Category: Gas Detectors

If your industrial systems have the potential to produce deadly fumes, you need gas detectors in San Jose, CA. While some of this is linked with legal compliance, you also want a safe workplace. MDC Systems Inc. creates gas detection systems that reflect the potential dangers of your manufacturing or production. Here are six benefits gas detectors can bring to you:

• Addresses all hazards: Dangers of gas leak include toxicity, oxygen depletion and flammability. None of these have a happy ending if they are left undiscovered and uncontrolled. Toxicity poisons on contact, and oxygen depletion replaces breathable oxygen with toxic fumes, which causes serious injury or death. Flammability is a different hazard on its own. If you have gas detectors where danger is most likely, you will enjoy a safer workplace.
• Ability to warn: Gas detection systems provide continuous monitoring, and many alert you to changes through a smart phone app. The primary benefit to this is warning. If there is a gas leak that can be dangerous to a worker who is assigned to the boiler room, that worker can learn about it before getting exposed. With this system, you can keep people off the premises and protect those who address the problem. You do not have to expose people to learn about the danger.
• Early detection: The longer a gas leak continues, the more dangerous it becomes. Gas monitors report all changes, so you will know when there is a slight increase or if a new gas emerges. While many gas leaks may be sudden and intense, there are slow leaks, too. With a system that picks up the changes before they escalate, you can solve small problems before they become serious.
• Reduced expenses: The monitoring system reduces the amount of time needed for inspection and assessment. When this work was performed manually, it was time consuming and not always finished accurately. Gas detectors run continuously, and there are systems that give day-end reports so you know the status of your indoor air quality. This reduces labor costs, as well as any expenses associated with remediation.
• Legal compliance: Depending on your industry, you are likely required to have a gas monitoring system. If you choose something high-tech and accurate, that will make being in line with these laws much easier. You never need to worry about someone skipping steps in a routine or minor changes being missed. Any time there is an inspection to check compliance, you will be ready because your gas detectors are already operating for you.
• Safer workplaces: Early detection, warning systems and continuous monitoring enhance your indoor air quality. Keeping workers healthy and avoiding this danger reduces your insurance premiums, including any you pay towards workers’ compensation. A safe workplace is also a productive one since your employees will never worry about facing danger.

To find gas detectors in San Jose, CA for your business, call MDC Systems Inc. today. We offer free estimates and can design systems that match your needs.

The risk of exposure to toxic gases on commercial and industrial sites in San Jose, California, is very high. And, as with any other potential work hazard, employers are responsible for the safety of their employees in the event that a toxic gas leak should occur. The three most commonly found toxic gases on industrial sites include carbon monoxide, chlorine and methane. Below is an overview of these three gases and symptoms of exposure that you should be aware of.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is probably the most well known toxic gas because of its universal presence everywhere from homes to industrial sites. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless. Carbon monoxide is often present at commercial an industrial sites because it is created through the burning of such substances as oil, coal, propane and natural gas, all of which are commonly present in industrial settings. Below are symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure to be aware of:

• Flu-like symptoms
• Headache
• Nausea
• Dizziness

Prolonged exposure due to an undetected presence of carbon monoxide can result in loss of consciousness and even death. To keep employees safe, it is essential to have gas detectors in San Jose, CA that can detect carbon monoxide early on and alert employees to a leak.

Chlorine

Chlorine is one of the most-manufactured substances in the U.S. and is commonly used while making pesticides and many types of rubber. Just like with carbon monoxide, overexposure to chlorine can be deadly. Early symptoms of chlorine exposure include the following:

• Blurred vision
• Coughing
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Difficulty breathing
• Fluid in the lungs

Most symptoms of chlorine exposure do not present themselves until hours after the exposure has occurred. By then, severe physical damage may have already taken place. Again, the best way to prevent overexposure to chlorine is to have a gas detection system in place to warn employees of a leak before overexposure occurs.

Methane

Methane is a dangerous and highly explosive gas. Methane exposure is most common among miners, but it can occur in any industry where coal cutting occurs. Methane in small quantities is not necessarily dangerous, but methane levels can rise quickly and often without warning. Symptoms of methane exposure to watch out for include the following:

• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Headache

Although methane can usually be detected by a strong rotten egg odor, by the time the smell is noticeable, it usually means there is already a dangerously high level of the gas present. Because methane is toxic as well as explosive, gas detectors should be present on any site where methane exposure is a possibility.

The best protection against exposure to toxic gases in the workplace is early detection. Although some toxic gas leaks can be detected without a gas detector, by that time overexposure has most likely already occurred. To best protect your employees and avoid a deadly accident, invest in gas detectors in San Jose, CA. To schedule your installation or to learn more, give MDC Systems Inc. a call today!

A Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) monitors input devices and adjusts systems based on the data it collects. The PLC became an essential part of gas detectors in San Jose, CA over the years and this has made businesses safer and able to operate more smoothly. There is confusion sometimes because gas detectors also come with spec controllers provided by the manufacturer. Here is why a custom PLC setup is a better option over the spec controller:

