Argon Gas, 3D Printing, and How to Stay Safe

For the average person, Argon gas is not a topic of daily conversation, or, for that matter, any conversation, ever. It may be surprising to learn that argon is the third most common gas in the earth’s atmosphere, though most people know little about it. The word argon itself comes from a Greek word meaning ‘inactive’ because of its lack of chemical reactions. Argon is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-toxic, but this doesn’t mean it is completely harmless. Because it is 38% denser than air, it can displace the oxygen in an enclosed area, asphyxiating anyone inside.

When using the right safety precautions, like an oxygen deficiency monitor, argon can be very useful. It is used as a shielding gas in metal work and welding to prevent burning, and can even be used to extinguish fires. As a preservative, argon can be used to displace oxygen out of packaging to extend shelf life by preventing oxidation and spoilage. Even light bulbs are filled with argon to prevent oxidation of the filament.

One of the most modern uses of argon gas is in selective laser melting, which is a type of 3D printing. In this process of additive manufacturing, layers of a powder are bonded together using a powerful laser (as opposed to sinter bonding them). Argon is an inert gas, and relatively inexpensive, therefore it creates the perfect environment for this process to take place in. The use of argon here permits a tightly controlled atmosphere, allowing for an oxygen free environment. Using this amount of argon requires the use of an oxygen monitor for safety.

An oxygen deficiency monitor tests the percentage of oxygen in an enclosed area to ensure it is safe to breathe. If a gas like argon were to leak, it would push breathable oxygen out as it filled the room displacing any breathable air. Having no color or odor, a person in the room would be unaware of this exchange of gasses until it was too late. Having an oxygen monitor, like ones sold by PureAire Monitoring Systems, would alert anyone around of a gas leak in time for them to seek safety. If you are interested in using argon gas, contact PureAire Monitoring Systems to learn about how easy it can be to stay safe with an oxygen monitor. Argon has an important place in our modern world, so spread the word and share the knowledge of how to use argon while practicing safety.

Looking Hot while Staying Cool: Liquid Nitrogen at the Club

You feel the pulse of the music and the energy of the crowd around you. The beat is infectious and before you know it you are on the dance floor moving your body and having a good time. As the rhythm builds and your hips shake, one thing is holding you back and preventing you from fully enjoying the night. You are just too hot. You left your house looking like a million bucks and now you are a sweaty mess who is one song away from completely melting.

Seconds before you make the decision to escape the crowd and mop up your dripping face, a blast of cold air seemingly from the heavens sweeps across the club and sends a chill through your overheated body. You breathe in deeply and feel refreshed and alive, as you change your mind and stick it out to dance a while longer. You are happy just where you are, looking hot but feeling cool.

The cold blast you felt didn’t come from the heavens, but from a specifically designed and constructed cryogenic system created for the club. A quick blast of liquid nitrogen is all it takes to cool the crowd and have you feeling renewed. This liquid quickly dissipates into a gas, and, because it is denser therefore heavier than air, falls onto the dance floor and the sweaty people below.

Nitrogen is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, making it ideal for going unnoticed (other than a nice cool feeling). These qualities are also what can make it dangerous, because a room could fill with nitrogen without anybody noticing before it is too late. If the right safety precautions, like an oxygen deficiency monitor, are in place, you can party on in confidence. These monitors, like the ones sold by PureAire Monitoring Systems, make sure the oxygen level in the room is at a safe and breathable level, which changes as it is displaced with a heavier gas like nitrogen. If this occurs, an alarm will sound and you will be evacuated before anyone is harmed.

If you are looking for a cool a new experience, try attending a club with a liquid nitrogen system, but always remember, safety first. Check with the club and make sure they are using an oxygen monitor, and if they are not, have them contact PureAire Monitoring Systems to get hooked up.

Contact www.pureairemonitoring.com with any questions

Dry Ice –Carbon Dioxide: Where is it being used and how to handle safely?

Carbon dioxide, in its solid form, is colder than ice. It is so cold, in fact, that handling it without protection can cause frostbite. It does not melt, but instead dissipates into a gas that can be dangerous to breathe. This substance is called dry ice, and, when handled properly, has many useful applications.

