Fixed gas system installers should be qualified, licensed, and understand what it is to conduct a Gas Sensor Installation. Also, this means the installers need comprehensive, detailed documentation on exactly what is being installed, and why! Be prepared to make this training available with emphasis on your specific system installation requirements. In addition, here is a short list of typical
Physical Installation Recommendations
- The system power supply should be properly sized and of the proper type/rating. If a backup power source is required, the status of this backup system should be monitored, and it must be properly sized. Additionally, the power distribution design should also include sub-breakers to enable powering up/down the system. This would be done in logical sections rather than just all at once.
- The system should be monitored for ground faults. Even if it is not required by code, it is a best practice for installers to proceed on the premise that ground fault monitoring is required.
- All detector power and signal cabling requirements should be clarified including cable shields and terminations as required. Don’t forget that conduit seals, breathers, & drains are recommended, and flexible conduit within 1 meter of the detector.
Auxillary Installation Recommendations
- The detector mounting location structure must be solid and robust. Mounting structure vibration and movement are wholly undesirable and can lead to nuisance alarm problems. Also, all detection instruments should have a field tag attached with an instrument tag number easily visible.
- A gas detector setup table spreadsheet is recommended for identifying instrument tag numbers for all detectors, installation location/elevation using GPS coordinates, and programmable settings including sensitivity. It also includes time delay setting, latching or non-latching relay configuration, normally energized or normally de-energized relay coils, calibration information (gas detectors), and other configuration settings.
After a Gas Sensor Installation is complete and the system and all field devices are powered up and operating in a 100% fault-free mode, system commissioning can commence. Furthermore, it is important to note that system commissioning and integrated testing are two different concepts. Both must be completed successfully to properly evaluate the gas detection system operation as well as its interaction with other systems.
Commissioning
Commissioning is a systematic process that provides documented confirmation that all system functions according to the intended design criteria outlined in project documents and satisfies the owner’s operational needs. This includes compliance with applicable laws, regulations, codes, and standards. A commissioning checklist is generally developed that spells out specific system functions, critical input and output signals, devices, and operational logic that must be tested and validated before the system can be considered fully commissioned.
Checklist
The Gas Sensor Installation commissioning checklist typically includes line-item checks for:
- Proper functional testing of power redundancy/battery backup
- System ground fault monitoring
- Critical output functions and related input actuation
- Field testing methodology for all detectors
After completion, the Commissioning Engineer typically prepares and submits a commissioning report including as-built drawings. The cause/effect logic, and an updated system database of all information developed, changed, or modified during the full commissioning process.
Operations, Maintenance, and Training
Operations and Maintenance personnel are the ones generally assigned to keep the fire and gas system operating and ready. Also, this means that these same folks have responsibility for maintaining a gas detection system maintenance logbook! This logbook generally includes the means to document all system activities and events, logged by instrument tag number.
In addition, typical logbook entries include gas alarms, faults, visual inspections, gas detector bump tests, and/or calibrations. Also, functional tests using a test lamp, and cleaning activities are logged by tag number, date & time, and person.
Inspections
In addition, a routine visual inspection procedure should be established where the frequency of visual inspection points is defined.
This means that detector faceplate status LEDs should be routinely visually inspected as a check for normal or trouble status. Along with confirmation that no foreign material or obstructions are present that will block the operation of any detector, and that alignment angles appear normal. Also, if there are any protection accessories installed, these should be inspected to ensure they are working properly.
Comprehensive Training Programs
We know that new employees are constantly brought into our customer’s organizations and that in some cases. Comprehensive training programs on the fixed flame and gas detection system may not exist in a documented format for these new hands. For this reason, below we have detailed some of the most basic system operating procedures that Operations and
Maintenance Technicians should be able to perform and understand:
- where to find the system logbook, instruction manuals, and electrical schematics
- what is the recordkeeping procedure for logging troubles, alarms, cleaning activities, etc.?
- how to identify where and when an alarm or fault occurred
- how to bypass the alarm function on a system for routine detector service
- how to perform a visual inspection
- how to troubleshoot a basic trouble/fault condition
- how to communicate with a detector using HART
- how to perform a response test
- how to Power up/Power down a system
- what is the annual system inspection and alarm response testing plan?
- who to call for technical assistance?
Conclusion
Please note the above-mentioned best practices are only a short list of typical or most common system requirements and are not intended to cover all possible system types or configurations. Also, we recommend always contacting your local fire department and/or Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for specific guidance on your local or national compliance requirements.
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