Murco Gas Detection is in the business of gas leak detectors and believes that businesses making use of refrigerants should not disregard the dangers of gas leakages just because they are no longer toxic. If undetected, refrigerant gas leaks can harbour various hazards for companies in contact with them – which encompasses a much larger base of companies that one would expect.

Applications of refrigerants in companies and homes

• Refrigerators and freezers – used in every single home and business from storing milk and lunch, to cooling the business’ main source of income – its products.
• Air conditioners and heaters – this too is used in most businesses and, depending on the geographic climate, most homes.
• Ventilation and air conditioning units (HVAC) – equally common both as part of the business infrastructure and as the nature of the business.

Why gas leak detectors are still used to detect hazards

Although refrigerant gases no longer harbour dangers to humans and animals due to their toxic or flammable nature, there are still dangers to undetected gas leakages which must not be overlooked:

• Health and safety – when humans and animals are exposed to large amounts of refrigerant gasses, but unaware of this due to the odourless nature, a lack of oxygen to the brain can cause such individuals to pass out and eventually die.
• Expenditure in gas and downtime – when refrigeration leaks remain undetected for an extended period of time, the gas will eventually run out and need to be replaced and reparations conducted. With the use of a refrigeration leak detector the loss and damage to the equipment and can be minimised with early detection, as well as downtime minimised.
• Loss of products – businesses reliant on HVAC systems and refrigerators for the preservation of their products, such as foodstuffs and medication, can suffer a great financial loss if the units have been leaking gas for too long and their contents’ temperatures have dropped below the required level.

Murco Gas Detection are aware of the large amount of businesses who make user of a rely on refrigeration units and are therefore confident that the use of their high quality, purpose specific refrigeration leak detectors can save your company money and time on many levels.

Ammonia in its gas or liquid form is both excellent and extremely common in its use in:

• Cleaner
• Fertiliser
• Textiles
• Lifting gas
• Woodwork
• Fermentation
• Refrigeration
• Preservation of food products
• Fuel
• Stimulant
• Removal of other toxic gasses

Often it is used it is gas form inside of a sealed compartment, as part of a device or system, in which case it poses no immediate effect to its surroundings. However, due to a variety of reasons these gasses can start to leak, sometimes unbeknownst to humans and animals that come in contact with the toxic gas, despite its pertinent odour. Murco Gas Detection manufactures a variety of ammonia sensors as a solution to this very end.

When an ammonia gas or liquid leak is undetected while being used in one of its many forms, prolonged human animal exposure to this gas can be fatal.

The dangers of ammonia leaks:

• short and minimal exposure to ammonia can cause irritation a burning sensation in the throat, skin, air passages, and eyes.
• Higher exposure is likely to cause severe chocking and coughing and exposure to ammonia for extended and regular periods of time can cause permanent damage and scarring to the skin, lungs, and cornea.

These consequences do not however need to pose a risk if the working environment is equipped with ammonia sensors to detect and repair or remove the leaks before they can cause harm to humans and animals. The ammonia sensors offered by Murco Gas Detection are manufactured to meet specific ammonia detection requirements. These sensors fall into three categories, based on the level or sensitivity required:

• SemiConductor
• Electrochemical
• Catalytic

 Through the use of Murco Gas Detection’s high quality ammonia sensors the use of this toxic gas with excellent disinfecting and fermenting qualities, does not need to pose a risk to those who come in contact with it on a daily basis.

The gasses detected by Murco Gas Detection’s gas leak detectors are divided into three different categories:

• Refrigerant gasses – HCFC, CFC, HFC, ethylene, dimethylether, LPG, etc.
• Combustible gasses – methane, isobutene, propane, methane, etc.
• VOC gasses – chloroform, ethanol, acetone, methanol, ethyl, methylene chloride, ethylene chloride, etc.
• Toxic gasses - ammonia, carbon dioxide, chlorine, hydrogen, chloride, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen sulphide, silane, hydrazine, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, etc.

