Basic Metering

1
Basic Metering

• For First Responders

2
Overview

• pH
• Flammable gas
• Oxygen
• Carbon Monoxide
• Hydrogen sulfide
• Batteries
• Pumps

3
pH

• The lecture starts with pH because thats what
  you should test for first.

4
pH

• The lecture starts with pH because thats what
  you should test for first.
• A strong acid or base will harm you meter and
  destroy the sensors.
• The sensors are about 250 each
• The meter is 1000-3500 each

5
pH

• The lecture starts with pH because thats what
  you should test for first.
• A strong acid or base will harm you meter and
  destroy the sensors.
• The sensors are about 250 each
• The meter is 1000-3500 each
• pH paper costs about 0.04 an inch

6
pH

• Strong Acid
• Bright Red
• Strong Base
• Dark Blue

7
pH

• pH paper tells you that a
• Strong Acid is present (Bright Red)
• Strong Base is present (Dark Blue)
• For strong acids or bases, DO NOT USE your meter.
• FYI A strong acid or base is never flammable

8
COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATOR

• Used to measure the concentration of a specific
  flammable product in air.

9
COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATOR

• Used to measure the concentration of a specific
  flammable product in air.
• If you have a reading, there is something there
  and it is flammable.

10
LEL

• Lower explosive limit
• Minimum amount of flammable gas and air mixture
  in which there can be a fire or explosion

11
LEL

• Lower explosive limit
• Minimum amount of flammable gas and air mixture
  in which there can be a fire or explosion
• Below the LEL too lean

12
LEL

• Lower explosive limit
• Minimum amount of flammable gas and air mixture
  in which there can be a fire or explosion
• Below the LEL too lean
• AKA Lower flammability limit (LFL)

13
UEL

• Upper explosive limit
• Maximum amount of flammable gas and air mixture
  in which there can be a fire or explosion

14
UEL

• Upper explosive limit
• Maximum amount of flammable gas and air mixture
  in which there can be a fire or explosion
• Above the LEL too rich

15
UEL

• Upper explosive limit
• Maximum amount of flammable gas and air mixture
  in which there can be a fire or explosion
• Above the LEL too rich
• AKA Upper Flammability Limit (UFL)

16
FLAMMABLE RANGE

• Numeric range between LEL and UEL
• just right

17
Catalytic Bead Sensor

• Most common type of LEL sensor
• Gas burns inside sensor chamber
• Resistance converted to electrical reading

18
Catalytic Bead Sensor
19
Catalytic Bead Sensor

• Most common type of LEL sensor
• Gas burns inside sensor chamber
• Resistance converted to electrical reading
• Flame arrestor prevents flame from leaving
  chamber
• Exception Acetylene

20
Catalytic Bead Sensor

• Must have sufficient oxygen present for their
  combustion process to work
• Minimum 10 Oxygen

21
Fire Triangle / Tetrahedron
22
Catalytic Bead Sensor

• Minimum 10 Oxygen
• Can be coated and destroyed by
• Silicone
• Armor All
• Caulking
• Lead

23
Catalytic Bead Sensor

• Minimum 10 Oxygen
• Can be coated and destroyed
• Can be inhibited (made less sensitive) by
• Sulfur compounds
• Hydrogen Sulfide, Sulfur Dioxide
• Halogenated compounds
• Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine
• Do not use alcohol to clean meter
• Use soapy rag
• Letting meter run in clean air can burn off
  inhibitors

24
Catalytic Bead Sensor

• Minimum 10 Oxygen
• Can be coated and destroyed
• Can be inhibited (made less sensitive)
• Average sensor life is 2 years

25
Catalytic Bead Sensor

• Average sensor life is 2 years
• Fails at 0
• Meter reads 0 when the Sensor is no longer
  working.
• Thats a bad thing.

26
COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATOR

• Used to measure the concentration of a specific
  flammable product in air.
• As the concentration of gas rises, the meter will
  show higher readings.

27
COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATOR

• Used to measure the concentration of a specific
  flammable product in air.
• As the concentration of gas rises, the meter will
  show higher readings.
• All meters in Baltimore County are set to alarm
  at 10 LEL

28
COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATOR

• At 10 LEL YOU WILL EVACUATE THE BUILDING

29
BIG PICTURE
Hazardous Materials Chemistry by Armando
Bevelacqua
30
The Math

• 1,000,000 Parts Per Million (PPM) 100
• 10,000 PPM 1

31
Methane

• A given volume of air graphed from 0 to 100

0
100

32
Methane

• A given volume of air graphed from 0 to 100

0
100
5

• LEL of methane is 5

33
Methane

• A given volume of air graphed from 0 to 100

0
100
5

• LEL of methane is 5
• As methane as added, air is displaced

34
Methane

• A given volume of air graphed from 0 to 100

0
100
5

• LEL of methane is 5 by volume
• As methane as added, air is displaced
• Once the volume of methane reaches 5 a fire or
  explosion can occur

35
Methane

• A given volume of air graphed from 0 to 100

0
100
5

• If 1 was a step, you would only be 5 steps away
  from danger

36
Methane
By volume
By LEL
LEL
100

0

• For safety, we will take the 0-5 range and make
  it a scale from 0-100.
• Now with 1 being a step, danger is 100 steps
  away.

