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DGS-OCTF: Oil and Chemical Tanker Famili… > Safety > Gas measuring instruments > Measurement of Low Concentrations of To…

Measurement of Low Concentrations of Toxic Gases

Chemical Indicator Tubes
Probably the most convenient and suitable equipment for measuring very low concentrations of toxic gases on board tankers are chemical indicator tubes.

Measurement errors may occur if several gases are present at the same time, as one gas can interfere with the measurement of another. The instrument manufacturer’s operating
instructions should always be consulted prior to testing such atmospheres.

Chemical indicator tubes consist of a sealed glass tube containing a proprietary filling which is designed to react with a specific gas and to give a visible indication of the concentration of that
gas. To use the device, the seals at each end of the glass tube are broken, the tube is inserted in a bellows-type fixed volume displacement hand pump, and a prescribed volume of gas mixture
is drawn through the tube at a rate fixed by the rate of expansion of the bellows. A color change occurs along the tube and the length of discoloration, which is a measure of the gas
concentration, is read off a scale integral to the tube.

In some versions of these instruments, a hand operated injection syringe is used instead of a bellows pump.

It is important that all the components used for any measurement should be from the same manufacturer. It is not permissible to use a tube from one manufacturer with a hand pump from
another manufacturer. It is also important that the manufacturer’s operating instructions are carefully observed.

Since the measurement depends on passing a fixed volume of gas through the glass tube, any use of extension hoses should be in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

The tubes are designed and intended to measure concentrations of gas in the air. As a result, measurements made in a ventilated tank, in preparation for tank entry, should be reliable.

For each type of tube, the manufacturers must guarantee the standards of accuracy laid down in national standards. Tanker operators should consult the ship’s flag administration for
guidance on acceptable equipment.

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