Testing Air for CO

[strikeshield]

I realise that there is a lot of info on this, but this question is haunting me somewhat as I am planning on travelling south this winter to do some diving.
I am wondering what everyone is doing in terms of air quality testing when travelling.
I generally smell the gas as was taught, but I am considering getting a CO analyzer as well as a travel package of Draeger tubes to test not only for CO but Moisture as moisture in breathing gas is an indicator that filters will not work. There are a few hundred types of Draeger tubes to test for many things including hydrocarbons etc.
I am thinking about this as a friend of mine who runs a local club was diving in Roatan with club members and he routinely checks the air for moisture using Draeger tubes and when he found moisture in the air, he advised the fill station who promptly drained all the tanks and replaced the filters on the compressor and re-filled the tanks. All were OK. However two boats had already left with divers who had fills form the faulty filtered compressor and they all returned sick and ended up not diving the rest of the week.
Here in Ontario, the CSA (Canadian Standards Association) breathing air gas group are proposing a change to air quality standards and they want to bring the acceptable PPM levels of CO from 6 ppm down to 3ppm as the acceptable standard. My friend, who is on the board of this group, stated that many fill stations will NOT be able to meet these standards with their current filter systems.
This guy even brings a portable hyper-filter with him when travelling with his club and now runs the compressor fill whip through this filter when filling their tanks.
Sounds a little paranoid, but given his position with the Breathing Air Standards group, it has me worried.
I mentioned to him that many people have stated that if I travel south to a winter dive destinationt that I should go to a PADI 5 star center and I will be allright. His response was..."They are the worse".
So I am thiking that in this day and age of DIR diving with all of the attention to safety, redundancy, ENDs not exceeding 100 ft etc. Why is there not a DIR procedure for Air testing when travelling ?
What are all the experienced recreational and DIR divers doing in these circumstances ?

Christian L.
Gatineau Quebec
CANADA

 

[Gene_Hobbs]

I would write Swamp diver for his current recommendation. Peter is constantly evaluating the products that hit the market and should be able to give you some options.

Here is an example of his work that I think you might enjoy reading as well.

Millar IL, Mouldey PG. Compressed breathing air – the potential for evil from within. Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine. 2008; 38: 145-51. RRR ID: 7964

 

[strikeshield]

Gene,
thanks for that information. I have read the document from Rubicon and it is very informative. I am just slightly now more paranoid !
I am amazed at the differences in air standards between North America and Europe and even between the acceptable CO count between Canada and the US. Nevertheless, this is a subject that is often overlooked by many divers and I would think that the DIR community would espouse such an important subject with perhaps air verification procedures. If we are concerned about Oxygen PP at depth and strive to use gases where the average is kept at 1.2 Ata, then purity of breathing gases should be just as important.
In my estimation, this is an important oversight.
thanks again for the link

Christian.

 

[Doc Harry]

There are some good threads on the Deco Stop regarding CO analyzers.

I prefer the BW Technologies Gas Alert Extreme single gas analyzer. I bought it with the carbon monoxide detector installed for about $265. I like the BW Tech model because it has a detection sensitivity in the 1-2 ppm range. It also samples continuously, unlike other analyzers that sample only once or twice a minute. The detector in this unit is also replaceable.

Most CO analyzers require periodical calibration (2-3 times a year). I purchased a small cylinder of 10 ppm carbon dioxide calibration gas ($55) and a small regulator ($150). I estimate that I will get about 10-15 calibration cycles out of the cal gas cylinder before I have to buy a new one.

I test every one of my cylinders for CO at the same time I analyze the oxygen content of the Nitrox. The process is nearly identical. Crack the valve, attach a piece of tubing and run some gas over the sensor for 15-30 seconds.

Here is where I got my analyzer and cal gas:

Single gas analyzer

10ppm calibration gas

Carbon monoxide cylinder regulator

 

[Scared Silly]

I will save you some research with a lot of help from Peter but you should do it anyways.

This device is what you want for CO

ToxiRAE 3 | Gas & Chemical Detectors | RAE Systems

 

[Doc Harry]

I will save you some research with a lot of help from Peter but you should do it anyways.

This device is what you want for CO

ToxiRAE 3 | Gas & Chemical Detectors | RAE Systems

Looks like a good one. RAE Systems didn't have a good CO analyzer when I bought my Gas Alert Extreme. I'd be interested in knowing more about the 2-year "maintenance-free" claim. I've never seen a CO analyzer that didn't require calibration at least annually. There are some $200 throw-away CO analyzers that don't require calibration but they are good for only one year.

At first glance, this RAE analyzer certainly shows some promise!

 

[strikeshield]

Thanks everyone for the input. The ToxiRAE has also been recommended to me here locally. The nice thing about it is that you not only use it with a flow valve for tank measurements, but you can carry it with you on the diveboat and if the CO count is too high because of diesel fumes etc., then you can wait it out in the fresh air before diving. I am also told that people get sick from surface ingested CO on boats prior to diving which is something that should not be overlooked.

Your collective input is much appreciated.

Christian

 

[InTheDrink]

This one seems to work well. It certainly doesn't like my Marlboros much. Recommended I believe by DandyDon.

KWJ Engineering Pocket CO 300

As mentioned earlier - SwampDiver knows more than is normal/healthy about this stuff Search on him here and/or DandyDon and you'll find various threads that will be informative.

BTW, the model in link above is around $100.

J

 

[Scared Silly]

Looks like a good one. RAE Systems didn't have a good CO analyzer when I bought my Gas Alert Extreme. I'd be interested in knowing more about the 2-year "maintenance-free" claim. I've never seen a CO analyzer that didn't require calibration at least annually. There are some $200 throw-away CO analyzers that don't require calibration but they are good for only one year.

At first glance, this RAE analyzer certainly shows some promise!

In my mind maintenance-free does not mean calibration-free.

 

[Doc Harry]

In my mind maintenance-free does not mean calibration-free.

In that case, my Gas Alert Extreme is also "maintenance-free!"