37
Methane
By volume
By LEL
LEL
100

0

• You must have 100 LEL or 5 Volume of methane
  for fire or explosion

38
Methane
By LEL
LEL
100

0
10

• You meter displays a number from 0-100
• If you have a reading, you should be thinking
• Somethings here and its flammable

39
Methane
By LEL
LEL
100

0
10

• You meter displays a number from 0-100
• If you have a reading, you should be thinking
• Somethings here and its flammable
• I should limit the number crews working

40
Methane
By LEL
LEL
100

0
10

• You meter displays a number from 0-100
• If you have a reading, you should be thinking
• Somethings here and its flammable
• I should limit the number crews working
• I should be identifying the source of gas

41
Methane
By LEL
LEL
100

0
10

• You meter displays a number from 0-100
• If you have a reading, you should be thinking
• Somethings here and its flammable
• I should limit the number crews working
• I should be identifying the source of gas
• It is only going to get worse (more dangerous)
  the closer I get

42
Methane
By LEL
LEL
100

0
10

• For safety, your meter will alarm at 10 LEL

43
Methane
By LEL
LEL
100

0
10

• For safety, your meter will alarm at 10 LEL
• Evacuate

44
Methane
By LEL
LEL
100

0
10

• For safety, your meter will turn off the
  combustible gas sensor and display OR
  (over-range) when you exceed 100 LEL.
• The meter is smart enough not to be the source of
  ignition when you are in an explosive environment.

45
Methane
By LEL
LEL
100

0
10

• For safety, your meter will turn off the
  combustible gas sensor and display OR
  (over-range) when you exceed 100 LEL.
• The meter is smart enough not to be the source of
  ignition when you are in an explosive
  environment.
• If youre not out already, get out.

46
The Math

• 1,000,000 Parts Per Million (PPM) 100
• 10,000 PPM 1
• Example LEL of methane is 5 by volume
• 100 LEL 5 VOL 50,000 PPM (ignite)
• 10 LEL 5,000 PPM (alarm)
• 1 LEL 500 PPM (LEL 1)
• 499 PPM (meter LEL display says 0)

47
Natural Gas

• I smell natural gas, but my meters LEL reading
  is 0
• Whats wrong?

48
Natural Gas

• I smell natural gas, but my meters LEL reading
  is 0
• The odor threshold of natural gas is 100-200
  parts per billion
• You are actually smelling the additive ethyl
  mercaptan
• Natural gas and propane are odorless

49
Natural Gas

• I smell natural gas, but my meters LEL reading
  is 0
• The odor threshold of natural gas is 100-200
  parts per billion
• The lowest your LEL meter will detect is 500 PPM
  (this is 1 of the LEL)

50
Natural Gas

• I smell natural gas, but my meters LEL reading
  is 0
• Your nose can smell 100 marbles out of a billion
  you meter needs 500,000 marbles out of a billion.
  
• You can smell it long before its going register
  on your meter.

51
Natural Gas

• Okay so my meter only reads down to 500 PPM.
• How can I identify the source of the leak?

52
Leak Alert Portable Combustible Leak Detector 
53
Scott Bacharach Leak Detector

• Used to identify leaks
• Can detect gas down to 50 PPM
• Not to be used to determine evacuation
• Newer meters will combine LEL and leak detection
  until then use both.

54
OXYGEN
55
AIR

• 79 Nitrogen (4 parts)
• 20.9 Oxygen (1 part)

56
Oxygen

• Normal 20.9
• Minimal life sustaining 16-19.5
• Headaches, light-headedness, shortness of breath,
  palpitations, cyanosis
• Life-endangering 15-12
• Disoriented, dizziness
• Life-threatening 11-6
• Unconsciousness
• Death 5 or less

57
Oxygen

• Oxygen Deficient 19.5
• At 19.5 meter alarms
• You should be wearing your SCBA when oxygen level
  is below 19.5

58
Oxygen

• Oxygen Deficient 19.5
• At 19.5 meter alarms
• You should be wearing your SCBA when oxygen level
  is below 19.5
• At 10 your meter will display 0 or low LEL
  readings

59
Oxygen

• Oxygen Deficient 19.5
• At 19.5 meter alarms
• You should be wearing your SCBA when oxygen level
  is below 19.5
• This is an IDLH environment
• Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health
• 2 in 2 out rule

60
Oxygen

• Oxygen Deficient
• When your meter reads below 20.9 oxygen, you
  should be thinking that something is displacing
  the oxygen.

