MSA ALTAIR CO User manual

Order No.: 10074380/01
Operating Manual
ALTAIR Single Gas Detector

MSA AUER GmbH
D-12059 Berlin
Thiemannstraße 1
Germany
© MSA AUER GmbH. All rights reserved

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MSA DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
ALTAIR Operating Manual 3
Declaration of Conformity
MANUFACTURED BY:
Mine Safety Appliances Company
1000 Cranberry Woods Drive
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 USA
The manufacturer or the European Authorized Representative
MSA AUER GmbH, Thiemannstrasse 1, D-12059 Berlin
declares that the product MSA ALTAIR
Complies with the provisions of the council directive 94/9/EC (ATEX).
This declaration is based on the EC-Type Examination Certificate
FTZU 05 ATEX 0250
FTZU, Ostrava, Czech Republic, in accordance with Annex III of the
ATEX Directive 94/9/EC.
Quality Assurance Notification issued by Ineris of France, Notified Body number
0080, in accordance with Annex IV and Annex VII of the ATEX Directive 94/9/EC.
We additionally declare that this product is in conformance with the EMC Directive
89/336/EEC in accordance with the standards
EN 61000-6-2 and EN 61000-6-4
MSA AUER GmbH
Dr. Axel Schubert
R & D Instruments Berlin, February 2006

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CONTENTS MSA
4ALTAIR Operating Manual
Contents
1. Safety Regulations .............................................................................................. 5
1.1. Correct Use ................................................................................................ 5
1.2. Liability Information .................................................................................... 5
1.3. Safety and Precautionary Measures to be Adopted ................................... 6
2. Description........................................................................................................... 7
2.1. Instrument overview ................................................................................... 7
2.2. On-screen Indicators.................................................................................. 8
2.3. Monitoring toxic gases ............................................................................... 9
2.4. Monitoring the oxygen concentration ....................................................... 10
2.5. Duration of use of the instrument ............................................................. 11
3. Operation ........................................................................................................... 12
3.1. Setting the alarm setpoints before commissioning ................................... 12
3.2. Commissioning the instrument ................................................................. 14
3.3. Displaying the instrument data ................................................................. 16
3.4. Event logging ........................................................................................... 18
3.5. Function tests on the instrument .............................................................. 19
3.6. Calibrating the instrument ........................................................................ 21
4. Maintenance....................................................................................................... 27
5. Technical specifications/Certifications ........................................................... 28
5.1. Technical specifications of the ALTAIR.................................................... 28
5.2. Test gases table....................................................................................... 29
5.3. Certifications ............................................................................................ 29
6. Order Information.............................................................................................. 30

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MSA SAFETY REGULATIONS
ALTAIR Operating Manual 5
1. Safety Regulations
1.1. Correct Use
The ALTAIR is a portable instrument for monitoring toxic gases and oxygen
deficiency or excess in the workplace. It is used exclusively for monitoring and not
for measuring gas concentrations in the ambient air. It must be serviced and
repaired by qualified and authorised personnel.
It is imperative that this operating manual be read and observed when using this
instrument. In particular, the safety instructions, as well as the information for the
use and operation of the apparatus, must be carefully read and observed.
Furthermore, the national regulations applicable in the user's country must be
taken into account for a safe use.
Attention!
This product is supporting life and health. Inappropriate use,
maintenance or servicing may affect the function of the device and
thereby seriously compromise the user’s life.
Before use, the product operability must be verified. The product must
not be used if the function test is unsuccessful, it is damaged, a
competent servicing/maintenance has not been made, genuine MSA
spare parts have not been used.
Alternative use, or use outside this specification, will be considered as non-
compliance. This also applies especially to unauthorised alterations to the
apparatus and to commissioning work that has not been carried out by MSA or
authorised persons.
1.2. Liability Information
MSA accepts no liability in cases where the product has been used
inappropriately or not as intended. The selection and use of the product are the
exclusive responsibility of the individual operator.
Product liability claims, warranties also as guarantees made by MSA with respect
to the product are voided, if it is not used, serviced or maintained in accordance
with the instructions in this manual.