The most practical use of dry ice is to keep things cold. It can be used to flash freeze anything from biological samples to ice cream. It does not alter the taste of food, but alternatively keeps the fats in food from becoming rancid and preserves flavor over time. When transporting perishable items, even medications, dry ice can be used to insure freshness. With safety precautions, it can be used to ship food in packages, and even be brought on an airplane.

Another common use of dry ice is to create ‘fog’. This can be done for a special effect in a movie, or even in a haunted house or nightclub. When a piece of dry ice is placed in water, sublimation is accelerated. This is the process from which a chemical in a solid state skips over the liquid stage and turns directly into a gas. For dry ice, this process occurs more rapidly in water, allowing a dense cloud of fog to dramatically fill a room. Since carbon dioxide is heavier than air, the fog will stay low to the ground, providing an eerie special effect.

Dry ice may sound enticing, and can even be obtained from your local grocery store, however, it is important to remember to follow safety precautions before and during the handling of this powerful substance. The first thing to consider is how you are going to transport and store the dry ice. It is very important to wear protective gloves while picking up dry ice. It is so cold than it can cause frostbite upon contact. If you will be driving with a large quantity of dry ice, make sure to have your windows down to allow a flow of air so carbon dioxide does not build up inside your car. Also, store dry ice in a cooler so it lasts longer, but make sure it is not airtight so it does not explode under pressure from the sublimation.

As dry ice sublimates and creates ‘fog’, it is slowly filling the room with carbon dioxide. This is not a gas you want to breathe in large quantities. It can replace the oxygen in a room, causing illness and suffocation, so it is very important to have good ventilation in any area in which you are storing or using dry ice. Since carbon dioxide is colorless and odorless, it can be easy not to realize you are having a ventilation problem till it is too late. The absolute safest way to use dry ice is with the use of an OXYGEN METER.

An oxygen meter tests the air in the room to make sure it is safe to breathe. PureAire Monitoring Systems makes an oxygen monitor for just this purpose, and with its 10+ year sensor, it is a smart choice to purchase if you are regularly using dry ice. Chemicals can be useful, and even necessary, to get a job done. It is important to use them safely and correctly to prevent injury, and even death. If the oxygen meter alarm goes off, you are able to evacuate the area before any long term ill effects take place. When using dry ice, remember to have fun, but first and foremost, say safe.

For more information on the PureAire Oxygen Monitor, contact PureAire Monitoring Systems, Inc., 557 Capital Drive, Lake Zurich, Illinois 60047; Phone - (888) 788-8050, Fax - (847) 726-6051.
Find us on the web at www.PureAireMonitoring.com, and www.MonitorOxygen.com.

Long Lasting Safety with PureAire Monitoring Systems’ 10+ year sensors

When it comes to oxygen deficiency monitors, PureAire makes the longest lasting units on the market. They believe your safety should not be taken lightly, and have created a reliable and affordable monitor that will outlast all of their competitors. PureAire Monitoring Systems has broken away from the norm of using disposable sensor cells, and has introduced the groundbreaking technology of a 10+ year maintenance free sensor.

Disposable sensor cells have been an international standard in oxygen monitors for decades, but they are far from ideal. They require frequent maintenance and monthly to quarterly calibration, which can be costly. Without calibration, false alarms will occur, or worse, a failure to alarm in the event of oxygen deficiency. The reliability of these disposable sensors can even be affected by changes in barometric pressure.

PureAire Monitoring Systems has come up with a unique product to solve these problems. Their oxygen deficiency monitors include a Zirconium Oxide sensor, which lasts for 10+ years. This sensor is not affected by barometric pressure, and never needs to be recalibrated. This means that it will continue working without flaw toward keeping you safe over many years.


With over 4,000 units in the field, PureAire’s oxygen deficiency monitors continue to gain popularity and support amongst its users. No maintenance means no hassle, and more time to focus on your work while continuing to stay safe.

For more information on the PureAire Oxygen Monitor, contact PureAire Monitoring Systems, Inc., 557 Capital Drive, Lake Zurich, Illinois 60047; phone 888-788-8050, fax 847-726-6051, or contact us via contact form. You may also visit the company’s website at www.PureAireMonitoring.com, and www.MonitorOxygen.com.

About PureAire Monitoring Systems:

PureAire offers an unbeatable combination of innovation and experience in solving safety and environmental needs of their customers. As a manufacturer, they are capable of handling any size project, which includes working with OEMs and distributors.

