AIR MONITORING

1910.120(h)
Initial Entry

Oxygen
Explosive Vapors

Toxic Vapors

Radiation
 FIELD AIR MONITORING
INSTRUMENTS

Collection of real time data to aid in

decisions concerning:
Hazards and risks to public and personnel
Personal protective equipment selection
Site work zones
Effects on environment
Mitigative actions
 FIELD INSTRUMENTS
Desired Characteristics

Portable and rugged

Easy to operate

Inherently safe

Reliable and useful results

RELIABLE AND USEFUL
RESULTS

Response time

Sensitivity

Selectivity

Accuracy

Precision
INHERENT SAFETY APPROVAL

Electrical devices, such as portable air

monitoring instruments, are to be
constructed in such a fashion to eliminate
the possibility of igniting a combustible
atmosphere.
 SAFETY STANDARDS
Inherent Safety

National Electrical Code (NEC) consensus

standard, presented by National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA), defining:

Hazardous locations

Approval criteria
 DEFINITIONS

Intrinsically safe
Designed so that parts are not exposed
to explosive atmosphere or, if so, there
is insufficient energy for ignition
 DEFINITIONS

Explosion proof
Designed to contain an explosion and
cool gases to prevent spread
 DEFINITIONS (cont.)

Purged System
Inert gas filled system; positive pressure
to prevent explosive gases or vapors
from entering
HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS
Inherent Safety (cont.)

Division
1. Location in which hazardous
concentrations exist continuously,
intermittently, or periodically
under NORMAL operating conditions
HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS
Inherent Safety (cont.)

Division
2. Location in which hazardous
concentrations do NOT normally
exist under normal operating
conditions
HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS
Inherent Safety

Class
ICombustible Gases and Vapors
I I Combustible Dusts
I I I Combustible Fibers, Flyins
HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS
Inherent Safety (cont.)

Group

A,B,C,DGases and vapors found in

Class I Atmosphere

E,F,G Dusts found in

Class II Atmosphere
OXYGEN INDICATORS

Used to determine:
Types of respirator protection

Combustion risk

Use of other instruments

Presence of contaminants
OXYGEN INDICATORS

Exterior sensor

Interior sensor
- Manual pump
- Automatic pump

Combination units
OXYGEN INDICATORS
Interpretation of Data

Instantaneous response

Specific, quantitative results

- 0-25% oxygen
- 0-100% oxygen

Calibrate to ambient oxygen

OXYGEN INDICATORS
Theory of Operation

Oxygen diffusion into detector cell

Chemical reaction establishes current

proportional to oxygen concentration
 OXYGEN INDICATORS
Theory of Operation (cont.)

O2 O2 O2 O2 O2 O2 Protective
disk
Membrane
Electrode
Electrolyte
Electrode
 OXYGEN INDICATORS
Limitations/Precautions

Atmospheric pressure (altitude)

Interfering gases

Operating temperature
ALTITUDE/OXYGEN INDICATION

OXYGEN
ALTITUDE INDICATION(%)
-1000ft 21.6
sea level 20.8
1000 20.1
2000 19.3
3000 18.6
4000 18.0
5000 17.3
6000 16.7
7000 16.1
8000 15.4
9000 14.9
10000 14.3
COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATORS
(CGIs)

Used to determine:
Risk of fire/explosion

Indication of contaminants
COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATORS
(CGIs)

In the presence of a combustible gas, a

heated catalytic filament (or bead) burns
the gas, increasing the filaments
temperature. An electrical resistance is
created, causing an imbalance in a
Wheatstone Bridge circuit.
 CGIs (cont.)

Manual vs. automatic pumps

Supersensitive unit

Combination units (CGI-oxygen)

Concentration
LEL UEL
0 5% 15% (Methane)

0 100%

Meter Reading

50 50 50
10 10 10
0 0 0 0 0 0

< LEL LEL-UEL > UEL

 CGIs
Relative Response Curve

Chemical LEL Concentration Meter Response

% LEL % LEL
Methane (5.0%) 50 85
Acetylene (2.5%) 50 60
Pentane (1.5%) 50 53
Ethyl
chloride (3.8%) 50 37
1,4-Dioxane (2.0%) 50 37
Xylene (1.1%) 50 27
 CGIs
Limitations/Precautions

Temperature

Oxygen requirements

Relative response
 CGIs
Limitations/Precautions (cont.)

