ATMOSPHERIC MONITORING OPERATIONS FOR NATURAL GAS LEAKS AND CARBON MONOXIDE INCIDENTS

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ATMOSPHERIC MONITORING OPERATIONS FOR NATURAL GAS
LEAKS AND CARBON MONOXIDE INCIDENTS

• Sugar Grove
• 4-GAS METERS

WHAT DO THOSE NUMBERS AND NOISES MEAN?
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TRAINING OBJECTIVES

• OSFM Hazardous Materials Technician A
• 24-6.2 Identify the types of monitoring equipment
  used to determine the following hazards. (NFPA
  472 4-2.1.3.2)
• b. Flammability
• d. Oxygen deficiency
• 24-6.3 Given examples of various hazardous
  materials and the following monitoring equipment,
  select the appropriate monitoring equipment to
  identify and quantify the materials. (NFPA 472
  4-2.1.3.4)
• a. Carbon monoxide meter
• c. Combustible gas meter
• d. Oxygen meter

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DIGITAL NUMBERS AND SPONTANEOUS BEEPS

• It is important to understand what you are
  monitoring for but also what the numbers indicate
  throughout your investigations process
• Do not wait for the monitor to exhibit an audible
  alarm for you to realize you are in a bad place
• Understanding what the digital numbers indicate
  are integral to everyday monitoring operations we
  may encounter during carbon monoxide incidents or
  natural gas leak investigations

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INSPECTION PROCEDURES

• Pre-Use Inspection
• The Pre-Use Inspection should be done each
  morning during the engines daily inspection
• Remove the unit into a fresh outside air
  environment
• Turn the monitor on by depressing the on/off
  button
• The monitor will perform its warm up operation

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INSPECTION PROCEDURES

• Pre-Use Inspection
• Perform the Fresh Air Set-Up (in fresh air)
• On the Industrial scientific follow prompt
• On the MSA when starting up the ZERO square will
  flash.
• While flashing press and hold the RESET button
  until the ZERO stays on.
• Once the Zero disappears it will be ready for use
• Allow the monitor to obtain its readings
• Shut the monitor off by depressing the on/off
  button when finished
• Be sure all normal values are restored before
  shutting off

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PRE-USE INSPECTION

• Visual Check
• Ensure there is no damage to the outer case of
  the device
• Inspect the sensor filters to ensure they are
  intact and free of obstruction (on Industrial
  scientific quad gas and co monitors)
• Inspect the top of the MSA monitors for dirt or
  thread damage.

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PRE-USE INSPECTION

• The DO NOTs of Pre-Use Inspection
• Never turn on the device in the vicinity of
  apparatus that is running
• Never intentionally expose the device to
  hazardous or toxic substances (ie exhaust from
  diesel motor or natural gas stove burner)
• Never shut off the device unless you are in a
  fresh air environment

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PURPOSE OF MONITORING

• In the event of a suspected or confirmed
  hazardous atmosphere, the process of atmospheric
  monitoring shall be used to
• Begin Baseline Monitoring
• Establish Operational Zones
• Protect Responders and Public
• Identify Chemical or Chemical Family
• Observe Incident Mitigation Progress

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MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS

• To gain better results while engaged in
  monitoring, the firefighter must adhere to
  following considerations while using the device
• What you are attempting to monitor
• Source of the hazardous atmospheric condition
• Vapor Density Awareness

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MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS

• What you are attempting to monitor
• What information was given at time of dispatch?
• What information has the occupant made available
  upon arrival at the scene?
• Is the information consistent with what you
  believe to be the problem?

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MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS

• Common Sources to Investigate for CO
• Furnaces
• Hot water heaters
• Fireplaces
• Kerosene heaters

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MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS

• Common Sources to Investigate for CO
• Gasoline engines running inside garages or
  basements
• BBQ grills
• Faulty flues or exhaust pipes

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MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS

• Common Sources to Investigate for Flammable Gas
• Furnaces
• Hot water heaters
• Fireplaces
• Kerosene heaters

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MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS

• Vapor Density Awareness
• Remember that you are more than likely monitoring
  the atmosphere for a substance that has taken the
  state of matter commonly known as a gas
• Gases have the tendency to lie or rise in areas
  that correlate with their vapor density
• When monitoring, be cognizant of the devices
  position in relation to the substances vapor
  density

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GENERAL MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS

• Common Monitoring Errors
• Wrong monitoring equipment
• Activating the monitoring device once entry has
  been made into the hazardous environment
• Monitoring technique is too fast
• Not monitoring according to physical property of
  actual substance

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MONITORING TECHNIQUES

• To gain better results while engaged in
  monitoring, the firefighter must adhere to
  following techniques while using the device
• X and Y Axis Monitoring

