Maintenance, Calibration and Testing Services
System Maintenance
Maintaining your Gas Life Safety System (GLSS) is essential to ensure it continues to operate effectively and accurately. MDC Systems, Inc. is committed to providing ongoing maintenance, calibration, and testing services to keep your system functioning optimally throughout its lifecycle.
Once your system is approved and commissioned, our experienced technicians take a proactive approach to system upkeep. Sensors have a finite lifespan and must be regularly tested, calibrated to ensure they respond accurately to gas levels. Sensors are replaced as per manufacturer specifications which vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Typically, checks are required every three to six months a year, depending on manufacturer recommendations, industry regulations, and operational needs. Our technicians are trained and certified in multiple manufacturer gas detection systems and can replace filters, adjust flows, inspect sample lines, replace pumps and other device internal replacement parts to meet the unique requirements of your equipment.
Maintenance also includes the replacement of sealed lead acid batteries in our battery backed systems, and recycling of expired batteries.
Whether you have oxygen or carbon monoxide detectors, flammable gas detection systems, or any other safety equipment installed, MDC Systems ensure that your system is continually operating at its best. Contact us today for more information on our comprehensive maintenance and testing services.
Sensor Calibration
Calibrating your Gas Life Safety System (GLSS) is required by the manufacturer which the LEA adopts for calibration frequencies recommendations for the system to operate effectively and accurately. MDC Systems, Inc. is committed to providing ongoing calibration services, including preparing System Calibration Certificates along with the Calibration Reports documenting pre and post field written results, to keep your system functioning optimally throughout its lifecycle.
Sensor calibrations have many steps to consider before work begins to successfully calibrate and document each device. Here are some of the step questions we ask ourselves before starting.
| Sensor on-line? | System alarms bypassed? | Correct calibration gas? |
| Right gas concentration? | Require flow calibration? | Calibration Report? |
| Certificate of Calibration? | Regulator Type? | Regulator flow? |
| Sensor age out days remain? | Sensor filter type? | Sensor filter days remain? |
| Calibration stickers? | Writing pen? | Sensor ID? |
| Sensor location/access? | Sensor readout, ok? | Sensor tubing connected? |
Fixed Systems Diffusion Type
Diffusion type sensors typically required a two-step calibration.
- Zero Calibration
requires sensors to be zeroed to non-contaminated clean air either through the room air if adequate and without background or introduction from a fresh air sample gas bottle. (Most Oxygen (O2) sensors require N2 gas for proper zero)
- Span Calibration
requires the sensor to be challenged with a known certified gas sample after the successful zero calibration is performed. The gas needs to be within the mid-scale of the range of the gas monitored, which is typically 50% LEL for flammables and PEL for toxic gases. Oxygen (O2) sensors require Fresh Air gas (20.9 % O2 in air) for proper span.
Fixed Systems Sample Draw Type
Sample draw type sensors typically required three steps to calibration.
- Flow Calibration requires pumps to be calibrated prior to performing gas calibration
- Zero Calibration requires sensors to be zeroed to non-contaminated clean air either through the room air if adequate and without background or introduction from a fresh air sample gas bottle. Most oxygen (O2) sensors require nitrogen (N2) gas for proper zero.
- Span Calibration requires the sensor to be challenged with a known certified gas sample after the successful zero calibration is performed. The gas needs to be within the mid-scale of the range of the gas monitored, which is typically 50% LEL for flammables and PEL for toxic gases. Oxygen (O2) sensors require Fresh Air gas (20.9 % O2 in air) for proper span.
MDC Systems, Inc. will track the sensor age/time out and replacement frequencies along with the calibration interval dates to better manage, track, and schedule your calibration dates.
No matter what brand or type of sensor MDC Systems Inc. has tools, equipment and a wide array of certified calibration gases to calibrate all detectors. We calibrate all sensor brands and types including oxygen volume detection, flammable gas detection, toxic gas detection or any other safety equipment installed, MDC Systems, Inc. ensure that your system is continually operating at its best. Contact us today for more information on our comprehensive calibration services.
System Testing
MDC Systems offers testing for Permit sign-off and/or Annual Testing of your GLSS to verify that your system is working as designed and approved, in compliance with local regulations, and to ensure it meets the specifications outlined during the permitting process. Where permitted by local authorities, MDC Systems provides certified testing reports, which can be used for both new installations and annual testing as required under California Fire Code section 2703.2.9.1.
Key Features of Third-Party Functional Testing:
- Gas Sample Delivery: We provide gas samples to each sensor above the alarm threshold to trigger the alarm output controls.
- Sensor Response Verification: We ensure that the sensor correctly reacts to the gas sample and reaches the pre-set alarm point.
- Alarm Output Activation: Using the system’s functional matrix, we verify that the correct alarm outputs are activated as per the design.
- Matrix Compliance: We check that alarm output activations match the expected behavior outlined in the functional matrix.
- Testing Documentation: We provide a detailed Functional Test Report, noting any discrepancies or failures in alarm output performance.
- Repair Estimates: In case any alarm output fails to meet expectations, we prepare cost estimates for repairs and improvements needed to restore full functionality.
Our Third-Party Functional Testing ensures that your system is up to code and operating as designed, giving you peace of mind that your safety measures are always in place. Contact us to schedule your functional testing or to learn more about our services.