Gas detection and calibration
Calibration and repair of portable and fixed gas detectors using traceable calibration gas, plus supply of detectors, sensors and gas.
Between 2000 and 2024, at least 1,010 people died in enclosed spaces on ships; in recent years the figure has been around 50 a year. The portable gas detector is often the only thing between a crew member and a wrong decision, and a detector that is out of calibration shows a reassuring but wrong reading.
We calibrate with traceable gas, replace worn sensors before they fail and issue certificates that match the serial numbers on board.
Scope
Multi-gas and single-gas detectors for O₂, flammable gases, H₂S and CO (the SOLAS minimum), and, as MSC.581(110) now recommends, for CO₂, together with PID instruments for volatile organic compounds (VOCs): calibration, sensor replacement and battery checks.
Gas detection in cargo pump rooms, ballast and void spaces, and refrigerant and CO₂ leak detection: sensors, sampling lines and alarms.
Supply of certified calibration gas cylinders and tracking of their expiry dates.
Advice on instruments suited to your cargoes and enclosed spaces when replacing or adding detectors.
Intervals
| Equipment / task | Interval | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Portable detector calibration | As specified by the manufacturer, typically every 6 months or more often | Manufacturer, MSC.1/Circ.1561 |
| Bump test by the crew | Before each use or each day's use, as specified by the manufacturer | Manufacturer, company SMS |
| Enclosed space entry and rescue drill using the instruments | At least every 2 months | SOLAS III/19 |
| Fixed gas detection systems | As required by the manufacturer and class; many manufacturers require checks every few months and calibration at least once a year | Manufacturer, class |
What you receive
- Calibration certificate per instrument, with gas lot numbers
- Service report signed on board by the master or chief officer
- Photos and clear notes for every unit that fails inspection, together with a repair quotation
Applicable rules
- SOLAS XI-1/7
- SOLAS III/19
- MSC.1/Circ.1477
- MSC.1/Circ.1561
- Res. MSC.581(110)
- SOLAS II-2/4.5.10
- IGC Code
- IBC Code