PureAire’s proprietary sensor cell technology and leading edge electronics are designed to interface with the latest distributive control systems.

Beginning in 1996, their growth has been a result of their total commitment to supporting their customers. PureAire’s goal is to provide the best service and support in the industry. Safety is their number one priority.

Oxygen Monitors to be Required in Denver County Regarding Use of Nitrogen, Helium, and Argon

There is no question that working with inert gasses can be a useful but dangerous practice. Ideally, there should be an oxygen deficiency monitor in your facility to make sure the air is safe to breathe in case of a gas leak. If your facility is in Denver County, and you don’t yet have an oxygen monitor, be prepared to purchase one. The Denver Fire Department is currently writing a law that makes O2 monitors mandatory in areas containing inert gasses (Nitrogen, Argon, and Helium).

Inert gasses are also referred to as asphyxiating gasses. This means that as they leak, they deplete the oxygen in the surrounding area, causing people nearby to suffocate. An oxygen deficiency monitor tests the air around the tank, or where the gas is being used, to assure that oxygen is maintained at a breathable level. If the oxygen level drops, an alarm sounds, allowing people to evacuate before they asphyxiate. This danger is why the Denver Fire Department is requiring oxygen monitors around the use of inert gasses. As of April 2014, a draft of the law is awaiting approval and will be implemented in the near future.

Currently in New York City, a law requiring oxygen monitors in the presence of inert or cryogenic gasses is already in place. The Denver law is being modeled after this, requiring a monitor for gas amounts that reach or exceed 100 lbs or 60 gallons. This quantity of gas will also require a permit from the fire department.

In order to comply with this new law, facilities using inert gas will have to seek out an oxygen monitor on their own. PureAire Monitoring Systems makes and sells the best O2 monitor on the market. While other companies’ monitors require yearly maintenance, PureAire’s monitor has a censor that lasts for 10+ years. This means that you can install and go about your business and not need to worry about recalibrating. PureAire has been dedicated to your safety since 1997, and is committed to helping you through this transition.

For more information on the PureAire Oxygen Monitoring System, contact PureAire Monitoring Systems, Inc., 557 Capital Drive, Lake Zurich, IL 60047; phone 888-788-8050 or 847-726-6000; fax 847-726-6051; or email info@pureaire.net. You may also visit the company’s website at www.Pureairemonitoring.com.

Cryotherapy is Cool

Cryotherapy is a real facet of medical treatment that uses extremely low temperatures to help with pain and inflammation. Not to be confused with cryopreservation, in cryotherapy the patients are only subjected to the cold for minutes. It seems like something futuristic, but it is actually an increasingly common treatment among athletes to replace ice baths and ice pack therapies.

More specifically, cryogenic chamber therapy, or Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC), uses liquid nitrogen to cool a chamber to around -185oF. The patient spends a few minutes in the chamber wearing only a bathing suit, socks, gloves and facial protection (to prevent frostbite), allowing the skin temperature to drop while the core body temperature remains stable. This WBC treatment improves many types of muscle and joint pain and helps in the rehabilitation of injuries.

These cryotherapy systems are currently being used by sports teams such as the San Antonio Spurs, the LA Clippers, and the Minnesota Timberwolves, just to name a few. Everyone from Olympians, to rugby players, to non-athletes looking for pain relief utilize WBC. The super cooling power of liquid nitrogen can be a blessing to those in pain, but precautions need to be taken to assure this tricky chemical remains safe. In the event of a liquid nitrogen leak, the patient could suffocate from lack of breathable air. This is why an Oxygen Deficiency Monitor is important to have in any facility that uses liquid nitrogen.

PureAire Monitoring Systems provides a product that would be ideal for this type of application. Their Oxygen Deficiency Monitor that uses a sample draw system is one of the best in the industry, and can be hooked into an alarm or horn and strobe to alert the chamber operator and patients in case of a leak. The oxygen monitor can even be programmed to turn off the nitrogen tanks in the event of a leak in the system.

