ATMOSPHERIC MONITORING OPERATIONS Gamber MSA Orian 4-GAS METER WHAT DO THOSE NUMBERS AND NOISES MEAN?

TRAINING OBJECTIVES All members shall show knowledge and proficiency in use of our four-gas monitoring meters.

DIGITAL NUMBERS AND SPONTANEOUS BEEPS It is important to understand what you are monitoring for but also what the numbers indicate throughout your investigations process Do not wait for the monitor to exhibit an audible alarm for you to realize you are in a bad place Understanding what the digital numbers indicate are integral to everyday monitoring operations we may encounter during carbon monoxide incidents or natural gas leak investigations

INSPECTION PROCEDURES Pre-Use Inspection The “Pre-Use Inspection” should be done each morning during the engine’s daily inspection Remove the unit into a fresh outside air environment Turn the monitor on by depressing the “on/off” button The monitor will perform its warm up operation Use MSA FiveStar® 4-gas monitor for demonstrations correlating to each specific bullet

INSPECTION PROCEDURES Pre-Use Inspection Perform the “Fresh Air Set-Up” (in fresh air) On the MSA when starting up the ZERO square will flash. While flashing press and hold the RESET button until the ZERO stays on. Once the Zero disappears it will be ready for use Allow the monitor to obtain its readings Shut the monitor off by depressing the “on/off” button when finished Be sure all normal values are restored before shutting off Use MSA FiveStar® 4-gas monitor for demonstrations correlating to each specific bullet

PRE-USE INSPECTION Visual Check Ensure there is no damage to the outer case of the device Inspect the sensor filters to ensure they are intact and free of obstruction Inspect the top of the MSA monitors for dirt or thread damage.

PRE-USE INSPECTION The DO NOTs of Pre-Use Inspection Never turn on the device in the vicinity of apparatus that is running Never intentionally expose the device to hazardous or toxic substances (ie: exhaust from diesel motor or natural gas stove burner) Never shut off the device unless you are in a fresh air environment

PURPOSE OF MONITORING In the event of a suspected or confirmed hazardous atmosphere, the process of atmospheric monitoring shall be used to: Begin Baseline Monitoring Establish Operational Zones Protect Responders and Public Observe Incident Mitigation Progress

MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS To gain better results while engaged in monitoring, the firefighter must adhere to following considerations while using the device What you are attempting to monitor Source of the hazardous atmospheric condition Vapor Density Awareness

MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS What you are attempting to monitor What information was given at time of dispatch? What information has the occupant made available upon arrival at the scene? Is the information consistent with what you believe to be the problem?

MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS Common Sources to Investigate for CO Furnaces Hot water heaters Fireplaces Kerosene heaters Any gas appliance

MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS Common Sources to Investigate for CO Gasoline engines running inside garages or basements BBQ grills Faulty flues or exhaust pipes

MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS Common Sources to Investigate for Flammable Gas Furnaces Hot water heaters Fireplaces Kerosene heaters

MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS Vapor Density Awareness Remember that you are more than likely monitoring the atmosphere for a substance that has taken the state of matter commonly known as a “gas” Gases have the tendency to lie or rise in areas that correlate with their vapor density When monitoring, be cognizant of the device’s position in relation to the substance’s vapor density

GENERAL MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS Common Monitoring Errors Wrong monitoring equipment Activating the monitoring device once entry has been made into the hazardous environment Monitoring technique is too fast Not monitoring according to physical property of actual substance 4 gas monitor is not the correct monitor to be used in an acidic vapor environment Turn on all monitoring equipment prior to entering the suspected environment Monitoring takes time, do not run through the occupancy and expect accurate readings If you monitoring for a specific chemical property, be sure the device is to be used for that particular property

MONITORING TECHNIQUES To gain better results while engaged in monitoring, the firefighter must adhere to following techniques while using the device: X and Y Axis Monitoring

MONITORING TECHNIQUES X and Y Axis Monitoring Within the room you are monitoring, place an imaginary X and Y axis directly in front of you and spot the device where the lines intersect X Y

MONITORING TECHNIQUES X and Y Axis Monitoring Move the device from side to side on the “X” axis and up and down on the “Y” axis X Y

MONITORING TECHNIQUES X and Y Axis Monitoring As you move over the lines on the axis, move slowly allowing the device to sample and interpret the atmospheric counts MSA SOLARIS LEL O2 0 20.3 CO H2S 0 0

WHAT CAN BE MONITORED Capabilities of the Monitoring Device CO: Carbon Monoxide O2: Oxygen H2S: Hydrogen Sulfide %LEL** **Conversion Charts available for various combustible gases, MSA ORION Operator’s Manual; Pages 7-3.

