Gas detection when it matters, protection when you need it

It is widely recognised that progress never ends, no matter what form and no matter how far. In industry the development is practiced by the manufacturer and is expected by the customer. Be it in the automotive industry the electronics industry, the food industry or any other industry where the improvement of any product can provide a manufacturer with a competitive advantage and therefore the upper hand when it comes to competing in the market place. Even standards have developed to ensure the next generation of products to reach the market perform better and are safer than the previous generation, ATEX being the perfect example.

It comes as no great surprise to learn that in the portable gas detection market the same demands for development are there from the customer and such demands have seen MSA develop the new ALTAIR 4 multigas instrument. In a market not known for the cleanliness of the surroundings or the care given to portable instruments by the users, the ALTAIR 4 is designed to withstand the harshest treatment, passing a 3m drop-test and having an IP rating of 67. All this comes from an instrument with one of the largest displays and lightest housings of any multigas detector.

Portable instruments and their operation are very two dimensional; they detect gas and they alert the wearer and those in close proximity to the alarm with audible, visual and vibrating alarms. The ALTAIR 4 has added a third dimension: MotionAlert, a unique feature in the portable gas detection market. ALTAIR 4 can have the option of a man-down alarm which alerts those in close proximity that the wearer has not moved for 20 seconds. Since in many confined space applications it can be difficult for wearers to communicate, the ALTAIR 4’s InstantAlert feature allows the user to activate the instrument alarm simply with a press of a button. This enables the wearer to draw attention to themselves should they be in distress and/or require assistance.
At the heart of the ALTAIR 4 are a rechargeable Li-polymer battery and three sensors. The battery allows the instrument to run for over sixteen hours with a recharging time of less than four hours, ideal for long working practices. The ALTAIR 4 uses 3 sensors to detect up to 4 gases, ensuring outstanding protection for the wearer; a catalytic sensor for combustible gas, an electrochemical sensor for oxygen and a high performance dual-toxic electrochemical sensor for carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide.
Since the ALTAIR 4 is an instrument to detect the presence of combustible gas it has to be intrinsically safe. It is therefore designed for gas hazards in surface industries in an ATEX category 2 area. The ALTAIR 4’s full ATEX classification is Ex II 2G EEx ia d IIC T4, which will provide the user with optimum protection under tough conditions with the added confidence of MotionAlert and InstantAlert alarms.
 

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Author:
Greig Thomson
MSA EUROPE
Phone +49 [30] 68 86 - 0
Fax +49 [30] 68 86 - 1558
E-Mail contact(at)msa-europe.com
Internet www.msa-europe.com