Wherever gasses are used, the danger of a gas leak is a reality. Although lot of effort and technology is employed to ensure that humans, animals and even foodstuffs are not harmed during the gas leakages, some still pose very real dangers and a leak of any sort can still be disadvantageous.

Although not all gasses are toxic and hold a direct danger for humans and animals, such as acid burns in the lungs, eyes, skin and nasal channels, an excessive inhalation of any gas other than oxygen, can be fatal as a result of a lack of oxygen to the brain.

The leakage of any gas is something a business should be made aware of for the following reasons:

• financial expense due to reparations
• damage the environment
• spoilage of business products that are meant to be preserved with the use of these gasses
• unproductivity and office down time as a result of bad air ventilation

The use of gas leak detectors manufactured by industry experts, such as Murco Gas Detection, can however save your company a large amount of money and drama by detecting gas leakages and preventing the above and additional effects of gas leakages.

Intelligence is being built into inanimate devices that would never previously have been imagined in order to form part of BMS.  These seeming ordinary devices and applications now communicate with co-operate with the rest of the building to form an ecosystem which functions at optimal efficiency, with minimum effort required in terms of total facilities management. One of these intelligent devices which are now used in buildings and can deliver great advantages as part of a BMS, are gas sensors.

Murco Gas Detection understand that gas sensors, as part of holistic BMS or as part of an alone standing gas detection system, can stand companies in good stead where health and safety risks, as well as financial risks are concerned. This is why they offer a large variety of gas sensors to cater for the needs of any company – regardless of which gasses may be present in different premises.

These gas sensors offered by Murco Gas Detection include, but are not limited to:

• Murco Gas Detection Standard sensor enclosure (IP41).  This unit is used under normal conditions, as well as in areas such as machinery rooms, cold rooms and plant rooms where there are low levels of moisture and dust and temperatures range between -20°Celcuis and +50°C.
• IP66. These units cater for the other end of the spectrum in areas where there is a high presence of moisture, dust and condensation. The ABS head which projects outside of the enclosure ensures that condensation does no reach the electronics. Additional splashguard for areas with heavy spray or wash can also be fitted.
• Airflow Duct Mount sensor. This unit is mounted on the outside of the duct with a sample tube extending into the duct to measure airflow in such a way that still allows ease of access for maintenance.

Although immensely valuable for your business, gas sensors can result in a financial expenditure yielding little to no results and large quantities of frustration when not manufactured by a company with solid technical and industry knowledge. Contact Murco Gas Detection to discuss the gas sensors which best suit your needs.

The refrigerant gasses most commonly used today:

• HCFC’s
• CFC’s
• HFC’s
• MGS
• Hydrocarbons
• Methane (Natural gas),
• Propane
• Butane
• Isobutane
• Ethylene
• Propylene
• Dimethylether
• LPG

These gasses are used for their different qualities which make them better suited to specific refrigerant units, or for the level to which they are hazardous to their surroundings. Unfortunately, where one gas seems to have the upper hand in a certain area, it has a negative consideration another does not have, and so forth.  This is why the gasses need to be managed in terms of early leak detection and appropriate action. Murco Gas Detection offers the following devices in refrigerant leak detection to help companies with early detection and avoidance of subsequent monetary and health risks.

These include, but are not limited to:

• Murco Gas Detectors
• Murco Gas Sensors
• Integrated Area Monitors (IAM)
• Sensor Transmitter IAM

As most of these gasses are colourless and odourless, a leak will not be detected by the human nose and can result in large monetary losses in the form of unit reparation and or replacement, as well as loss of product and or productivity – depending on what the unit is being utilised for. If however the leak is detected in time, unnecessary damage and down-time can be avoided by detecting and repairing the leak before the unit seizes to operate effectively.

Even if the perfect refrigerant gas were to be discovered – one with no side effects or possible dangers, refrigeration leak detection would still be a necessity to avoid monetary loss and downtime.  Other reasons why certain gasses are favoured may be their level of flammability, the cost of obtaining it and the level of damage it does the environment.

