Can the Same Gas Detector Work for Pools and Arenas?

It isn't uncommon for one recreational facility to offer both skating and swimming amenities, two very different environments with different potential gas hazards. With the possibility of up to 6 different types of gases to monitor, all in different locations, a single detector will not provide the monitoring requirements for both spaces. It is suggested that two separate gas detection systems be set up — one for the swimming pool(s) and one for the ice arena(s). Swimming pools are commonly kept clean with a chlorine disinfectant, used either alone or with ozone. Chlorine is a powerful, corrosive disinfectant and in both gas and liquid forms it is toxic and hazardous to living beings at concentrations as low as 1 ppm. Ozone is created by exposing oxygen to a high voltage or ultraviolet radiation. It is more powerful than Chlorine and when used in conjunction with Chlorine it helps provide an odourless, clear water environment. The areas for potential gas leaks of Chlorine and Ozone are found around the equipment in the Chlorine feed room and the Ozone generator room. Both rooms should be continuously monitored for possible leaks. This is best accomplished by using a Chlorine gas detector and an Ozone gas detector inside each respective room, along with a remote visual and audible alarm mounted inside and outside the room that will be enabled in the event of a leak of either gas. A controller should be installed outside one of the room doors, to provide a visual display of the gas readings inside the room. Each gas detector would communicate with the controller, providing a single point of access to the system. Mounted outside the other room door and outside any secondary access door to either room should be a remote display to provide visual confirmation of readings prior to entering the room. Chlorine gas is heavier than air and tends to collect at floor level requiring the placement of the sensor to be 6 inches above the floor, close to the area of a potential leak but away from ventilation fans. If there is a Chlorine leak, the controller must have relays to shut down the ventilation system until it is safe to exhaust the gas from the contaminated area. If there is an Ozone leak, the controller must have outputs to activate the emergency air exhaust fans. Pure Ozone is slightly heavier than air but does not necessarily settle to the floor. The sensor should be placed beside the equipment and between the generator and the destructor. If additional reaction tanks or destructors are more than 16 ft (5m) away from the installed sensor, additional sensors are required. During routine maintenance such as when a worker changes chlorine cylinders, the potential for a leak is increased and a using a portable gas monitor with a Chlorine sensor is a safe choice. Ice arenas utilizing an Ammonia refrigeration system should have a gas detector with one or more Ammonia gas sensors installed in the mechanical refrigeration room to detect an Ammonia leak and trigger the independent ventilation system as well as a visual and audible alarm inside and outside the room. Ammonia is lighter than air so sensors should be placed generally on or within 12 inches of the ceiling or the highest point of the enclosed area. At the ice surface level, gasoline, propane, natural gas (and sometimes diesel) is used to power equipment such as an ice resurfacer and ice edger, producing exhaust composed of carbon monoxide and/or nitrogen dioxide. Other fuel powered equipment such as floor sweepers, lift trucks, vehicles idling in the parking facilities in close proximity and other special events equipment can also add to the levels of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide inside the building. Hazardous gas buildup is greatly increased if the equipment is not functioning properly or if the ventilation system is inadequate or not properly maintained. A two channel or two separate gas detectors for CO and NO2 should be placed above the score keeper box or penalty box and additional air sampling readings can be taken at the level of the ice surface using an indoor air quality or portable multi-gas monitor. Poorly maintained equipment and/or general wear and tear can cause vibrations that can loosen fittings and potentially produce a raw propane leak in propane powered ice resurfacers. Propane is heavier than air and will sink to low lying areas. The parking area for the ice resurfacer should have a propane remote transmitter sensor (explosion proof is suggested) located in a low area of the room, preferably near the drain channel over which the ice resurfacer is parked. Each gas detector should be configured to communicate with a multi-channel controller, which will provide a single point of access to view gas level readings, configure each detector's settings and trigger alarms and ventilation fans. The multi-channel controller should have a top mounted strobe and a manual shut off switch to trigger emergency shutdown of the equipment inside the chiller room. It be mounted outside the entrance door to the chiller room, allowing for a visual check of the ammonia gas level inside the room prior to entry. If two entrance doors are present, a remote display should be mounted outside the other door. Additional gas detectors may be necessary depending on the facility's operational procedures and layout. Note: Every recreational facility is different and the number of gas detectors and types of gases to monitor depend on the facility's operational procedures and layout. Presented here is an overview of a typical gas detection system in a recreation facility.