Ever wanted to learn more about flue gas analyser calibration and whether or not your readings are accurate, and if your device is safe? Read this recent article to find out more.
If you hear the term ‘flue gas’ it refers to any gas emissions emitted from combustion-based appliances. These can be domestic appliances such as boilers, kettles, etc, or commercial appliances such as furnaces.
In order to measure the emissions generated by these appliances, flue gas analysers are utilised. It’s vital these devices are regularly calibrated to ensure those using them are receiving accurate readings and appliances are safe to continue operating. Read on to find out everything you need to know about flue gas analyser calibration.
What Is A Flue Gas Analyser?
Flue gas analysers are portable electronic devices with the primary function of measuring fossil fuel gasses of various appliances. Testing for potential harmful emissions such as carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide and ensuring appliances are working efficiently – they’re used in alignment with a flue gas analyser readings chart to determine safe levels of gas emissions.
Additionally, flue gas analysers can be used to measure other factors such as air temperature and oxygen levels to determine whether an appliance is being ventilated properly and if the room is safe to operate in.
Why Do I Need To Calibrate My Flue Gas Analyser?
Flue gas analyser calibration is the process of maintaining the component parts of a device in order to measure emissions accurately. Here are five reasons you need to ensure it happens regularly:
Safety – due to the potential harmful gasses measured by the devices, regular flue gas analyser calibration is vital. Without it, your analyser could provide the engineer with inaccurate readings, leaving unsafe appliances in operation.
Standards – British Standards for flue gas analysers state that any flue gas analyser without a calibration certificate should and cannot not be used.
Penalties – if caught using a device without a valid certificate by the Gas Register, not only is it against the law but you could face serious penalties. At a minimum, you will need to re-measure all appliances gathered using that analyser once it has been calibrated.
Precision – regular calibration ensures the device in use is giving almost perfect readings. Meaning you can get the most out of your appliances and you don’t have to worry about interruptions to your business.
Specifications – some manufacturers, such as the Anton flue gas analysers require calibration at certain points in time and will warn you on the display of the calibration due date in advance.
How Often Should A Flue Gas Analyser Be Calibrated?
As mentioned, some manufacturers will pre-warn you of your calibration due date on the display. However, without exception, all manufacturers recommend at least annual calibration. If you believe your device isn’t working up to standard then it’s worth getting it looked at before the due date.
In more rigorous work environments where devices are used frequently, a flue gas analyser calibration service may be required every 6 months minimum.
How Do You Calibrate A Flue Gas Analyser?
This is done by exposing the analyser to gas mixtures in order to test its component parts. Each part is then assessed in order to determine if they are fit for use.
Depending on the condition, manufacturer or usage purpose calibration can take from 24-72 hours, on average. Due to the nature of the service, it’s very rare to get same-day flue gas analyser calibration.
Can I Calibrate a Flue Gas Analyser Myself?
The answer to this is two fold. Firstly, the majority of workplaces require a valid certificate from a recognised lab or manufacturer to deem an analyser safe to use.
Second, as it’s expected most companies will send their analysers out for professional calibration. The majority of devices don’t even come with instructions in order to calibrate, so even if you wanted to you couldn’t!
Conclusion
Flue gas analyser calibration is essential in order to ensure fully accurate readings to keep yours and your customers’ appliances and the environments they’re in safe. If you suspect your devices aren’t up to scratch, then it’s definitely worth getting them checked out by a third party to save yourself any trouble in future.
Interested in hearing about flue gas analyser calibration costs, flue gas analyser hire, or just have a general query? Get in touch with the team at GNW today.