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MONITORING TECHNIQUES

• X and Y Axis Monitoring
• Within the room you are monitoring, place an
  imaginary X and Y axis directly in front of you
  and spot the device where the lines intersect

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MONITORING TECHNIQUES

• X and Y Axis Monitoring
• Move the device from side to side on the X axis
  and up and down on the Y axis

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MONITORING TECHNIQUES

• X and Y Axis Monitoring
• As you move over the lines on the axis, move
  slowly allowing the device to sample and
  interpret the atmospheric counts

LEL O2 0 20.3 CO H2S 0 0
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WHAT CAN BE MONITORED

• Capabilities of the Monitoring Device
• CO Carbon Monoxide
• O2 Oxygen
• H2S Hydrogen Sulfide
• LEL
• Conversion Charts available for various
  combustible gases, MSA ORION Operators Manual
  Pages 7-3.

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MEASURING COMBUSTIBLE GAS CONCENTRATIONS

• The Multi-gas Detectors are equipped to detect
  combustible gases in the atmosphere
• Alarms sound when concentrations reach
• Alarm Set point
• 100 LEL (Lower Explosive Limit), 5 CH4(methane)

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MEASURING COMBUSTIBLE GAS CONCENTRATIONS

• When the combustible gas indication reaches the
  Alarm Set point
• Alarm sounds
• Alarm lights flash
• To silence the alarm, press the RESET button
• NOTE The alarm will stay silent only if the
  alarm condition has cleared.
• When the combustible gas indication reaches 100
  LEL or 5 CH4, the LockAlarm circuit locks the
  combustible gas reading and alarm and
• Alarm sounds
• Alarm lights flash
• 100 appears on the display and flashes
• This alarm cannot be reset with the RESET button

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MEASURING COMBUSTIBLE GAS CONCENTRATIONS

• The LEL Number
• Lower Explosive Level (LEL) and Upper Explosive
  Level (UEL) comprise what is known as the
  flammable range
• The UEL variable is what a fire company must
  understand and be prepared to interpret
• UEL is dangerous being that it is the minimum
  variable in the flammable range

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MEASURING COMBUSTIBLE GAS CONCENTRATIONS

• The LEL Number
• When the device monitors for LEL, it is
  calibrated to interpret pentane
• When the monitor displays its reading it will
  present as a percentage ()
• The percentage is a percentage of the overall LEL

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MEASURING COMBUSTIBLE GAS CONCENTRATIONS

• EXAMPLE
• Engine 3 is monitoring for gasoline vapors.
  Gasolines LEL is 1.4. During the monitoring
  operation, it is noted the LEL reads 4. Being
  that our monitors are calibrated to pentane, a
  conversion needs to be computed. Per the MSA
  ORION Operators Manual Cross Reference chart,
  the responder must multiply the LEL reading by
  1.3. So, multiply 0.04 x 1.3. The result should
  equate to 0.05. This means there is 5 percent
  of the total 1.4 in the ambient atmosphere.

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MEASURING COMBUSTIBLE GAS CONCENTRATIONS
INSTURMENT WITH ACTIVATED LEL DISPLAY
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MEASURING TOXIC GAS CONCETRATIONS

• The Multi-gas Detectors are equipped to detect
• Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
• When the alarm set point is reached for Carbon
  Monoxide (CO) and Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
• Alarm Sounds
• Alarm Lights flash

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MEASURING TOXIC GAS CONCETRATIONS

• Carbon Monoxide is measured in parts per
  million (PPM)
• PPM is the dose per million units of volume
• In this case, PPM refers the dose of CO per
  million units of air

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MEASURING TOXIC GAS CONCETRATIONS

• Example
• 1 PPM 1/1,000,000 particle per volume
• 1 PPM is 0.0001 of the atmosphere by volume

1 PPM
1,000,000 PPM
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MEASURING TOXIC GAS CONCETRATIONS

• Example
• Engine 3 is dispatched for a carbon monoxide
  investigation. While monitoring the atmosphere,
  the device indicates there is 42 PPM of CO.
• If we take 42/1,000,000 we calculate that as
  0.000042 or 0.042
• 0.042 of the atmosphere is comprised of CO

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MEASURING TOXIC GAS CONCETRATIONS

• Be cognizant that Carbon Monoxide has a Threshold
  Limit Value (TLV) of 35 PPM
• The 35 PPM variable represents conditions under
  which it is believed a firefighter may be exposed
  day after day with no adverse effect
• The 35 PPM is only an exposure guideline not a
  standard
• If you suspect you are going to be exposed to any
  level of CO, it is advisable to protect your
  respiratory tract by donning SCBA