Interfering gases
- Lead
- sulfur
- silicone
- Hydrogen chloride
- Hydrogen fluoride
TOXIC ATMOSPHERE
MONITORS

Used to determine:
Health risks to workers/public
Personal protective equipment
Work zones/safety plans
TOXIC ATMOSPHERE MONITORS
Types

Detector tube system

Monitors for specific agents

(I.e., carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide)
Total vapor analyzers

Gas chromatograph (PID, FID)

DETECTOR TUBE SYSTEM
Theory of Operation

Glass tube with indicating chemical

Specific volume of air

Color change

Stain length = concentration

DETECTOR TUBE SYSTEMS
Components

Pump
- Piston
- Bellows

Tubes
- Specific chemicals
- General chemicals
- Concentration ranges
DETECTOR TUBE SYSTEM
Limitations/Precautions

Accuracy

Temperature/humidity/pressure

Expiration date

Chemical group/specific

Lot number
DETECTOR TUBE SYSTEM
Limitations/Precautions (cont.)

Color change/endpoint

Pump strokes/volume/time

Interferences

Reusable
 FLAME IONIZATION
Considerations

Detect only organics

Sensitive to methane

Relative response

Hydrogen gas needed

Electromagnetic radiation
FLAME IONIZATION
Detector

- +

Air

Sample
H2
Air
 Meter Lamp power
readout supply

Battery Ion chamber

Ion chamber

Pump
Lamp Sample
Preamp
 IONIZATION POTENTIALS

CHEMICAL IP (eV) CHEMICAL IP (eV)

Carbon monoxide 14.0 Hydrogen sulfide 10.5

HCN 13.9 Hexane 10.2
Methane 13.0 Ammonia 10.1
Water 12.6 Acetone 9.7
HCl 12.7 Trichloroethylene 9.45
Oxygen 12.1 Benzene 9.2
Chlorine 11.5 Triethylamine 7.5
Propane 11.1
RELATIVE RESPONSES FOR h(nu)
PI-101 With 10.2-eV PROBE

CHEMICAL RR IP (eV)

m-Xylene 1.12 8.56

Benzene 1.00 9.25
Phenol 0.78 8.69
Isobutylene 0.56 9.25
Acetone 0.63 9.69
Hexane 0.22 10.18
Ammonia 0.03 10.15
PHOTOIONIZATION
Considerations

Lamp energy/chemical IP

Dust/humidity

High methane

Electromagnetic radiation
PHOTOIONIZATION
Considerations (cont.)

Lamp aging

Relative response

High concentrations
 RADIATION MONITORING

Radioactivity is the property of the nucleus of an

atom to spontaneously emit energy in the form
of radiation.

Radiation is excessive nuclear energy emitted in the

Form of high energy electromagnetic waves or
Particles.
 RADIATION MONITORING
Three types of radiation of concern

Alpha Particles consisting of two protons and two

neutrons bound together with a +2 charge. Identical
to a helium nucleus.
Beta Particles with a single electrical charge + or -.
When negative, identical to an electron.
Gamma High energy, short wavelength,
electromagnetic radiation.
 RADIATION MONITORING

Alpha particles can travel approximately 1 inch from

their source. A sheet of paper will provided
shielding.
Beat particles can travel up to a foot from their
source. A sheet of aluminum foil will provide
shielding.
Gamma rays can travel hundreds of feet from their
Source. Several feet of concrete or lead for shielding
 RADIATION MONITORING

All radiation survey instruments work on the same

principle. The radiation causes ionization in the
detection media. The ions are counted electronically
and a relationship is established between the number
of ionizing events and the quantity of radiation
present.
 ACTION GUIDES

Oxygen Concentrations

<19.5% - Self contained breathing apparatus required

19.5 22.5% - No special action required or PPE,
Based only oxygen level only.
>22.5% - Must exit site. Increased risk of fire.
 ACTION GUIDES
Combustible Gas

<10% - No special action required.

10 25% - Continue monitoring with extreme

caution.

>25% - Explosion hazard. Must exit immediately.

 ACTION GUIDES
Toxic Vapor Monitoring
Action is dependent on the hazardous substance
present. However, the USEPA has established the
following guidelines for PPE selection
Background to 5 meter units Level C
5 to 500 meter units Level B

>500 meter units Level A

 ACTION GUIDES

Radiation

Background to twice Background No action

<1mR/hr continue work. Consult a Health
Physicist
>1mR/hr continue only upon advice from a Health
Physicist
 ACTION GUIDES

Radiation
 Amplifier

Meter UV
lamp

Sample out

Electrode Electrode
Sample in
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIATION MONITORING