Murco Gas Detection specialises in refrigeration leak detection and manufactures a variety of different gas leak detectors, enabling business to manage their risk in terms of refrigerant choice, while optimising the positive qualities of the particular gas.

In supermarkets and dining venues refrigeration units keep produce chilled and preserved. In office buildings, warehouses and public spaces air conditioning systems ensure comfortable temperatures for people, stock storage and the optimal running of infrastructure components such as computer servers and other hardware.

Without fully functioning refrigeration and air conditioning systems operations can quickly come to a halt. The result can be massive stock and produce losses, revenue losses as businesses cease trading, huge outgoing expenses to aid the recovery and repair of refrigeration and air conditioning systems, and general industrial, economic and structural upheaval.

When systems break down due to a gas leak the best course of action is immediate response. For those UK industries who have the foresight to install effective gas leak detection systems, the process of recovery will be much more efficient and business can return to normal sooner rather than later, thanks to the protective steps they have taken in advance.

Murco’s gas leak detection devices for refrigeration and air conditioning units can provide that protection. Murco is a market leader in refrigerant gas detection in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry.

We offer gas leak detection solutions for most common gases in a wide range of sectors and applications including:

• Commercial
• Industrial
• Marine
• Municipal

Because we design and manufacture our detection systems, we can tailor solutions to meet the requirements of any client, from a small machinery room operator to a large industrial user.

Murco’s gas detection solutions promise UK industries:

• Continuous monitoring with state-of-the art technological systems,
• Easy installation and maintenance with continual advice and support from Murco’s team of highly skilled professionals,
• A range of flexible gas detection solutions to suit your own requirements.

Murco’s high quality fixed gas detectors for air conditioning and refrigeration units ensure compliance with relevant industry standards and regulations. To speak to Murco about your gas detection needs visit www.murcogasdetection.com or call us on +353 (0)1 284 6388.

For optimum protection for your industry, choose a Murco ammonia sensor device.

The Murco Gas Sensor (MGS) range includes ammonia detection. MGS devices can be used on a stand-alone basis or can be integrated into your Controls or Building Management Systems.

The MGS device, including the ammonia sensor, is a high-specification product that offers customers absolute confidence that both gas leak safety and compliance requirements are fully met.

The MGS range can be used for new buildings or areas that require continuous monitoring with high-tech gas sensor transmitters, or for existing systems that require an additional gas detection solution.

What is ammonia?

Ammonia is a gas compound comprised of nitrogen and hydrogen and is a very versatile substance with many industrial applications, such as the production of fertilisers, the elimination of microbial contamination and water purification, as well as in the manufacturing of cotton, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, plastics, explosives, fabrics, pesticides, and dyes. Ammonia is also widely used in the production of petrochemicals and paper, in the coolant process for large-scale industrial and commercial refrigeration, and in air-conditioning for public buildings and industrial power plants.

With so many applications it is easy to see why ammonia is such a common substance in UK industries. Which is all the more reason why the installation of an ammonia sensor within manufacturing environments is so important.

Industries that commonly use ammonia for their manufacturing processes include agriculture, water and waste treatment plants and food and beverage production. If you are involved in one of these industries make sure you have a reliable ammonia sensor positioned in your key manufacturing areas.

As ammonia is a lighter gas than air, position your sensor close to the ceiling and ensure the alarm panel and sensor reading data is easily visible.

Contact Murco for more advice on the installation of an ammonia sensor in your manufacturing business. Visit our FAQ’s section or call us on +353 (0)1 284 6388.

To avoid these unwanted dramas in your UK business, do the sensible thing and ensure you have a quality leak detector positioned wherever dangerous gases occur in your building.

How does a gas leak detector work?

A gas leak detector regularly samples the air in its nearby vicinity in order to determine if there is an irregular change in air levels. Gas detectors can be used to monitor all kinds of flammable and toxic gases, including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide, ammonia, chlorine, ozone, oxygen, refrigerants and combustible gases like methane and propane.

