Published in the December 2009 Coal USA Magazine

The small, 6.4-ounce unit was released in May and given the federal nod in September. It features LED lights, a vibrating alarm and a 95dB audible indicator to warn of hazardous levels of NO2, CO, O2, CH4 and H2S.

Protecting the unit from the bumps and drops common to the industry is a rubber overmold and polycarbonate housing. The housing is IP66 and IP67 certified, an ingress protection rating that indicates dust-tightness and water-jet and submersion resistance.

“Configuring the MX4 to detect carbon monoxide, oxygen and 0-5 per cent of volume methane makes the instrument ideal for most mining applications,” Industrial Scientific noted, adding that the nitrogen dioxide sensor customized the unit for mines with diesel equipment.

Several accessories for the MX4 are available through the company, including the DS2 Docking Station, the MX-Cal Calibration Station, and a single-unit charger that is available with or without a datalink.

Industrial Scientific actually encourages users of its gas detectors not to own the units, thanks to the benefits of its software-based maintenance and data management program iNet.

“The list price is only part of a gas detector’s total cost,” the company explained.

“You have to maintain it [and] you have to wait for it to be serviced. iNet eliminates unnecessary ownership and maintenance costs.”

Mines do not have to buy the detectors, but rather subscribe to iNet and receive the gas detection as a service.

“[The program] increases safety by providing visibility into gas detector alarms, exposureand usage,” the company said.

Industrial Scientific encouraged mines to ask important questions which iNet could help answer so that problems could be fixed before they occurred.

“On average, gas detectors go into high alarm once every 10 days. How many high alarms did your facility have? iNet gives you [that] information.”

In fact, mines have a myriad of control options available, including overall performance training, comparison of results to industry averages and the capability to show trends in readings which can identify potential issues.

Operations also have the option of receiving email reports on such features as calibration status, overdue calibrations, gas cylinder pressure status and expiration, and sensor age.

The recipients and frequency of those reports can be customized for a mine’s specific needs.