10-03 MSA ALTAIR 5X Muttigas Detector Flashcards
What is a bump test?
A daily verification of proper instrument operation by exposing the sensors to known concentrations of test gas
What are the properties of carbon monoxide (CO)?
Explosive range = 12.5% – 74%
concentrations as low as 667 ppm may cause up to 50% of the bodies hemoglobin to convert to carboxy, hemoglobin, resulting in seizure, coma, and fatality
What is the definition of a combustible gas?
Gas that will ignite within a sufficient and ignition source
Where is hydrogen cyanide (HCN) found?
Found in products containing high amounts of nitrogen. Such as war, silk, cotton, nylon come in plastic and its polymers, foam, and melamine
Displayed as parts per million ppm
What concentrations of HCN deadly at 10 minutes of exposure? And one minute from exposure?
300 ppm
3500 ppm
What are the properties of hydrogen sulfide (H2S)?
Colorless, flammable, extremely toxic, gas with rotten egg odor
Heavier than air and collects in low lying areas
Displayed as parts per million ppm
What is lower explosive limit (LEL)?
Lowest concentration as a percentage of a gas or vapor in the air capable of producing a flash of fire
MSA multi gas detector is set to low alarm at 10% of LEL for a wide spectrum of gases
What are the properties of oxygen (O2)?
Average concentration is 20.8.
Low concentration is below 19.5% requires respiratory protection
High concentration is above 23.0% poses increased risk of fire/explosion
What are the 5 gases monitored by the MSA Altair 5X?
02
CO
H2S
HCN
Combustible gas
What are the three links of sampling hose that come with the unit?
How long should you wait for sampling when using sampling hoses?
3’
10’
25’
One second per foot
What does a red LED indicate?
Alarm condition or error
What does a green LED indicate?
Safe LED flashes once every 15 seconds to notify the user that the instrument is on an operating under conditions defined as:
Combustible reading is 0% LEL
Go to reading is 20.8%
All other Center readings are 0 ppm
No gas alarms are present
Instrument is not in low battery warning or alarm
What does a yellow LED indicate?
Fault LED
Fault conditions are detected during instrument operations to include:
Instrument, memory error
Sensor determine to be missing or inoperative
Pump fault
Call what are the alarms of the MSA multigas?
Vibrating alarm - unit vibrates when any alarm condition is active
Horn - audible alarm
Sensor life alarm - instrument automatically detects this condition during the turn on/calibration process. When sensor life indicator is activated an orange heart displays. When sensor has reached end of life a red heart will display until the sensor is replaced
Backlight - automatically illuminates win any front panel button is pressed
What is the normal run time of the MSA multigas? What does the low battery warning indicate?
17 hours
30 minutes of operation time remaining
How does the MSA multigas indicate a low battery?
Battery light indicator continuously flashes
Audible alarm sounds
Alarm LEDs flash once every minute
Safe LED no longer flashes
How many batteries are provided to each operations company?
Two batteries with one always connected to a battery charger
When should batteries be replaced on the MSA multigas?
After prolonged use in company operations or training
At least weekly during Saturday equipment checks
What does the peak reading screen indicate?
I Slo-mo of gas recorded by the instrument since turn on or since peak readings were reset
What does minimum readings min Screen indicate?
Lowest percentage level of oxygen recorded sense unit has turned on, or men reading was reset
How is the date displayed on the MSA multigas?
MMM-DD-YYYY
What does the pre-set alarm for oxygen look like?
Alarm indicates below, 19.5% 02
Back light turns on
Audible alarm sounds
Alarm LEDs flash
Vibrating alarm activates
Displays “ low alarm” flashing
Oxygen’s pie wedge is changed to red
What does a high alarm for oxygen look like?
Indicates oxygen is above 23%
Displays “ high alarm” flashing
Oxygens’s pie wedge changes to Amber
Remains in high alarm until Buxton returns to normal range
When the MSA multigas is in high or low alarm for oxygen, what should the operator keep in mind?
There may be other hazards present that are displaced in oxygen
What are the low alarm set points?
LEL 10%
O2 19.5%
CO 35 ppm
H2S 10 ppm
HCN 10 ppm
What is the high alarm set point?
LEL 50%
O2 23.0%
CO 35 ppm
H2S 10 ppm
HCN 10 ppm
What is the calibration due date?
Appears on the display has 1 to 30
Unit requires calibration when days = 0
What components are required for a function test?
One cylinder of H2S 20 ppm, CO 60 ppm, pentane (methane) 58 ppm, O2 15%
One cylinder of HCN 10 ppm
To demand dash flow regulators
Two pieces of tubing with quick connect fittings
Empty cylinders are to be forwarded to services with a form 14
When performing a pump test which cylinder should be used first?
HCN
What are some examples of places the MSA multigas can be used?
Fairground, overhaul operations
Trench rescue operations
Confined space rescue operations
Carbon monoxide alarm activation
Natural gas leaks
Hazardous material releases
Carbon dioxide, fire, suppression system, activation
When operating an MSA multigas, what level of PPE should be worn?
Respiratory protection until no longer indicated
What is the primary cause of death in confined spaces?
Oxygen, deficient atmosphere
What happens when you are in an oxygen enriched or oxygen deficient atmosphere?
What should responders be aware of when an oxygen deficient atmosphere?
Atmosphere will result in erroneous measurements of combustible gase
That gases can be displaced in oxygen
What is the second leading cause of death in confined spaces?
Fire and/or explosion
How can you dilute an explosive atmosphere?
Through ventilation
T/F: the toxic affects of flammable hazards can be felt before a combustible gas hazard exist?
T
What are the modes of exposure for toxic materials we are most concerned with?
Inhalation and skin absorption
What toxic chemicals does the MSA multigas detect? When are these gases encountered?
CO and HCN - overhaul
H2S - confined space
What is the process of the atmospheric monitoring?
Monitoring starts at the entrance to the space
Place the monitor as far into the space as possible without entering
Use sampling probes
Allow one second per foot of tubing for a sample to detect gases
Monitor a variety of heights in a space
Sample around ventilation exit points
Monitor the interior environment once remediation operations have begun
If no changes occurring and elation, plan is in adequate or continuing a problem is contaminating the space