The O2 monitor would be situated outside the chamber. Through a tube, air samples from inside the chamber would be analyzed to make sure the oxygen level remains at a safe and breathable 20.9%. Any nitrogen leak would reduce the percent of oxygen and trigger an alarm. Because the oxygen deficiency monitor’s sensor lasts at least 10 years without maintenance, safety is guaranteed for many years to come. Cryogenic chamber therapy has the potential to help many people treat their pain, and with the use of an oxygen monitor, they can do so safely.

For more information, please visit our web site at: www.PureAireMonitoring.com, or www.MonitorOxygen.com. If you have any questions, we’d love to speak with you. Call us at: 1-888-788-8050

About PureAire Monitoring Systems, Inc.
PureAire is the industry leader in gas monitoring solutions enabling organizations to ensure safe work environments, minimize compliance risk, and reduce associated costs. Over 1,000 organizations across the globe use PureAire gas monitoring solutions. Beginning in 1996, PureAire’s growth has been a result of an unbeatable combination of innovation and experience in solving safety and environmental needs for customers, as well as a total commitment to supporting the customer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Helium and MRI Rooms Around the World

Helium gas is something most people feel fairly familiar with. Children are enthralled with the magical beauty of a floating balloon, watching it reach toward the sky and hoping not to lose their grip on the string. Helium feels safe, and while people surround themselves with flying wonders filled with this lightweight gas, the real magic of helium is taking place in MRI rooms across the globe. With this magic, though, comes some danger.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses strong magnetic fields to surround the part of the body needing to be studied. The resulting images are important for diagnosis and further understanding of a problem, but it is equally important that the procedure be safe and controlled. In the process of using the MRI machine, the magnet becomes superheated, and this heat needs to be kept in check. Liquid helium, at a temperature of -450° F, surrounds the magnet and keeps it cool enough to remedy the danger of overheating, in turn posing its own risk.

A Helium leak would displace the oxygen in a room, suffocating anyone inside. Because it is colorless and odorless, an oxygen deficiency monitor is required for detection. A person closed inside the room would not notice the leak on their own, and it would be too late. In the event of a helium leak, an O2 monitor would sound at the first detection of oxygen displacement, warning anyone inside the room of the danger and allowing them to evacuate in plenty of time.

Since the 1980’s, the number of MRI machines in use has risen from 12 to over 25,000. This in turn makes MRI machines the #1 users of liquid helium in the world. The relationship between the hot magnets and the cold helium is what makes the work of this important machine possible. With the use of an oxygen deficiency monitor, doctors and patients at least have one less thing to worry about. They can focus on the physical ailment at hand, and feel safe in knowing that in the event of a helium leak, they will be warned well before the point of suffocation.

Oxygen Deficiency monitors are recommended in all MRI facilities, and are REQUIRED in all New York City MRI rooms. PureAire Monitoring System’s oxygen monitors are a trusted product amongst MRI designers and users, thanks to their 10 + year oxygen sensor. Unlike the competitors, PureAire’s sensors do not require maintenance or replacement parts and are not impacted by environmental drift. This means no false alarms or failures due to depleted sensors. Without having a yearly service call on the monitor, the cost is very efficient. This translates to prolonged safety without maintenance, and the safest and most reliable possible monitor for this application.

“Thanks again for your support. The oxygen monitors are in their respective locations and are functioning as designed. Nice unit! Everyone thinks they are a great product. The software menu is easy to use and could not be easier to operate.” - Dominion Nuclear

“The O2 monitors are working well and doing a great job! Alarm relays are configured with the exhaust fan and is triggered a couple of times a day if we have cryogenic bottles in the area. Excellent product, repeatable, and reliable as advertised.” - Gulfstream Aerospace
For more information, please visit our web site at: www.PureAireMonitoring.com, or www.MonitorOxygen.com.

If you have any questions, we’d love to speak with you. Call us at: 1-888-788-8050

About PureAire Monitoring Systems, Inc.
PureAire is the industry leader in gas monitoring solutions enabling organizations to ensure safe work environments, minimize compliance risk, and reduce associated costs. Over 1,000 organizations across the globe use PureAire gas monitoring solutions. Beginning in 1996, PureAire’s growth has been a result of an unbeatable combination of innovation and experience in solving safety and environmental needs for customers, as well as a total commitment to supporting the customer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

1) Air Products. (1997). MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET. http://avogadro.chem.iastate.edu/MSDS/helium.pdf