Portable gas monitors are invaluable in the construction world and any industry where the immediate detection of deadly gases is paramount. This includes the fields of research and development. Laboratories, field researchers, and the research and development departments of many industries require these devices.

While portable gas monitors ensure personal safety, they also provide real-time data leading to discoveries and innovations. And that’s not all. Here are six uses of portable gas monitors in research and development.

Portable Gas Monitors: The Basics

If you’re unfamiliar with portable multi-gas detectors, here’s a quick introduction to these handy devices. Portable gas monitors are compact, lightweight, and frequently handheld electronic tools that can detect and measure certain gases in the surrounding air.

Portable gas monitors can be equipped to detect carbon monoxide, oxygen, hydrogen sulfide, and other gases that may threaten safety and the surrounding ecosystem. In places with a risk of gas leaks or emissions, monitors keep technicians aware of potential dangers and allow them to take immediate action.

As technology advances, new monitors surpass previous models in data logging, digital displays, easier interfaces, and greater functionality. These advancements make them useful tools for the research and development field. Below, we will explore a few of the benefits that these devices provide to scientists and engineers.

Enhancing Laboratory Safety and Integrity

Safety, safety, safety—we can’t stress enough how much portable gas monitors aid in protecting scientists and other lab residents. Monitors reduce the risk of working with flammable and toxic gases by providing real-time data on gas levels and alerting researchers when they’re approaching dangerous numbers.

Gas monitors prevent accidents and support a culture of safety. Their portability grants flexibility and convenience so lab workers can monitor every inch of the space, rather than a single area. Monitoring gas levels doesn’t just protect the researcher’s health. Gas leaks can compromise test results by interfering with data. Thus, portable gas monitors protect personnel, the work they do, and the facility’s daily operations.

Field Research and Environmental Studies

Sometimes research and development personnel must work outside of the lab in outdoor or remote areas to complete fieldwork. For example, researchers may need to gauge emissions from a pipeline, air pollution in an area, or natural emissions from volcanic activity or pockets of natural gas. Portable gas monitors provide data and warnings that aid researchers in their studies.

Portable gas monitors allow researchers to work in far-removed places without toting around oversized lab equipment. It also enables researchers to understand gas behavior in natural environments so they can develop new, more effective strategies to contain or use such gases. And, of course, collecting on-site data leads to more informed researchers, which fosters inspiration and innovation.

Industrial Applications

Many industries depend on portable gas monitors to keep employees safe so they can complete their work without delay. Manufacturing, oil and gas processing, and chemical production, for example, require employees to deal with deadly gases every day. While the machinery in these industries often contains built-in gas monitoring, portable gas monitors permit greater mobility and agility for workers. This is especially beneficial in smaller, more cramped, or out of the way places.

Monitors identify, measure, and warn workers of dangerous gases, giving them time to react, seek protection, and mitigate the hazard. Portable gas monitors also contribute to innovation by providing data to support process improvements and increase safety and efficiency before an accident occurs. This data enables scientists and engineers to reduce waste, create cleaner technology, enhance sustainability, and protect vulnerable ecosystems. Portable gas monitors protect lives, yes, but they also protect the environment and an industrial facility’s bottom line. Read on to learn more about how portable gas monitors save money!

Saving Money and Avoiding Penalties

Rules are rules, and some rules save lives. Federal, state, and local governments take industrial safety very seriously and enforce regulations on dealing with deadly gases. That might sound like a hassle, but following the rules is both necessary and smart. Complying with safety and environmental regulations saves money and ensures compliance, which is necessary for legal operations. Regulatory compliance prevents fines, lawsuits, and other costly legal issues, leaving companies with more money to spend on research and development.

Noncompliance also damages a company’s reputation. Managing hazardous gases with portable gas monitors is a small step to preventing bigger problems. A safe, compliant research environment enables scientists and researchers to work better, faster, and smarter.

Facilitating Collaboration and Data Sharing

Everything is connected thanks to the internet! Collaboration is vital to advance knowledge, improve systems, and share ideas for a brighter future. Researchers use portable gas monitors to share data quickly and seamlessly with other team members. Many monitors connect with the internet so employees back at home base can receive data from the field in real time.

With more eyes on the data, the potential for innovation vastly increases. Portable gas monitors are a bridge between teams, ensuring everyone involved has access to the information needed to make informed decisions, leading to new ideas. Better data sharing ensures better innovation.

Cost-Effectiveness and Resource Efficiency

Portable gas monitors offer a cost-effective solution for research and development projects. They reduce the need for more complex and expensive fixed monitoring systems, and their ease of use and mobility permit researchers to deploy them wherever and whenever needed. Ultimately, this reduces unnecessary expenses on fixed and permanent monitors.

Portable gas monitors are multi-functional as well, usually requiring only one device to detect several hazardous gases. As a result, you spend less money on purchasing and maintaining multiple devices. Not to mention, their immediacy in the hands of on-site workers means prompt identification of gas leaks, stopping costly accidents and reducing downtime as you work to repair the damage.

We’ve outlined six uses of portable gas monitors in research and development. If you have any questions about how portable gas monitors can keep you and your employees safe and inspire innovation, contact us for more information! We look forward to helping you find new solutions while keeping people safe!