SOLARIS 3GAS METER

1
SOLARIS 3-GAS METER
Complete operation of Solaris multi-gas meter can
be found on the LAFD Ethernet
2
SOLARIS 3-GAS METER

• Carried by all LAFD Truck companies
• Used as needed on various incidents, i.e. LNG,
• Chemical Investigations, Fuel spills, Haz Mat,
  Confined Space, etc.
• To be used to monitor atmospheres during
  overhauls.
• Used in conjunction with the Air Purifying
  Respirators. (PAPRs)
• UNITS SHALL BE ADDED TO STATION INVENTORY AND
  CARRIED ON TRUCK COMPANIES.

3
SOLARIS 3-GAS METER
The MSA Solaris is a gas detection meter
capable of detecting three pre determined
gases The three are as follows Carbon
Monoxide or CO Measures in parts per
million Alarms _at_ 25 PPM CO as per Cal-OSHA
requirements. Lower explosive limit or
LEL Measures the of LEL Calibrated to detect
combustible gases and certain combustible
vapors. Alarms _at_ 10 of the LEL and
above (Calibration gas is Methane which has a
LEL of 5.5) Oxygen concentration Measures
of O2 in the atmosphere. Normal O2 is
20.8 Alarms if O2 falls below 19.5 or above
23.5 WARNING Any measurable deviation of O2
in the immediate atmosphere could indicate an
extreme hazard. In O2 depleted atmospheres the
oxygen could be reduced due to the presence of a
hazardous gas.
4
UNDERSTANDING LEL AND UEL
LEL
UEL
50
10
15.0
5.0 or 100 of LEL
Any below the red area is to lean to
explode Any above the red area is to rich to
explode
5
SOLARIS 3-GAS METER
User friendly Three-button Function Buttons

• ON/OFF
• Page Up
• Used to scroll through various readouts such
  as
• Min Exposure
• Max Exposure
• STEL (short term exposure limit equal to 15
  mins.)
• TWA (Time Weighted Average, equal to 8 an hour
  exposure in a 40 hr work week).
• Current time.
• Current Date.
• Reset
• Resets/silences alarms

SENSORS
ON/OFF
PAGE SCROLL
RESET
DIGITAL DIPLAY
6
SOLARIS 3-GAS METER

• TURN ON
• Press and hold on/off button for approximately
  three seconds
• Unit will then go through a 90 second warm-up and
  self diagnostic test.
• When ready, units LCD will display three
  categories of pre test gases. When in a clear
  atmosphere, only the Oxygen in the upper right of
  the display will register. (20.8)
• NOTE Only turn on unit in clear atmosphere. When
  unit is on and in clear atmosphere, a green LED
  light will flash and the unit will vibrate every
  15 seconds.

7
Using the Solaris-cont

• While instrument displays ZERO ?, if the ON/OFF
  button is not pressed to access the Fresh Air
  option within 10 seconds, the instrument will
  display Please Wait for 5 seconds, then the
  main page will be displayed.
• NOTE Total warm-up time after initial activation
  of the instrument is approximately 90 seconds.

8
SOLARIS 3-GAS METER
Turn off Press and hold On/Off button for
approximately three seconds. The Solaris is
provided as a tool to detect and monitor
potentially dangerous atmospheres encountered by
First Responders. It is also to be used to
monitor atmospheres that LAFD members may be
working in. Unit is to be used to monitor PPM
levels of CO during overhauls and in conjunction
with PAPRs Whenever the Solaris warning alarms
activates, members shall immediately exit to a
safe environment and take appropriate measures to
mitigate the hazard. This may include such
actions as ordering additional resources such as
a HMTF, ventilating the area/structure. While on
scene of an applicable incident, the unit shall
be carried by a responsible/trained member whose
responsibility will be to alert all members
present of a potentially dangerous environment.
That member will be alerted by the three alarm
method audible, visible red flashing LED and
vibration.
9
SOLARIS 3-GAS METER
Continued When a unit alarms, the responsible
member should immediately take a visual reading
of the LCD display to determine what type of
hazard is present. Member shall then momentarily
press the reset button to silence the unit. If
the unit goes back into the alarm mode within
10-15 seconds after pushing the reset button,
member shall immediately exit the area to a safe
environment. At this time officers determine the
necessary action to mitigate the hazard. If it
determined that the unit is alarming because of
elevated levels of CO,(25PPM or higher) Officers
shall order all members working in the
environment to don SCBAs and to ventilate the
area/structure until CO levels reach a safe
level. NOTE CO is considered flammable in high
concentrations Always wear full PPEs and SCBA
when entering an unknown atmospheres.
10
MAINTENANCE

• The Solaris gas meter uses a lithium
  rechargeable battery with continuous runtime of
  14 hours.
• Unit shall be placed in its recharging cradle
  and fully charged every Monday or as needed.
• Recharge time on a fully discharged battery is
  up to 4 hours
• The unit is built to withstand low level drops
  and moisture. Care should be given to protect the
  unit and to keep it clean and dry.
• Clean the Solaris using a clean damp cloth.
• Avoid any pressure or bangs to the display and
  face of the unit where sensors are exposed.
• Avoid direct contact with hands or chemicals to
  sensors. Residue may build on sensors thus
  preventing accurate monitoring.
• If unit displays any problems such as failing the
  self-diagnostic start-up, or shows obvious
  damage, contact your division based HMTF for
  direction.
• Every three months units shall be collected by
  responsible Battalions and forwarded to each
  division based HMTF for calibration and
  maintenance.
• When units are exposed to extreme atmospheres
  that cause the unit to activate its alarm
  function, contact the appropriate HMTF for
  direction.