Quick answer: distributed monitoring is usually the strongest architecture because landfill gas and plumes move. Add fixed multi-gas stations at critical points - gas collection, leachate systems and on-site buildings - and point detectors in enclosed spaces.
The gas hazards
- Methane - primary landfill gas; LEL 5% by volume.
- Carbon dioxide - decomposition byproduct; collects in low-lying areas.
- Hydrogen sulfide - from sulfate-rich waste; NIOSH IDLH 100 ppm.
- VOCs - from buried materials and remediation sites.
- Oxygen depletion - subsurface and confined sampling areas.
Regulations to know
EPA criteria for municipal solid waste landfills (40 CFR 258.23) limit methane to 25% of the LEL in facility structures and to the LEL at the property boundary.
Where fixed detection fits
- Landfill gas collection systems
- Leachate collection systems
- On-site facility buildings
Where wireless fits
- Perimeter and fenceline monitoring
- Remote wells and outlying equipment
- Temporary work zones
- Emergency response
Safeguard products that apply
- SA-XDS diffusion multi-sensor gas detection system.
- 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.
- SCX Gas Detection Control System.
- Foresight - site-wide trends 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.