University Environmental Health & Safety Departments: Handling Compressed Nitrogen and Cryogenics

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An explosion at a university research lab in Hawaii last year highlights the dangers of working with compressed gas and the need for safety equipment on campus. Learn the dangers of working with compressed gas, how an oxygen deficiency monitor can help, and campus safety best practices. 

Compressed Gas on Campus: Uses and Dangers

Compressed gases including nitrogen, argon, and oxygen are widely used on campuses. These gases have many practical and educational uses across educational institutions. While the level of risk varies across schools, a few examples will illustrate the benefits and the risks of using compressed gas on campus.

Argon gas is critical in the 3D printing process, which campus design, fine arts, applied arts, and sciences may use. Culinary programs may use liquid nitrogen for cooking and freezing, and chemistry labs may use N2 as well. Autoclaves, which sterilize equipment, are regularly used in scientific, medical, and industrial programs. Sports programs and physical therapy training programs may use cryotherapy for injury recovery. Cryotherapy chambers rely on nitrogen to chill the air. The chambers can turn deadly if a nitrogen leak occurs. These gases may be used by facilities personnel, researchers, faculty members or teaching assistants and students assisting with teaching labs. No matter which gas students are working with, they are at risk if the gas is not handled, used, stored, or transported properly. 

As these few examples illustrate, there are many opportunities for dangerous leaks, explosions, or fires on campus if safety protocol isn't followed. Many schools find the gases are not properly stored, which leaves everyone on campus in danger. A recent safety bulletin from the University of Rochester found that liquid nitrogen was stored without an oxygen sensor, poisonous gas was used with a fume hood that did not adequately vent hazardous fumes, gas cylinders were modified using unacceptable materials, and gas tanks were stored without protective chains, stands, and gas caps. 

Why Schools and Universities Need an O₂ Monitor 

As the incident in the Hawaiian university lab illustrates clearly, compressed gases pose significant health risks in the university setting. Whenever safety protocol is not followed, the tanks are at greater risk of tipping, falling over, or leaking. 

While the lab worker escaped with her life, many others have not been so lucky. A nitrogen (N₂) gas leak causes death via asphyxiation in a matter of minutes. 

Nitrogen gas is both odorless and colorless. If gas leaks from a canister, there is no way for passerby to tell. As the gas leaks, it lowers ambient oxygen levels below safe thresholds. When levels of oxygen in the air fall below 16 percent, people can experience adverse health affects. Additionally, university property can be damaged by fires or explosions. 

All it takes it a couple of breaths of oxygen-deficient air for symptoms including confusion, dizziness, fatigue, muscular aches, lack of consciousness, and even death. 

Given the clear dangers that these gases pose, universities and schools must take steps to protect their students and staff. Fortunately, there is an easy and cost-effective way to detect gas leaks and alert everyone before oxygen is depleted from the air: Installing an O₂ monitor. 

An O₂ monitor, also called an O₂ deficiency monitor, measures levels of oxygen in the air all the time. As long as the air has adequate oxygen, the monitor will stay silent. When levels fall below safe thresholds, the oxygen deficiency monitor will flash lights and sound an alarm. This way, everyone in the vicinity of the leak can escape without suffering adverse health effects. 

An O₂ deficiency monitor should be installed anywhere that these gases are used or stored. Universities and schools may wish to equip labs, storage facilities, equipment rooms, and hallways or corridors that connect storage rooms with labs or classrooms where the gas is used. 

PureAire offers robust oxygen deficiency monitors that feature best in class construction. Made with zirconium oxide sensors, these monitors offer 10 or more years of maintenance-free performance once installed. These monitors can detect leaks of gases including argon, nitrogen, and helium. View PureAire's line of oxygen deficiency monitors at www.pureairemonitoring.com.
 

http://cen.acs.org/articles/94/web/2016/04/Spark-pressure-gauge-caused-University.html

Is your company using Nitrogen or other Cryogenic gases? Why PureAire Recommends an O2 Deficiency Monitor for Safety.