MEASURING COMBUSTIBLE GAS CONCENTRATIONS The Multi-gas Detectors are equipped to detect combustible gases in the atmosphere Alarms sound when concentrations reach: Alarm Set point 100% LEL (Lower Explosive Limit), 5% CH4(methane)

MEASURING COMBUSTIBLE GAS CONCENTRATIONS When the combustible gas indication reaches the Alarm Set point: Alarm sounds Alarm lights flash To silence the alarm, press the RESET button NOTE: The alarm will stay silent only if the alarm condition has cleared. When the combustible gas indication reaches 100% LEL or 5% CH4, the LockAlarm™ circuit locks the combustible gas reading and alarm and: 100 appears on the display and flashes This alarm cannot be reset with the RESET button

MEASURING COMBUSTIBLE GAS CONCENTRATIONS The LEL Number Lower Explosive Level (LEL) and Upper Explosive Level (UEL) comprise what is known as the flammable range The UEL variable is what a fire company must understand and be prepared to interpret UEL is dangerous being that it is the minimum variable in the flammable range

MEASURING COMBUSTIBLE GAS CONCENTRATIONS The LEL Number When the device monitors for LEL, it is calibrated to interpret pentane When the monitor displays its reading it will present as a percentage (%) The percentage is a percentage of the overall LEL

MEASURING COMBUSTIBLE GAS CONCENTRATIONS EXAMPLE: Engine 3 is monitoring for gasoline vapors. Gasoline’s LEL is 1.4%. During the monitoring operation, it is noted the LEL reads 4%. Being that our monitors are calibrated to pentane, a conversion needs to be computed. Per the MSA ORION Operator’s Manual Cross Reference chart, the responder must multiply the LEL % reading by 1.3. So, multiply 0.04 x 1.3. The result should equate to 0.05. This means there is 5% percent of the total 1.4% in the ambient atmosphere.

MEASURING COMBUSTIBLE GAS CONCENTRATIONS INSTURMENT WITH ACTIVATED LEL DISPLAY

MEASURING TOXIC GAS CONCETRATIONS The Multi-gas Detectors are equipped to detect: Carbon Monoxide (CO) Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) When the alarm set point is reached for Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S): Alarm Sounds Alarm Lights flash

MEASURING TOXIC GAS CONCETRATIONS Carbon Monoxide is measured in “parts per million” (PPM) PPM is the dose per million units of volume In this case, PPM refers the dose of CO per million units of air

MEASURING TOXIC GAS CONCETRATIONS Example: 1 PPM = 1/1,000,000 particle per volume 1 PPM is 0.0001% of the atmosphere by volume 1 PPM 1,000,000 PPM

MEASURING TOXIC GAS CONCETRATIONS Example: Engine 3 is dispatched for a carbon monoxide investigation. While monitoring the atmosphere, the device indicates there is 42 PPM of CO. If we take 42/1,000,000 we calculate that as 0.000042 or 0.042% 0.042% of the atmosphere is comprised of CO

MEASURING TOXIC GAS CONCETRATIONS Be cognizant that Carbon Monoxide has a Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of 35 PPM The “35 PPM” variable represents conditions under which it is believed a firefighter may be exposed day after day with no adverse effect The 35 PPM is only an exposure guideline not a standard If you suspect you are going to be exposed to any level of CO, it is advisable to protect your respiratory tract by donning SCBA

MEASURING COMBUSTIBLE TOXIC GAS CONCENTRATIONS INSTURMENT WITH ACTIVATED TOXIC GAS DISPLAY

Alarm Levels Factory Settings CO High Alarm 35 PPM H2S High Alarm 10 PPM LEL High Alarm 10 % LEL O2 High 22.0% Low 19.5%

CO INCIDENT RESPONSE GUIDELINES

CO INCIDENT RESPONSE GUIDELINES CO Investigation with no Illness One Unit with 4-Gas Meter Non-emergency response Consider Engine if driver is available CO Investigation with Illness Engine and Ambulance Emergency response

