Turnarounds can be quite hectic. The influx of maintenance workers, plant employees and contractors can add confusion and uncertainty to an already complex and busy workplace. Most wireless area monitoring solutions to detect hazardous gas are complicated to set up, which eats away at time, money and resources. Software licenses are required as well, making area monitor deployment far from easy.
Renting the Radius™ BZ1 Area Monitor can alleviate this stress thanks to its quick and easy deployment. The Radius does not require IT setup, licenses, software or infrastructure. Each Radius BZ1 rental unit comes out of the box ready to connect with its peers using LENS™ Wireless. With LENS Wireless, alarms are transferred to each unit in the group. This essentially turns every instrument within a group into a controller, communicating critical information to the people who are most affected during an emergency: those on-site.
Easy maintenance, data storage
Calibrating and bump testing area monitors can be a challenge. Manually calibrating, bump testing, and storing and retrieving those records is challenging and time-consuming. Docking stations have greatly automated this process for personal monitors over the years. However, how do you dock an area monitor? The Radius BZ1 has a solution for this: the SafeCore® Module. When it is time to bump test or calibrate, simply remove the SafeCore sensor module from the Radius base and take it to the nearest DSX™ Docking Station. The DSX Docking Station will bump test, calibrate, download the data, and record those bump and calibration results. The DSX Docking Station and demand flow regulators are also available to rent for your short-term situations. Add these accessories to your rental order and automate your maintenance and data storage for your turnarounds as well.
Another challenge area monitors pose during a turnaround is the run time of the battery. It can be a full-time job for someone just to go around to each area monitor and swap it out or change the battery. The Radius BZ1 is the longest-running area monitor in the industry, with a typical run time of seven days (168 hours). An intrinsically safe external power supply is also available, which extends the run time to over one month. Renting the intrinsically safe power supply and/or spare Radius BZ1 base units will help ensure there is very limited downtime when protecting your work site from dangerous gases.
Smart messaging
Typically, turnarounds include workers from diverse backgrounds. Not everyone understands which gas levels are permissible or which levels indicate an immediate danger. With the Radius BZ1 Area Monitor, the alarms can communicate exactly what you want them to using the fully customizable Alarm Action Message option. For example, the safety manager can program the instrument display to read "VENTILATE" when a specific gas reaches a level that requires such action. If the gas level reaches a threshold that poses an immediate threat, the instrument can be programmed to read "EVACUATE" rather than just a number, which may be ambiguous for a worker unfamiliar with gas detection readings.
Rental area monitors can be pre-programmed with the settings you want by simply requesting them on your order.
Get the message loud and clear
Gas detectors are lifesaving devices used to protect workers from gas hazards in multiple industries and applications. Innovative features and accessories have enhanced the capabilities and functions of gas detectors over the years. One of the basic features of a gas detector, however, is sometimes lost in the shuffle with all of these great innovations. That feature involves the ability to actually see and hear the gas detector in complex work environments.
The Radius BZ1 Area Monitor has an extra-large, sunlight-readable display, making it easy to see readings and alarm action messages from a safe distance. The visual alarm is an ultra-bright blue- and red-light bar that displays specific colors to correspond with high and low alarms and maintenance reminders. The audible alarm sounds at 108 decibels at 1 meter with distinctive alarm tones that cut through high-noise environments. Even the body of the Radius BZ1 is maximized for visibility with its bright orange overmold that stands out in work environments.
Fast and reliable
Whether you have the luxury of time on your side or need gas detection equipment last minute, Industrial Scientific rentals can help. In most cases, orders can ship the same day they are received. With a large inventory of factory-maintained equipment and over 25 years of experience renting gas detectors, no job is too big or too small. Contact your local Industrial Scientific distributor or Industrial Scientific representative today to ask about the rental program.
Jason Wright is the rental sales manager at Industrial Scientific. He can be reached at (412) 490-1912 or jwright@indsci.com.