61
Oxygen

• Oxygen Deficient
• A 0.1 drop in oxygen equates to 5,000 ppm of
  something pushing the air (1,000 oxygen and 4,000
  nitrogen) out. Meter reads 20.8
• A 1.0 drop in oxygen equates to 50,000 ppm of
  something pushing the air (10,000 oxygen and
  40,000 nitrogen) out. Meter reads 19.9
• 1 10,000 PPM

62
Oxygen

• Oxygen Deficient
• When your meter reads below 20.9 oxygen, you
  should be thinking that something is displacing
  the oxygen.
• When your oxygen levels are getting lower you
  should have your SCBA in use. That something is
  flammable, toxic, asphyxiates, or corrosive.

63
Oxygen

• Oxygen Enriched 23.5

64
Oxygen

• Oxygen Enriched 23.5
• Consider a fire or explosion risk
• Things burn more intensely

65
Oxygen Sensor

• Sensor is affected by
• Chemicals with lots of oxygen
• Carbon Dioxide
• Ozone
• Strong oxidizing materials such as chlorine

66
Oxygen Sensor

• Average sensor life is 2 years
• When this sensor fails, it no longer displays
  20.9
• All the other sensors fail at 0. With this one,
  you can tell its going bad when it wont read
  20.9 in a clean atmosphere

67
Question ?

• What is the fuel that explodes in a back draft?

68
Carbon Monoxide
69
Carbon Monoxide

• CO is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.

70
Carbon Monoxide

• CO is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.
• CO is a byproduct of combustion

71
Carbon Monoxide

• CO is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.
• CO is a byproduct of combustion
• LEL 12.5 125,000 PPM

72
Carbon Monoxide Symptoms

• Headache
• Shortness of breath
• Personality changes
• Unusually emotional behavior or extreme swings in
  emotions
• Fatigue
• Malaise (a generally sick feeling)
• Dizziness

• Clumsiness or difficulty walking
• Vision problems
• Confusion and impaired judgment
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rapid breathing
• Chest pain
• A rapid or irregular heartbeat

73
Effects of Various CO Levels
PPM

• 50 Permissible Exposure Level for
• 8 hours (OSHA)

74
Effects of Various CO Levels
PPM

• 50 PEL for 8 hours (OSHA)
• 200 Possible mild frontal headache
• 400 Frontal headache after 1-2 hours
• 800 Headache, dizziness, nausea in 45
  minutes, collapse possible death in 2 hours

75
Effects of Various CO Levels
PPM

• 1600 Headache, dizziness, nausea in 20
  minutes. Collapse and death in 1 hour.
• 3200 Headache dizziness in 5-10 minutes.
  Unconsciousness and danger of death in 30
  minutes.
• 6400 Headache dizziness in 1-2 minutes.
  Unconsciousness and danger of death in 10-15
  minutes.
• 12,800 Immediate effects-unconsciousness.
  Danger of death in 1-3 minutes.

76
Carbon Monoxide Prognosis

• People with severe symptoms
• 12 percent to 66 percent suffer from long-term
  complications
• People with mild to moderate symptoms
• 20 percent can suffer from long-term
  complications
• Complications include mild personality changes to
  severe intellectual impairment, blindness and
  deafness

77
Carbon Monoxide

• All meters in Baltimore County are set to alarm
  at 35 PPM CO

78
Carbon Monoxide

• All meters in Baltimore County are set to alarm
  at 35 PPM CO
• Baltimore County Fire Department policy
• CO Level must be below 9 PPM for occupant to
  return to dwelling

79
Carbon Monoxide

• All meters in Baltimore County are set to alarm
  at 35 PPM CO
• Baltimore County Fire Department policy
• CO Level must be below 9 PPM for occupant to
  return to dwelling
• The EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standard
  is 9 PPM for eight hours or 35 PPM for one hour.

80
Carbon Monoxide

• All meters in Baltimore County are set to alarm
  at 35 PPM CO
• Baltimore County Fire Department policy
• CO Level must be below 9 PPM for occupant to
  return to dwelling
• Accordingly, the occupants residence is not safe
  until the CO level is below 9 PPM.