• Remote access: You do not have to be on site to access the PLC. Many models can be programmed using text messaging or email. They can also provide an alarm through remote means, and that allows the staff member on call to make the needed adjustments, often needing only their smart phone. Less travel time for workers saves you costs and allows for issues to be solved quickly. Many industries realize the cost savings and convenience of remote access, and those advantages are available in gas detection, too.
• Easily operated: While you still require specialized professionals to operate the PLC, many people in those sectors find the PLC to be a preferred choice. The main reason is its universal nature. There is no need to constantly switch out controllers because an upgrade also means a change of manufacturer. It only needs adjustment to the new system, and you are once again good to go.
• Better sensors: PLC devices pick up on gas leaks before they become a serious problem. You no longer wait until employees complain of nausea or headaches, and it allows more lead time to solve the problem or evacuate the premises. This creates a safer work environment, which also reduces your overall costs.
• Direct software access: Many industries use the Supervisory Control and Data Access (SCDA) system. This advanced design uses computers, networks, data communication and graphic interface to manage processes. Peripheral tools like logical and PID controllers offer additional opportunities to make accurate adjustments. The PLC accesses this system directly, so changes can be made quicker and, again, remotely. It operates in real time, so if a gas leak or other emergency arises, solutions occur quicker than if they relied solely on human intervention. In non-emergency situations, it also allows for changes needed for efficiency and good functioning.
• Expands possibilities: SCDA developed as a universal system for allowing remote access to several types of control modules. These systems work across manufacturing brands and industries. It allows for better system integration than anything that was possible before. When you have PLC and SCDA intertwined, you not only have an efficient system, but one that easily expands. Today’s industries are about adjusting to current demands, and the spec controller does not have the same ability to work with multiple brands. Your systems will be as simple or complex as they need to be.

MDC Systems Inc. uses PLC with its gas detectors in San Jose, CA. Contact us today if you require assistance with your gas detection system.

When it comes to commercial gas detection system installations, it’s important that you first schedule a professional risk evaluation for potential gas hazards and equipment selection and placement. Where you place your gas sensors is crucial if they are to do their job, as it helps to ensure that everyone in the building is safe from exposure to toxic or combustible gases. But before we take a look at some of the basic principles and factors of sensor placement for area gas detectors in San Jose, CA, let’s briefly discuss the risk analysis process.

Analysis of risks

You want to install the best gas detection system from the start, so make sure to call a company skilled in the industry. A professional will be able to recommend the most efficient detection equipment for your needs, as well as where to place the sensors.

The analysis process is likely to include inspecting areas for potential sources of gas leaks. Not only will this indicate where sensors should be placed, but it’s also good for you to know if you need parts replacement or repairs. They may also check the density and other properties that make up the gas you work around to aid in the placement process. Undoubtedly, there are a few things that can affect the direction and rate in which gas diffuses during a leak. For this reason, these factors need to be pinpointed.

Furthermore, whether you already have a system installed or are planning to do so in the future, the environment where the detector resides should have its own evaluation performed to make sure it’s the right product for your space. This includes testing the temperature, checking for nearby vibration, ensuring adequate ventilation and inspecting the cleanliness of the environment.

Principles and factors

The following important points should be kept in mind:

• Sensor placement for area detection is based on many factors, such as the weight of the gas, vapor density, the device’s ability to alert workers and being capable of holding up in the event of an explosion.
• Factoring in the vapor density of all monitored gases is important, which is why you need to bring in a gas detection expert.
• The risk analysis will show the areas most susceptible to a possible gas leak. Placing sensors close to gas sources and possible leaks makes sense.
• Place sensors in spots where the air is likely to collect a high concentration of gas. Potential areas include stairwells and crawlspaces, but also areas where gas can easily build up in corners or around machines or devices that release gas.
• It may seem like a good idea to place sensors near air vents. Unfortunately, vents act as channels and can endanger more areas in your building or nearby buildings should a gas leak occur. And because of air dilution, detectors placed too close to vents can cause issues with gas samples.

These are just a few of the factors to be aware of. But luckily for you, MDC Systems, Inc. is here to assist with selecting the right system design, as well as to help with the placement of commercial building gas detectors in San Jose, CA. Feel free to contact us with any questions.

Homeowners are all too familiar with installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in every room of their home. And while it is just as important for industrial and commercial building owners to get these devices as well, they also need to consider gas detectors in San Jose, CA to monitor for toxic gases that may be present indoors.

Unfortunately, it is not as simple to select a hazardous gas detector as it is a basic smoke alarm. To make sure you determine which gas detection method will benefit your application or structure the best, contact your local gas detection experts and ask questions. Let’s get started with a short overview of some of the most common gas detector systems to help you select the most useful method for your needs:

• Sample draw extraction: To get a good gas sample from hard-to-reach places, you may consider using the sample draw gas detecting method. Areas in this category include spaces in high ceilings, down in wells or other types of pits, deep within ducts or shafts and storage areas—especially if these spaces are in the general location where hazardous chemicals are kept. The motorized pump in this device provides power to transport potentially toxic gas samples back to the sensor. It may also be configured to detect certain gases.
• Diffusion: Unlike a sample draw system, sensors on a passive diffusion device don’t use a pump to transport an airborne gas sample back to the sensor. What it does is relies on the movement of the air to bring a gas sample to its sensor. However, a diffusion sensor may not be able to be placed in tricky areas, like those mentioned in the sample draw extraction section above.
• Colormetric tape: The easiest way to describe colormetric paper or tape is that it works as a visual gas detection method via an absorbent strip of filter paper, while collecting and analyzing gas samples. This technique offers quick notification, telling you that unwanted gases are present in a certain area of your building. Colormetric tape is used to detect and measure relatively low levels of highly toxic gases and airborne substances—including ammonia, chlorine, diisocyanates and fluorine.
• Catalytic bead: This type of gas detection method is equipped with a small sensing element—so small that it’s called a bead. A catalytic bead sensor works by detecting combustible gas, which is a lower cost detection method from the gas detection group known as pellistors. Electrically heated platinum wire coils are used to pass a current through in order to reach a temperature that oxidizes gases at the bead sensor. If toxic gases are detected, you are alerted.

These are just a few types of gas detection methods available to keep your building safe from a variety of toxic gases that could present themselves at any time. Need assistance deciding which gas detectors in San Jose, CA would be best to install in your commercial building? If so, contact us at MDC Systems Inc. today!