Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How often should I calibrate my gas meter?
• The electro-chemical sensors in your gas meter can change due to temperature, humidity or sudden impacts from the unintentional drop check. It’s important to function check or “bump test” (see next question) before each use and perform a span calibration once every 30 days.
• Some electro-chemical sensors need frequent reminders of their purpose in life. That is, they must be exposed to the target gas on a regular basis in order for the sensor to remain chemically active. This is especially true for Ammonia sensors and Chlorine sensors. Calibrating your gas detection instrument every 30 days will accomplish this.
• More frequent calibration for instruments with heavy usage is acceptable. However, calibration every day can be excessive and expensive. You are responsible for determining your calibration frequency. Contact us for assistance.
• Q: What is a “bump check”?
• A: A “bump check” is a quick exposure to Calibration Gas to see if the sensors in your gas meter will respond. Do this by simply applying Calibration Gas while the meter is in the regular run mode. You should get alarms on each sensor and they should respond to within 10% of the concentration listed on the cylinder.
• If your meter does not respond or doesn’t come within 10% of the concentration, a calibration is required. A calibration is different from a “bump check” in that an instrument in calibration mode makes adjustments to the sensor readings to match the known concentration of gas being applied. Contact us for the calibration procedure of your gas meter.
• You say you’re not doing “bump checks”? Check out how simple it can be with our Bump Check Station.
• Q: Can I use the same regulator on all of my gas mixtures?
• A: Yes and no. The regulator you use depends more on the type of cylinder you have rather than the type of gas you have. Put simply, there are male regulators and female regulators. Typically, the only cylinders that use the female regulators are the small steel cylinders. These are usually 17L or 34L cylinders of a single gas or non-reactive gas mixture.
• It is recommended that a regulator be dedicated to a specific service if the gas is reactive such as Chlorine or Ammonia. Also be sure the regulator is designed for reactive gases. The internal components are of a more durable material.
• Q: Can I use my gas past the Expiration Date?
• A: We’re all tempted to use Calibration Gas that just expired yesterday. But days turn into weeks and weeks into months. Before you realize it, your cylinder is three months past the expiration date. If OSHA comes in for an inspection, they’ll be sure to ask about your instrument calibrations. Be sure to have a current cylinder of Calibration Gas.
• Q: Can I throw my empty cylinders in the garbage?
• A: Yes. See Proper Disposal.

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