CO INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES

CO INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES Carbon Monoxide Incidents Remove the unit into a fresh outside air environment Turn the monitor on by depressing the “on/off” button The monitor will perform its warm up operation Perform the “Fresh Air Set-Up” (in fresh air) On the MSA when starting up the ZERO square will flash. While flashing press and hold the REST button until the ZERO stays on. Once the Zero disappears it will be ready for use Use MSA FiveStar® 4-gas monitor for demonstrations correlating to each specific bullet

CO INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES Carbon Monoxide Incidents Allow the monitor to obtain its readings Begin the investigation within the occupancy Bring the device to a fresh air environment and allow all readings to return to normal H2S, CO, and LEL should all indicate “0 PPM” O2 should indicate between 19.5% and 23.5% Shut the monitor off by depressing the “on/off” button when finished Use MSA FiveStar® 4-gas monitor for demonstrations correlating to each specific bullet

CO INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES CO without illness Ensure firefighter and resident safety Investigate the occupancy for the presence of CO Monitor the present level of CO Determine a source or location of the CO release

CO INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES CO without illness Discontinue the release of CO Ventilate appropriately Re-monitor the occupancy and note any improvement, worsening, or unchanged CO levels Document the incident accordingly

CO INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES CO with illness Immediately remove the person(s) from the suspected potential exposures Triage and assess the patients Treat per Maryland EMS System Protocols Transport if necessary Observe use of proper personal protective equipment Full PPE and SCBA Investigate the occupancy for the presence of CO Monitor the present level of CO Instructor may refer to the GEA MICP CO Poisoning SMO

CO INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES CO with illness Determine a source or location of the CO release Discontinue the release of CO Ventilate appropriately Re-monitor the occupancy and note any improvement, worsening, or unchanged CO levels Document the incident accordingly

NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT RESPONSE GUIDELINES

NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT RESPONSE GUIDELINES Outside & Inside gas leak Out Side Gas Leak One Engine Inside Gas Leak 2 Engines and 1 Special Service.

NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES

NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES Natural Gas Leak Incidents Remove the unit into a fresh outside air environment Turn the monitor on by depressing the “on/off” button The monitor will perform its warm up operation Perform the “Fresh Air Set-Up” (in fresh air) On the MSA when starting up the ZERO square will flash. While flashing press and hold the REST button until the ZERO stays on. Once the Zero disappears it will be ready for use. Use MSA FiveStar® 4-gas monitor for demonstrations correlating to each specific bullet

NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES Natural Gas Leak Incidents Allow the monitor to obtain its readings Begin the investigation within the occupancy Bring the device to a fresh air environment and allow all readings to return to normal H2S, CO, and LEL should all indicate “0 PPM” O2 should indicate between 19.5% and 23.5% Shut the monitor off by depressing the “on/off” button when finished Use MSA FiveStar® 4-gas monitor for demonstrations correlating to each specific bullet

NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES Outside Gas Leak Observe use of proper personal protective equipment Isolate area Ensure firefighter and resident safety Investigate the occupancy for the presence of gas Make suppression considerations if exposures exist Monitor the present level of combustible gas Determine a source or location of the gas release

NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES Outside Gas Leak Discontinue the release of gas Ventilate appropriately Re-monitor the occupancy and note any improvement, worsening, or unchanged gas levels Notify BGE as needed Document the incident accordingly

NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES Inside Gas Leak Isolate area Immediately remove the person(s) from the suspected potential exposures Triage and assess the patients Treat per Maryland EMS System Protocols Transport if necessary Instructor may refer to the GEA MICP CO Poisoning SMO

NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES Inside Gas Leak Observe use of proper personal protective equipment Determine the need for water supply Investigate the occupancy for the presence of gas Natural Gas Propane Monitor the present level of gas Instructor may refer to the GEA MICP CO Poisoning SMO

Size up for Gas leaks

Size-up

NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES Inside Gas Leak Determine a source or location of the gas release Discontinue the release of gas Ventilate appropriately Re-monitor the occupancy and note any improvement, worsening, or unchanged gas levels Document the incident accordingly

Location of Meters MSA Four gas Meters are carried on: E131 & E134 Duty 13

Meter Service All Maintenance and Calibration is handled by our day time Engineers. Any issues please document on the online forms on the members area.