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SAFETY REGULATIONS MSA
6ALTAIR Operating Manual
1.3. Safety and Precautionary Measures to be Adopted
Attention!
The following safety instructions must be observed implicitly. Only in
this way can the safety and health of the individual operators, and the
correct functioning of the instrument, be guaranteed.
Use instrument only for stipulated gases
The ALTAIR is used for monitoring and detecting gases in the ambient air.
Thereby, it must be used only for gases for which a sensor is installed in the
instrument.
The sensor must not be blocked during use.
Observe oxygen concentration
The instrument is actuated on oxygen concentrations up to 25%. However, note
that all instrument versions are calibrated and permitted only for an oxygen
concentration of up to 21.0%.
Check function and alarm before each use
In case of failed function tests, the instrument must be removed from use.
Conduct additional tests after loading
The instrument function should also be checked after severe mechanical stress
(dropping, impact etc.) and when the instrument or the sensors have been
exposed to silicon, silicates, lead-containing substances, hydrogen sulphide or
contaminated compounds.
Defective vibration alarm possible
At ambient temperatures < 0°C, the vibration alarm can give a false alarm or can
fail completely. In such conditions, do no rely solely on the vibration alarm.
No maintenance required and possible
During its service life of approx. 24 months, no maintenance of any kind is
required on the instrument. Do not try to carry out any kind of maintenance tasks
or repairs whatsoever on the instrument.
In case of faults or expiry of the service life, dispose off the instrument in
compliance with the applicable regulations.
Observe BG information
In Germany, observe the BG information BGI 836 (5).

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MSA DESCRIPTION
ALTAIR Operating Manual 7
2. Description
2.1. Instrument overview
Fig. 1 Instrument view
1 Alarm LED 5 Test button
2 Infrared port 6 Display
3 Sensor cover 7 Stipulated gas type
4 Acoustic alarm transmitter
The instrument is a portable gas meter for monitoring gases and vapours in the
ambient air and in the workplace. It is used exclusively for monitoring and cannot
be used for measuring gas concentrations.
The instrument is available in three models:
for monitoring oxygen
for monitoring hydrogen sulphide and
for monitoring carbon monoxide
The instrument can detect up to 25% oxygen in the ambient air.
However, all instrument models are calibrated and permitted only up to
21% oxygen-content.
2
3
4
5
6
7
1

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DESCRIPTION MSA
8ALTAIR Operating Manual
The response levels for the individual gases are set at the factory and cannot be
changed during operation. After commissioning the instrument, changes are
possible only with the MSA FiveStar®LinkTM software (available as option;
Description of software).
After commissioning the instrument, the remaining operation time is displayed in
months.
If the ambient air contains higher gas concentrations, the instrument
ignores the Fresh Air Setup and goes directly to measuring mode after
the self-test.
2.2. On-screen Indicators
Fig. 2 Display
1 Self-test in progress
2 Bump check indicator
3 Alarm duration (hour glass)
4 Ready indicator
5 Alarm indicator
6 Battery warning indicator
7 Remaining operation time unit
8 Numeric indicator
9 Gas concentration units
1
6
7
3 4 5
8
9
2

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MSA DESCRIPTION
ALTAIR Operating Manual 9
2.3. Monitoring toxic gases
With the ALTAIR, you can monitor the concentration of the following toxic gases
in the ambient air:
Carbon monoxide (CO)
Hydrogen sulphide (H2S)
Attention!
If an alarm is triggered while using the instrument as a monitor, leave
the area immediately.
Remaining on site under such circumstances can cause serious
damage to health or can even lead to death.
Two alarm thresholds on the instrument are preset at the factory (Minimum "LO"
and Maximum "HI").
On reaching or exceeding one of these alarm thresholds:
the alarm is displayed in the display ("LO ALARM" or "HI ALARM")
and
the corresponding alarm is triggered.
In both cases, the acoustic alarm can be shut off for five seconds by pressing the
test button. As soon as the gas concentration is in the normal range again, the
alarm is terminated automatically.
The alarm is presented in the following manner:
an acoustic signal sounds,
the alarm LEDs flash,
a vibration alarm is triggered and
in the display, "ALARM" is displayed in combination with "LO" or "HI"
and the corresponding gas concentration.

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DESCRIPTION MSA
10 ALTAIR Operating Manual
2.4. Monitoring the oxygen concentration
With the ALTAIR, the oxygen concentration is monitored in the atmosphere. The
alarm setpoints can be set to enrichment (concentration > 20.8%) or depletion
(concentration < 20.8%).
Attention!
If an alarm is triggered while using the instrument as a monitor, leave
the area immediately.
Remaining on site under such circumstances can cause serious
damage to health or can even lead to death.
When a set value is reached, an alarm is triggered:
an acoustic signal sounds,
alarm LEDs flash,
a vibration alarm is triggered and
in the display, "ALARM" is displayed in combination with "LO" or "HI"
and the corresponding oxygen concentration.
In the event of extreme changes in the air pressure or the atmospheric
temperature, a false alarm can be triggered.
Therefore, calibrate the instrument under conditions of use.