
COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATORS
(CGIs)
In the presence of a combustible gas, a
heated catalytic filament (or bead) burns
the gas, increasing the filaments
temperature. An electrical resistance is
created, causing an imbalance in a
Wheatstone Bridge circuit.
CGIs (cont.)
Manual vs. automatic pumps
Supersensitive unit
Combination units (CGI-oxygen)
Concentration
LEL UEL
0 5% 15% (Methane)
0 100%
Meter Reading
50 50 50
10 10 10
0 0 0 0 0 0
< LEL LEL-UEL > UEL
CGIs
Relative Response Curve
Chemical LEL Concentration Meter Response
% LEL % LEL
Methane (5.0%) 50 85
Acetylene (2.5%) 50 60
Pentane (1.5%) 50 53
Ethyl
chloride (3.8%) 50 37
1,4-Dioxane (2.0%) 50 37
Xylene (1.1%) 50 27
CGIs
Limitations/Precautions
Temperature
Oxygen requirements
Relative response
CGIs
Limitations/Precautions (cont.)
Interfering gases
- Lead
- sulfur
- silicone
- Hydrogen chloride
- Hydrogen fluoride
TOXIC ATMOSPHERE
MONITORS
Used to determine:
Health risks to workers/public
Personal protective equipment
Work zones/safety plans
TOXIC ATMOSPHERE MONITORS
Types
Detector tube system
Monitors for specific agents
(I.e., carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide)
Total vapor analyzers
Gas chromatograph (PID, FID)
DETECTOR TUBE SYSTEM
Theory of Operation
Glass tube with indicating chemical
Specific volume of air
Color change
Stain length = concentration
DETECTOR TUBE SYSTEMS
Components
Pump
- Piston
- Bellows
Tubes
- Specific chemicals
- General chemicals
- Concentration ranges
DETECTOR TUBE SYSTEM
Limitations/Precautions
Accuracy
Temperature/humidity/pressure
Expiration date
Chemical group/specific
Lot number
DETECTOR TUBE SYSTEM
Limitations/Precautions (cont.)
Color change/endpoint
Pump strokes/volume/time
Interferences
Reusable
FLAME IONIZATION
Considerations
Detect only organics
Sensitive to methane
Relative response
Hydrogen gas needed
Electromagnetic radiation
FLAME IONIZATION
Detector
- +
Air
Sample
H2
Air
Meter Lamp power
readout supply
Battery Ion chamber
Ion chamber
Pump
Lamp Sample
Preamp
IONIZATION POTENTIALS
CHEMICAL IP (eV) CHEMICAL IP (eV)
Carbon monoxide 14.0 Hydrogen sulfide 10.5
HCN 13.9 Hexane 10.2
Methane 13.0 Ammonia 10.1
Water 12.6 Acetone 9.7
HCl 12.7 Trichloroethylene 9.45
Oxygen 12.1 Benzene 9.2
Chlorine 11.5 Triethylamine 7.5
Propane 11.1
RELATIVE RESPONSES FOR h(nu)
PI-101 With 10.2-eV PROBE
CHEMICAL RR IP (eV)
m-Xylene 1.12 8.56
Benzene 1.00 9.25
Phenol 0.78 8.69
Isobutylene 0.56 9.25
Acetone 0.63 9.69
Hexane 0.22 10.18
Ammonia 0.03 10.15
PHOTOIONIZATION
Considerations
Lamp energy/chemical IP
Dust/humidity
High methane
Electromagnetic radiation
PHOTOIONIZATION
Considerations (cont.)
Lamp aging
Relative response
High concentrations
RADIATION MONITORING
Radioactivity is the property of the nucleus of an
atom to spontaneously emit energy in the form
of radiation.
Radiation is excessive nuclear energy emitted in the
Form of high energy electromagnetic waves or
Particles.
RADIATION MONITORING
Three types of radiation of concern
Alpha Particles consisting of two protons and two
neutrons bound together with a +2 charge. Identical
to a helium nucleus.
Beta Particles with a single electrical charge + or -.
When negative, identical to an electron.
Gamma High energy, short wavelength,
electromagnetic radiation.
RADIATION MONITORING
Alpha particles can travel approximately 1 inch from
their source. A sheet of paper will provided
shielding.
Beat particles can travel up to a foot from their
source. A sheet of aluminum foil will provide
shielding.
Gamma rays can travel hundreds of feet from their
Source. Several feet of concrete or lead for shielding
RADIATION MONITORING
All radiation survey instruments work on the same
principle. The radiation causes ionization in the
detection media. The ions are counted electronically
and a relationship is established between the number
of ionizing events and the quantity of radiation
present.
ACTION GUIDES
Oxygen Concentrations
<19.5% - Self contained breathing apparatus required
19.5 22.5% - No special action required or PPE,
Based only oxygen level only.
>22.5% - Must exit site. Increased risk of fire.
ACTION GUIDES
Combustible Gas
<10% - No special action required.
10 25% - Continue monitoring with extreme
caution.
>25% - Explosion hazard. Must exit immediately.
ACTION GUIDES
Toxic Vapor Monitoring
Action is dependent on the hazardous substance
present. However, the USEPA has established the
following guidelines for PPE selection
Background to 5 meter units Level C
5 to 500 meter units Level B
>500 meter units Level A
ACTION GUIDES
Radiation
Background to twice Background No action
<1mR/hr continue work. Consult a Health
Physicist
>1mR/hr continue only upon advice from a Health
Physicist
ACTION GUIDES
Radiation
Amplifier
Meter UV
lamp
Sample out
Electrode Electrode
Sample in
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIATION MONITORING
