Quick answer: monitor NH3 in livestock and poultry barns and fertilizer storage; H2S and methane at manure pits and digesters; CO2 and O2 in silos, grain bins and growhouses; and CO where combustion heaters run.
The gas hazards
- Ammonia - livestock waste and fertilizer; OSHA PEL 50 ppm.
- Hydrogen sulfide - manure pits; NIOSH IDLH 100 ppm.
- Methane - manure storage and biogas; flammable.
- Carbon dioxide - silos and growhouse enrichment; OSHA PEL 5,000 ppm.
- Carbon monoxide - combustion heaters in greenhouses and barns.
- Oxygen depletion - grain bins and enclosed spaces.
- Nitrogen dioxide - silo gas from fermenting silage.
Where fixed detection fits
- Livestock and poultry buildings
- Grain storage and silos
- Fertilizer production and storage
- Greenhouses and controlled-environment growhouses
- Agricultural waste and biogas
Where wireless fits
- Temporary confined-space work
- Warehouse and transport
- Field equipment safety
Regulations to know
OSHA Grain Handling Facilities (29 CFR 1910.272) and Permit-Required Confined Spaces (29 CFR 1910.146), where applicable.
Safeguard products that apply
- SA-220NH Non-Hazardous Gas Detector for non-hazardous ambient-air points.
- SA-220 Fixed Gas Detector - single sensor, 4-20 mA and Modbus output, optional relays, rated -40 °C to +60 °C. Hazardous-location certification is in progress and not yet held.
- SA-XDS diffusion multi-sensor gas detection system.
- Foresight monitoring, analytics and compliance reporting.
Exposure limits cited are from OSHA and NIOSH. Confirm detector selection and placement against your site's hazard assessment, and verify specifications with Safeguard before specifying equipment.