PureAire Monitoring Systems, Inc. focuses solely on safety in the workplace, and in laboratory environments. Oxygen deficiency monitors are used in areas using Nitrogen, Helium, Argon, and Carbon Dioxide. PureAire strongly recommends an oxygen deficiency monitor to be installed anywhere cryogenic gases are being stored. The purpose of an oxygen monitor is to alert employees in the immediate area if there is a spill of nitrogen with audible alarm. The use of an O2 monitor creates a safer environment for employees and can alert local fire panels in a building as well. In New York, NY any area using more than 50 gallons of nitrogen the law states, it is mandatory for an oxygen monitor to be installed. The largest problem with these specialty gases are, if a spill occurs there is no noticeable scent or effects. A nitrogen spill can create an oxygen deficient environment rapidly within seconds. For the time it takes the body to realize there is zero breathable oxygen, it is too late. A person will pass out from oxygen deprivation immediately. This is one of the most preventable incidents; simply install an oxygen deficiency monitor for safety. Consider an argument for medicine. If one was to travel to the Amazon in South America, where malaria is common, being unaccustomed to the jungle, wouldn’t it be wise to take malaria pills? What if you have a family history of diabetes? As a family member you may consider taking any necessary precautions to possibly eliminate the concern of diabetes. Maybe by being more physically active, or having a healthier diet, this may delay or stop the onset of diabetes. An oxygen monitor is also similar to a Fire detector in your home or office. You never expect to have a fire, but a fire detector is installed for safety as a precaution. PureAire feels the oxygen monitor is the preventative medicine. Scientists and researchers will always continue to use nitrogen for their experiments. Doctors will continue to use helium to cool the large magnets used for images in the MRI scanner. Carbon dioxide will still be used for all beverage dispensing systems at fast food chains. The one factor people cannot eliminate is the use of cryogenic gases used in everyday life. The only known safety, and scientifically proven device is the oxygen deficiency monitor. The rooms dimensions, a size of the cylinders, the quantity of the cylinders, the types of cryogenic gas being used, whether the gas is being piped into a room, and height of the ceiling all play a role on where, and how many monitors are required. PureAire often gets the question, where do we place the oxygen monitor? How many O2 monitors should we use? A few simple tips can help save a life. Helium is lighter than air, so it is recommended to mount the monitor closer to the ceiling, whereas nitrogen/argon is heavier than air, so mounting the monitor closer to the ground would make sense. Carbon dioxide is also heavier than air settling to the ground. PureAire manufactures oxygen deficiency monitors for many different areas. In all cases PureAire use an oxygen deficiency monitor using a 10+ year sensor. PureAire can be contacted at 1-888-788-8050, http://www.MonitorOxygen.com, and http://www.PureAireMonitoring.com.

Oxygen (O2) Monitor for MRI Rooms: PureAire Sells a Hassle Free 10+ Year Oxygen Monitor.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) facilities have the same thing in common, helium. Helium is used as part of the cooling process for a MRI magnet. PureAire Monitoring Systems Oxygen Monitors are becoming the newest safety product amongst MRI users, thanks to its 10 + year sensor. PureAire’s sensors do not require maintenance, or require replacement parts. Helium is a nontoxic, odorless, colorless, nonflammable gas stored in cylinders at high pressure. It can cause rapid suffocation when concentrations are sufficient to reduce oxygen levels below 19.5%. It is lighter than air and may collect in high points or along ceilings. Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) may be required by rescue workers1.

The above statement is from a Air products MSDS sheet. In addition, ACGIH considers Helium a simple asphyxiant. PureAire has been in business for 14 years selling their highly revered O2 Monitors for safety in MRI facilities for physicians, clients.

“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.

Currently PureAire’s O2 Monitors are being used at MRI facilities around the world. O2 Monitors have been used for over 30 years, though most people are accustomed to using an O2 monitor with sensors only lasting 12-18 months. In addition to, they must be calibrated and maintained to function correctly. PureAire’s 10+ Year O2 Deficiency Monitor is much more reliable, requires no maintenance, and does not need to be calibrated. There zirconium sensor does not have the biases associated with the disposable sensor technology. This means no more false alarms and drifting, and an always-accurate reading.

When asked of MRI facilities, do you have an O2 monitor? There common response was I am not sure, or what is it? This was unfortunate in most cases, and when we presented our O2 monitors technology and made them aware. There perspective was significantly different and wondered how to best attain one.


“When it comes to safety, why not use something that’s going to last.” Brandon Alan. If you have anymore questions, please feel free to contact us at www.PureAireMonitoring.com, or www.MonitorOxygen.com.