The detector sends a warning signal when unusual levels of certain gases are registered. As the unit monitor levels of gas concentration, the sensor responds to calibration, which acts as a reference point. When a sensor’s detection exceeds a preset alarm level the alarm or signal is activated. An interface with a control system provides data to inform safety inspectors of gas levels so that appropriate action can be taken.

A gas leak detector is only as good as the safety wardens who respond to it. The steps that are taken after a gas leak warning is received are just as important as having a functioning leak detection system.

Responding to a gas leak in an efficient and careful manner should be a priority for UK businesses. If a gas leak is detected, ensure all personnel vacate the premises then urgently notify a gas leak technician for further instructions.

Tell the technician the exact location of the leak and if any construction work is happening nearby. Carefully follow their further instructions and arrange any necessary repairs to be conducted as soon as possible.

For more advice about gas leak detection visit  our FAQ’s section or call us on +353 (0)1 284 6388.

Refrigerant leak detection monitor placement

• When installing a refrigerant leak monitor ensure you locate the monitor as close as possible to potential leak points. Select a location where staff will be able to see the monitor read out and display clearly.
• Mount the unit so it can be easily accessed for service and calibration.
• Ensure the monitor is installed in accordance with wiring and other fire safety codes.
• Install the instrument so any exhausts are properly ventilated.
• Install your monitor in the most effective place in your room. Positioning of other refrigeration equipment in the room will impact this decision. As a general guideline, if there is only one chiller in the room, collect a sample at the perimeter of the unit. If there are two chillers sample at a point between them. For three or more chill units multiple monitors or a single multi-point monitor should be installed.

Certain refrigerant leak detection bad practices to avoid include:

• Don’t mount the unit to an unstable structure, locate near a unit exposed to direct heat, or install in an area disposed to high levels of condensation.
• Don’t install the system in a hurry without proper tightness testing.
• Don’t use an excessive amount of flare joints.
• Don’t ignore oil stains on condensers.
• Don’t ignore low refrigerant level alarms.
• Don’t forget to do follow up checks after a refrigerant leak repair.
• Don’t neglect to ensure valves are capped.

By following these simple guidelines, consulting your manufacturer’s instruction manual and seeking assistance from a leak detection expert, you can ensure you have properly installed your leak detection system.

For more advice from Murco about refrigerant leak detection or to speak with a Murco leak monitor installation expert for advice on installing your gas leak monitoring systems visit our FAQ’s section or call us on +353 (0)1 284 6388.

If a refrigerant leak is not accurately detected or promptly repaired it will start to affect your chill room’s system efficiency and the energy cost for the refrigeration system will increase. Eventually the refrigeration system will no longer be able to provide enough cooling, which could lead to product or other losses. The longer you leave a leak before repairing it, the higher the repair costs, refrigerant loss, additional energy use and other consequential losses.

If you spend a little time to ensure you install your refrigerant leak detector right first time, you can avoid these unnecessary costs and product losses.

When installing your refrigerant leak detector consider the following guidelines:

• Place the monitor so that air samples can be taken in a point most likely to develop a refrigerant gas leak or spill. This includes the valves, fittings, storage and the chiller itself.
• Place monitors close to the floor as most refrigerant gases are heavier than air so your sample will not work as effectively if placed near the ceiling. Make sure that any pits, trenches or stairwells are monitored as they may fill with gas before the main storage area.
• If monitoring ammonia, do place a refrigerant leak detector near the ceiling as ammonia is lighter than air and tends to accumulate in high places.
• Ensure your sample collection area is free of small particles like soot or dust and that condensing moisture does not interfere with your samples.
• Choose sample point locations with the shortest possible line length so that results are more accurate and with less transportation time.

If you are unsure of the best practice for installing leak monitors and taking air samples in your particular chill storage rooms, Murco can provide expert assistance.

For more advice from Murco about installing your refrigerant leak detector visit our FAQ’s section by clicking here or call us on +353 (0)1 284 6388.