81
Carbon Monoxide

• All meters in Baltimore County are set to alarm
  at 35 PPM CO
• Tactical 07 says An interior structural fire
  that is either Smoke Showing or Fire Showing as
  well as a Working Fire will always be classified
  as an IDLH situation.
• Safety officers should take readings in order to
  decide when SCBA is no longer necessary

82
Household Carbon
Monoxide Alarm

• Baltimore County Fire Department policy
• CO Level must be below 9 PPM for occupant to
  return to dwelling

83
Household Carbon
Monoxide Alarm

• Baltimore County Fire Department policy
• CO Level must be below 9 PPM for occupant to
  return to dwelling
• Request a Local HazMat Box when you get a CO
  reading.

84
Household Carbon
Monoxide Alarm

• Baltimore County Fire Department policy
• CO Level must be below 9 PPM for occupant to
  return to dwelling
• Request a Local HazMat Box when you get a CO
  reading.

85
Carbon Monoxide Sensor

• Cross sensitivity
• A condition that occurs when you get a CO reading
  and no CO is present.
• Can be from Hydrogen Sulfide, Ethylene, Nitrogen
  Dioxide (diesel exhaust), and Acetylene.
• Check to see if batteries are being charged at
  location (Hydrogen).

86
Carbon Monoxide Sensor

• Average sensor life is 2 years
• Fails at 0
• Meter reads 0 when the Sensor is no longer
  working.
• Thats a bad thing.
• If the occupants are experiencing signs and
  symptoms of CO poisoning, assume the sensor is
  bad.

87
Hydrogen Sulfide

• Colorless gas
• Known by its characteristic rotten egg smell
• AKA Sewer gas, sour gas
• Byproduct of decomposition
• Highly toxic

88
Effects of Various H2S Levels
PPM

• 0.13 Minimal perceptible odor
• 4.60 Easily detected, moderate odor
• 10 Beginning eye irritation
• OSHA Permissible Exposure Level for 8 hours
• 27 Strong, unpleasant odor
• 100 Coughing, eye irritation
• Loss of smell after 2 to 5 minutes

89
Effects of Various H2S Levels
PPM

• 200-300 Marked eye inflammation
• Respiratory tract irritation after 1 hour
• 500-700 Loss of consciousness
• gt Respiratory arrest gt Death
• 1000-2000 Unconsciousness at once
• Respiratory arrest
• Death

90
Hydrogen Sulfide

• All meters in Baltimore County are set to alarm
  at 10 PPM H2S
• Request a Local HazMat Box when you get a H2S
  reading.
• If there is a confined space involved, also
  consult with ATR team at Station 17

91
Hydrogen Sulfide Sensor

• Cross sensitivity
• A condition that occurs when you get a H2S
  reading and no H2S is present.
• Can be from Carbon Monoxide, Sulfur Dioxide, and
  Nitrogen Dioxide (diesel exhaust)

92
Hydrogen Sulfide Sensor

• Average sensor life is 2 years
• Fails at 0
• Meter reads 0 when the Sensor is no longer
  working.
• Thats a bad thing.
• If you smell rotten eggs or the occupants are
  experiencing signs and symptoms of H2S poisoning,
  assume the sensor is bad.

93
Batteries

• NiCad
• Rechargeable
• Overcharge, Complete discharge bad
• Lithium Ion
• Rechargeable
• Smart
• Alkaline
• Not rechargeable
• Recommended battery by Industrial Scientific for
  meter use times of less than 2 hours
• Turning the meter on and off and then recharging
  is hard on the battery and limits its lifetime.

94
Pumps

• Pumps are only necessary when sampling in remote
  locations.
• The old training of must always have a pump is no
  longer true.
• Verified with Industrial Scientific Corporation

95
Pumps

• 2 2 rule
• 2 seconds per foot of tubing
• 2 minutes sample time per Location

96
Pumps

• 2 2 rule
• 2 seconds per foot of tubing
• 2 minutes sample time per Location
• If you quickly walk through a house, when the
  meter alarms the actual hazard was 3 or 4 rooms
  back.
• This true whether or not you have a pump attached

97
Pumps

• Confined Space sampling
• Top, Middle, and Bottom
• OSHA requires 4 intervals at a minimum

98
Calibration

• Is performed at Station 14
• There are 5 certified technicians
• One on each shift

99
Calibration

• Is performed at Station 14
• Is the only way to identify that a sensor is
  destroyed or has lost sensitivity

100
Review

• pH
• Flammable Gas
• Oxygen Sensor
• Carbon Monoxide
• Hydrogen Sulfide
• Batteries
• Pumps

101
Questions ?