Flammable liquid, flammable gas, toxic gas, poisonous gas.

About Toxic & Combustible Gases

Learn about the hazardous gases that may be present at your site and the safety threats they may present.

Common Toxic Combustible Gases in the Factory

Are Combustible and Toxic Gases a Concern at Your Facility?

Identifying potential toxic and combustible gases at your site is crucial to the safety of your personnel and facilities. Once possible gas threats have been identified, it's vital to have gas detection and gas sensor technologies to monitor for potential gas leaks. Integrated gas detection technologies help to protect your personnel and property from dangerous gases while helping you maintain operations.

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About Toxic & Combustible Gases

Toxic Gas Types

Toxic gases commonly found in heavy industries include:  

  • Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
  • Carbon Monoxide (CO)
  • Oxygen Depletion (O2)
  • Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
  • Ammonia (NH3)

 Some of these poisonous gases may be easily identified by smell, while others may not. For instance, hydrogen sulfide gas has an odor similar to that of a rotten egg, whereas carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless toxic gas. By the time a person encounters a toxic gas they may have already been exposed at a life-threatening level.

Toxic Gas Exposure

Exposure to toxic gases can have negative side effects like chronic illness, dizziness, irregular breathing, fatigue, nausea, headache, and eye irritation. Some toxic gas exposure levels can even result in death.

Below are toxic gases commonly found within heavy industries and their respective Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) figures.     

Gas

IDLH

Carbon monoxide (CO)

1,200 ppm

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S)     

100 ppm

Oxygen (O2)

<19.5% O2 by volume

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

40,000 ppm

Ammonia (NH3)

300 ppm


Proactively monitoring for toxic gases is critical for the safety and health of your personnel.

Combustible Gas Types

Common combustible gases in heavy industries include:

  • Ammonia (NH3)
  • Benzene (C6H6
  • Butane (C4H10)
  • Heptane (C7H16)
  • Hexane (C6H14)
  • Pentane (C5H12)
  • Propylene (C3H6
  • Iso-Butane (C4H10
  • Ethylene (C2H4)
  • Ethane (C2H6)
  • Iso-Pentane (C5H12)
  • Isobutylene (C4H8)
  • Methane (CH4)
  • Propane (C3H8)
  • Hydrogen (H2)

Gases that are stored under pressure, commonly in cylinders or bulk containers, may readily ignite if an uncontrolled release were to occur.

Combustible Gas Risks & Dangers

Combustible gases act as hazards in heavy industries, jeopardizing the safety of your personnel and property assets.

Explosions at plants and other facilities could occur due to a lack of equipment maintenance, improper handling of volatile liquids/gases, dismissing regulatory safety standards, and a variety of other reasons. 

Closely monitoring lower explosive limits (LEL) and following other proactive gas detection strategies could help prevent a catastrophic fire-related disaster from occuring.

Effective Gas Detection Technologies

Wireless Gas Monitors

  • Obtain an early warning of gas presence to prevent your employees from entering potentially hazardous areas
  • Hot-swappable smart sensors are lab calibrated prior to installation, resulting in 50% periodic maintenance savings
  • Save 60% on installation equipment costs by eliminating the need for expensive wiring

Fixed Gas Detectors

  • Continuous, localized gas detection for a variety of toxic and combustible gases provides vital property and personnel protection
  • Universal transmitters are compatible with universal electrochemical, infrared, and catalytic bead sensors for use in a wide range of applications

Open Path Gas Detectors

Ultrasonic Gas Leak Detectors

  • Critical for safe operation, these devices respond instantaneously to gas leaks in high pressure processes, such as pipeline monitoring or gas compressor stations
  • Achieve optimal asset coverage with four independent sensors that provide the widest overall detection range available
  • Unaffected by inclement weather, wind, leak direction, or gas dilution, making it well suited for use in ventilated outdoor applications
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