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MEASURING COMBUSTIBLE TOXIC GAS CONCENTRATIONS
INSTURMENT WITH ACTIVATED TOXIC GAS DISPLAY
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CO INCIDENT RESPONSE GUIDELINES
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CO INCIDENT RESPONSE GUIDELINES

• CO Investigation with no Illness
• Still Engine
• Non-emergency response
• CO Investigation with Illness
• Full Still
• Engine and Ambulance
• Emergency response

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CO INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES
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CO INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES

• Carbon Monoxide Incidents
• Remove the unit into a fresh outside air
  environment
• Turn the monitor on by depressing the on/off
  button
• The monitor will perform its warm up operation
• Perform the Fresh Air Set-Up (in fresh air)
• On the Industrial scientific follow prompt
• On the MSA when starting up the ZERO square will
  flash.
• While flashing press and hold the REST button
  until the ZERO stays on.
• Once the Zero disappears it will be ready for use

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CO INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES

• Carbon Monoxide Incidents
• Allow the monitor to obtain its readings
• Begin the investigation within the occupancy
• Bring the device to a fresh air environment and
  allow all readings to return to normal
• H2S, CO, and LEL should all indicate 0 PPM
• O2 should indicate between 19.5 and 23.5
• Shut the monitor off by depressing the on/off
  button when finished

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CO INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES

• CO without illness
• Ensure firefighter and resident safety
• Investigate the occupancy for the presence of CO
• Monitor the present level of CO
• Determine a source or location of the CO release

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CO INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES

• CO without illness
• Discontinue the release of CO
• Ventilate appropriately
• Re-monitor the occupancy and note any
  improvement, worsening, or unchanged CO levels
• Document the incident accordingly

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CO INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES

• CO with illness
• Immediately remove the person(s) from the
  suspected potential exposures
• Triage and assess the patients
• Treat per SFV EMS System Protocols
• Transport if necessary
• Observe use of proper personal protective
  equipment
• Level D structural firefighting gear
• Investigate the occupancy for the presence of CO
• Monitor the present level of CO

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CO INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES

• CO with illness
• Determine a source or location of the CO release
• Discontinue the release of CO
• Ventilate appropriately
• Re-monitor the occupancy and note any
  improvement, worsening, or unchanged CO levels
• Document the incident accordingly

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NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT RESPONSE GUIDELINES
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NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT RESPONSE GUIDELINES

• Outside Inside gas leak
• Full Still Engine, Squad, ARFF961, Command,
  Ambulance.
• Emergency response

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NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES
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NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES

• Natural Gas Leak Incidents
• Remove the unit into a fresh outside air
  environment
• Turn the monitor on by depressing the on/off
  button
• The monitor will perform its warm up operation
• Perform the Fresh Air Set-Up (in fresh air)
• On the Industrial scientific follow prompt
• On the MSA when starting up the ZERO square will
  flash.
• While flashing press and hold the REST button
  until the ZERO stays on.
• Once the Zero disappears it will be ready for
  use.

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NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES

• Natural Gas Leak Incidents
• Allow the monitor to obtain its readings
• Begin the investigation within the occupancy
• Bring the device to a fresh air environment and
  allow all readings to return to normal
• H2S, CO, and LEL should all indicate 0 PPM
• O2 should indicate between 19.5 and 23.5
• Shut the monitor off by depressing the on/off
  button when finished

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NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES

• Outside Gas Leak
• Observe use of proper personal protective
  equipment
• Level D structural firefighting gear
• Isolate area
• Ensure firefighter and resident safety
• Investigate the occupancy for the presence of gas
• Make suppression considerations if exposures
  exist
• Monitor the present level of combustible gas
• Determine a source or location of the gas release

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NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES

• Outside Gas Leak
• Discontinue the release of gas
• Ventilate appropriately
• Re-monitor the occupancy and note any
  improvement, worsening, or unchanged gas levels
• Notify NiCor
• Document the incident accordingly

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NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES

• Inside Gas Leak
• Isolate area
• Immediately remove the person(s) from the
  suspected potential exposures
• Triage and assess the patients
• Treat per SFV EMS System Protocols
• Transport if necessary

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NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES

• Inside Gas Leak
• Observe use of proper personal protective
  equipment
• Level D structural firefighting gear
• Determine the need for water supply
• Investigate the occupancy for the presence of gas
• Monitor the present level of gas

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NATURAL GAS LEAK INCIDENT OPERATIONS GUIDELINES

• Inside Gas Leak
• Determine a source or location of the gas release
• Discontinue the release of gas
• Ventilate appropriately
• Re-monitor the occupancy and note any
  improvement, worsening, or unchanged gas levels
• Document the incident accordingly