Portable carbon dioxide (CO2) safety monitors are useful tools in breweries, restaurants or any facility that uses tanks or cylinders of stored CO2. While this gas is a necessity, it can also be hazardous to employees or customers if not treated carefully.
After consulting with various partners, customers, and industry professionals in the field, we chose the top 5 portable professional CO2 safety monitors that are deemed the "best" in the industry. We looked at critical features such as safety indicators, ease of use, durability, battery life, customization, and of course cost.
- CO2Meter Personal 5% CO2 Safety Monitor and Data Logger
- Analox CO2 Buddy Personal Monitor
- LogiCO2 Scout Portable CO2 Detector
- Draeger Pac 8000 CO2 Personal Gas Monitor
- AimSafety CO2 Single Gas Monitor
Why use a Portable CO2 Safety Monitor?
The main importance when it comes to CO2 safety is that carbon dioxide is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Unless you have a safety monitor installed or on hand, you may never know the gas is present until its too late.
What are the Side Effects of CO2 Exposure?
Many incident reviews and case studies have shown the severe health effects of CO2 exposure including the following:
- Inhalation - Inhaling high concentrations of CO2 can affect respiratory functions as CO2 displaces oxygen in the air. High levels of CO2 can cause nausea, vomiting, convulsions, fatigue, loss of consciousness and even death. These symptoms can occur almost instantaneously.
- Skin/Eye Contact - Due to its low temperature in a liquid state, direct contact of liquid CO2 with the human body dangerous. It can cause irritation and damage. Wearing proper PPE including eye protection is required when working with liquid CO2.
While working in and around CO2 gases in breweries, cannabis cultivation and extraction facilities, wineries, and others, industry leaders rely on Personal CO2 Safety Monitors to ensure safety and accurately monitor gas levels on the go.
What is a safe level of CO2 in the workplace?
It is always important to be aware of what effects CO2 can have on an individual's health.
As an industry employee, you occasionally can spend time cleaning, servicing, or performing maintenance inside fermenters, inside cultivation rooms, grain silos, servicing BIB racks and carbonators, mash tuns, kettles, draft coolers, and more.
How can an employee ensure they are safe and their establishment protected?
What OSHA standards and exposure guidelines apply?
OSHA has established a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for CO2 of 5,000 parts per million (ppm) (0.5% CO2 in air) averaged over an 8-hour work day (time-weighted average or TWA.)
When working in and around these areas it is important to follow specified safety protocols, always wear appropriate protective equipment, ensure CO2 safety monitors are in place, and educate those around you on the proper safety precautions.
Is a CO2 Safety Monitor the same as a Carbon Monoxide Monitor?
If you need to monitor both carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide levels in a specific environment, it's important to use detectors that are specifically designed for each gas. Using the wrong type of detector could result in inaccurate readings and potentially put individuals at risk.
Carbon monoxide detectors are also calibrated to detect carbon monoxide by using specific sensors that are sensitive to CO gas. These detectors are not designed to accurately detect on carbon dioxide levels. Similarly, CO2 detectors are designed to monitor CO2 levels and are not suitable for detecting carbon monoxide.
For further information on the difference between CO2 vs. CO, read more here.
What are the best portable CO2 safety monitors?
1. CO2Meter Personal 5% CO2 Safety Monitor and Data Logger
The SAN-10 Personal 5% CO2 Safety Monitor and Data Logger is designed for employees who work in enclosed areas that may contain an excessive amount of carbon dioxide gas. Since many individuals work around the hazardous gas daily they have no means of knowing when CO2 levels have exceeded the normal threshold. The SAN-10 indicates and alerts employees to ensure protection.
The SAN-10 is $399.
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2. Analox CO2 Buddy Personal Monitor
For many brewers and industry professionals, they turn to the CO2 buddy to detect CO2 and warn against dangerous levels in confined spaces. While the cost is higher, the device is easy and convenient. The CO2 Buddy also monitors a time weighted average TWA of exposure to CO2 over an 8-hour period.
The CO2 Buddy is $584
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3. LogiCO2 Scout Portable CO2 Detector
Third on our list is the LogiCO2 Scout. This device is well-known throughout the space due to its easy-to-use and robust gas detection abilities. The ability to insert it into a ball and "roll it" into a room to remotely monitor CO2 levels prior to entering a hazardous space is one of its main selling points.
Another common feature for the LogiCO2 Scout is its ease of use, one-button operation that provides heightened safety.
The LogiCO2 scout retails for $483 on their website.
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4. Draeger Pac 8000 CO2 Personal Gas Monitor
Fourth on our Portable CO2 Safety list is the Draeger Pac 8000 CO2 Personal Gas Monitor.
This is another ideal choice for individuals looking for a robust carbon dioxide safety monitor that is reliable, rugged, and precise when monitoring hazardous gas concentrations in confined spaces.
As a reputable manufacturer, Draeger products are often recognized as user friendly, long-lasting, and high-quality.
The Draeger Pac 8000 Personal Gas Detector list price is $999.
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5. AimSafety CO2 Single Gas Monitor
The AimSafety PM150 CO2 Single Monitor is recognized throughout the restaurant, beverage, and agriculture space for its accuracy, durability, and continuous monitoring of real-time hazardous gas concentrations. It is designed for restaurants, beverage industries, agriculture, laboratory, and manufacturing applications.
The AimSafety CO2 portable monitor provides the ability to measure at high accuracy, however, once activated the devices cannot be shut off and will continue to run for their entire two year life span.
The AimSafety portable monitor is $702.
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In providing industries such as restaurants, breweries, beverage dispensing, draft technicians, laboratories, and indoor growers with an easy to understand guide of portable CO2 safety monitors, are goal is to ensure personal and workplace safety.
Regardless of your industry our team is always available to provide further education for your team members and guide you through choosing the right CO2 solution for your application.
For more information on CO2 safety monitoring, speak to an expert today: Sales@CO2Meter.com or call us directly at 877-678-4259.