Gas Detector IP Ratings: Why Do They Matter?

The release of several “water resistant” cell phones is putting the spotlight on IP ratings. IP ratings, or ingress protection ratings, refer to an electronic device’s ability to resist intrusion by dust, water, and other things that may cause it to stop working. Recent advertisements have touted that the Galaxy S7 and iPhone 7 are both rated IP68, but what does that mean? And what about gas detector IP ratings, like the Ventis Pro Series, which is rated IP68?

 

The Ventis™ Pro Series has you covered whether you need unique four-gas or expanded five-gas sensor options, all in the most configurable multi-gas monitors on the market. There are two factors that should be evaluated when looking at gas detector IP ratings – the rating itself and how the manufacturer tests to ensure the rating.

 

So if a device is rated IP67, that means dust won’t cause it to stop working and it can withstand immersion in water for half an hour at a depth of one meter. That’s not necessarily better or worse than IP66, which means that it can withstand a high-pressure water jet. For some devices, it makes sense to make sure it can survive immersion, but others should be able to withstand a fire hose or some other sudden rush of high-pressure water.

 

As Michelle Hammons of Gas Detection Education says, “We’re confident that Ventis Pro Series instruments are rugged enough to withstand the conditions you find every day. We’re confident in our gas detector IP ratings because of rigorous testing and what it takes for us to say that an instrument has passed.

While some manufacturers consider one instrument passing a test as enough to declare the rating, Industrial Scientific has a Guaranteed for Life™ warranty on the Ventis Pro, so repeatedly and consistently passing the test is important to us. We want statistical confidence that we have minimal defect rates so that we won’t have warranty replacements later.”

 

They tested dozens of Ventis Pro4 and Ventis Pro5 instruments for ingress protection during development. Several were submersed for one hour at one meter, and then each instrument was opened. First each instrument was visually inspected, and then a special cloth was used to check for traces of water inside the instrument that were not visible to the naked eye. If any water was detected at all, even a microscopic amount, the instrument failed the test. They made engineering improvements until they were able to say with absolute confidence that the instruments coming off their manufacturing line will survive water. And after they were confident with their testing, the gas detector IP ratings were certified by an accredited third party. They will continue to periodically test instruments to make sure that their high standards of quality are never compromised.

 

To find out more about gas detection devices please visit the website at http://www.gasdetectors.co.nz .