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Detecting toxic and flammable gases is a very important safety feature in homes, garages, and workplaces where leaks may occur. We provide you with a brief overview of how to choose detectors and where to place them.
Cars produce toxic exhaust fumes that are hazardous to human health and can cause poisoning. Their concentration is particularly high in parking garages and underground car parks. These include:
Operators of underground garages and parking houses are therefore legally obliged to monitor the concentration of exhaust gases using sensors, ensure adequate ventilation of the premises, and install a warning system. The relevant standard ČSN 736058 specifically stipulates the obligation to detect carbon monoxide and sets minimum requirements for ventilation and other structural modifications and technical equipment of collective garages.
A specific category includes parking lots where cars with LPG (liquefied petroleum gas or hydrocarbon gas), CNG (compressed natural gas), or LNG (liquefied natural gas) propulsion are allowed entry. Until recently, the entry of these cars into parking houses and underground garages was completely prohibited. Now, their entry can be permitted, provided that the parking lot meets not only the aforementioned standard for collective garages but also other conditions.
For cars with gas propulsion, there is a risk of explosion. Therefore, the operation of these parking houses requires structural and fire safety modifications according to current standards and the installation of gas leak sensors, which work in conjunction with ventilation and fire safety equipment and a warning system.
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Gas detection in garages is subject to strict standards.
Every employer is obliged to ensure the safety of their employees during work. Occupational health and safety rules are very individual and depend on the risks to health and life at a particular workplace. If there is a flammable or toxic gas at the workplace, protection against its leakage is a crucial part of occupational health and safety.
In industry and public buildings, the most common dangerous gases are:
Employers must place a sufficient number of appropriate gas leak detectors at the workplace, comply with applicable standards related to the construction and technical equipment of buildings, and regularly train employees in occupational health and safety.
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In industry, the installation of gas leak detectors is an essential part of occupational health and safety.
In homes where natural gas or gas from propane-butane bottles is used, a detector for flammable gases and carbon monoxide should not be missing. These gases pose a significant risk to health and property, and their leakage can only be safely detected with properly installed detectors.
Even though natural gas has a strong and specific smell, it is not advisable to rely on detecting it by smell alone. If the gas leaks in a room where you do not usually stay, or if you are not at home, are asleep, or have a reduced sense of smell due to illness, you may not detect the leak with your senses. A natural gas leak poses a risk of explosion and fire.
Carbon monoxide is neither visible nor detectable by smell and can cause fatal poisoning. It is produced by incomplete combustion, not only in gas appliances but also in solid fuel boilers or fireplaces.
The most common causes of flammable gas leaks in the home include:
Natural gas and CO detectors for the home are equipped with sound or light signals, and ideally, a combination of both.
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The most common source of natural gas leaks in homes is the gas stove.
Installing a detector for home use can be done independently, but for placement in garages or industry, it is necessary to entrust the installation to professionals. Generally, gas detectors are placed according to whether the detected gas is heavier than air, lighter than air, or disperses evenly.
Among gases lighter than air is primarily natural gas, and these detectors are placed near the ceiling. Conversely, propane-butane is heavier than air, so detectors are placed above the floor. CO2 (carbon dioxide) and CO (carbon monoxide) detectors, which have roughly the same weight as air, are placed approximately at eye level.
When placing detectors, ensure that escaping gas can flow freely to the detector, so there should be no obstacles or risk of drafts between the potential source of leakage and the detector. Therefore, do not install detectors near doors, windows, fans, and extractor hoods. Humidity can also reduce the sensitivity of detectors, so if used in a bathroom, a detector with IP protection is necessary.
Gas leak detectors do not require any special maintenance, but it is necessary to prevent them from becoming clogged with dust or cooking grease, for example. Detectors usually operate on batteries, so it is necessary to monitor their lifespan. Less practical are detectors powered by the electrical grid, as installation is limited by the placement of sockets and cable length, and these gas leak alarms do not work during power outages.
Calibration of gas detectors, i.e., setting the threshold concentration at which the alarm is triggered, is done during manufacturing. However, when using detectors in garages and industry, regular inspections and calibrations are necessary.
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