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

Increased Demand for PureAire’s Oxygen Monitor for Nitrogen and Helium Storage

When storing or using Liquid Nitrogen, Helium, CO2, or Argon cylinders in a confined space, what are the potential risks? Gas leaks are the most common, requiring the need for an oxygen deficiency monitor for protecting employees in the workplace. With inert cryogenic gases, loose or broken fittings can leak gas into a room displacing oxygen, causing impaired judgment or loss of life to workers. PureAire, one of the leading suppliers of Oxygen Deficiency Monitors uses a non-depleting zirconium oxide sensor that has a 10+ year sensor life and requires no calibration or periodic maintenance.

“Cryogenics are mostly stored in confined spaces such as, offices, freezers, or hallways. One of the most overlooked additions to having LN2, He, Ar, or CO2 cylinders ranging from 25-250lbs is the O2 monitor. MSDS sheets all have a variation of information mentioning, high pressure and suffocation with No Odor1.” “In high concentrations, asphyxiation occurs with no warning. Symptoms may include loss of mobility/consciousness and must apply artificial respiration if breathing stopped2.”

The rapid release of nitrogen, and other various cryogenics possess absolutely zero signs of immediate danger. NIOSH, and OSHA states anything under 19.5% oxygen is considered hazardous, and a dangerous environment for employees. The earth is a wonderful source of calibrated oxygen and we breath 20.9% Oxygen. PureAire’s Oxygen detector is one of the most widely used real time monitors for detecting leaks among cryogenic gas cylinders in storage rooms. If a gas spill or leak occurs, PureAire’s Oxygen monitor is designed to turn on strobes and audible alarms to warn workers to evacuate the location. It also has built-in relays that can active ventilation fans to bring in fresh air.

PureAire’s Oxygen monitor uses a 10+ year zirconium sensor. The monitor requires zero maintenance, and calibration because of its non-depleting long life sensor. Built in “supervised watchdog” software continuously monitors all instrument functions 24-7. PureAire’s Oxygen monitor is not affected by humidity, temperature, or changes in barometric pressure. Rapidly changing barometric pressure changes from thunderstorms will not disrupt PureAire’s Oxygen Deficiency Monitor. The majority of oxygen deficiency monitors sold use depleting electrochemical sensors that need complete replacement frequently. PureAire’s Oxygen monitor can save up to $400 annually in replaceable sensors.

Please read more about PureAire Monitoring Systems products at www.PureAireMonitoring.com or call 1-888-788-8050.


1) Air Liquide. (2009). GENERALITIES:N2 THE PROTECTIVE GAS http://encyclopedia.airliquide.com/Encyclopedia.asp?GasID=5#GeneralData

2) Irish Oxygen. (October 10, 2007). Nitrogen MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET. http://www.irishoxygen.com/msds/ioc-msds-nitrogen.pdf

Oxygen (O2) Monitors: Disposable Sensors eating your Cash? PureAire Introduces 10 + Year Sensor.

PureAire Monitoring Systems is a leading manufacturer in the gas monitoring industry. When it comes to O2 deficiency monitors PureAire makes the most reliable, longest lasting, and affordable oxygen monitors.

It has been an international standard for the past three decades to use oxygen monitors with disposable sensor cells, (electrochemical sensors). All disposable sensors require frequent maintenance, monthly and quarterly calibration (false alarm if not calibrated), and usually drift to changes in barometric pressure. At PureAire, we made a point to fix this familiar problem and offer you a solution. We created a better product, one that eliminates the inconveniences of disposable sensors while continuing to meet your needs.

The 10+ Year O2 Deficiency Monitor is a unique product offered by PureAire. The Zirconium Oxide (ZrO2) sensor is the key technology that has allowed us to continue providing reliable and long lasting monitors over the years.

The ZrO2 sensor does not rely on partial pressure, or need a reference gas like disposable sensors. Also, our sensor does not require electrolyte, a depleting source of power, while disposable sensors require this fluid to give the sensor its power. Our sensor’s power comes from 24VDC, and does not have a depleting source. PureAire’s 10+ Year 02 Deficiency Monitor is much more reliable, requires no maintenance, and does not need to be calibrated. There zirconium sensor does not have the biases associated with the disposable sensor technology. This means no more false alarms and drifting, and an always-accurate reading.

With over 1,000 monitors in the field, PureAire continues to gain support amongst its users with a hassle free O2 monitor for safety. With our O2 Monitor you can be assured if there is a leak from any cryogenic gas (LN2, He, Ar, and CO2), our built-in audible will go off without any false alarms.

Please contact us at pureaire@dls.net, or find us at our website www.PureAireMonitoring.com