MSA ALTAIR PRO H2S User manual

Order No.: 10079352/00
Operating Manual
ALTAIR PRO 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 PRO - 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 PRO
Complies with the provisions of the council directive 94/9/EC (ATEX).
This declaration is based on the EC-Type Examination Certificate
FTZU 06 ATEX 0134 X
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 50270 Type 2 and EN 61000-6-4
MSA AUER GmbH
Dr. Axel Schubert
R & D Instruments Berlin, July 2006

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CONTENTS MSA
4ALTAIR PRO - Operating Manual
Contents
1. Safety Regulations .............................................................................................. 6
1.1. Correct Use ................................................................................................ 6
1.2. Liability Information .................................................................................... 6
1.3. Safety and Precautionary Measures to be Adopted ................................... 7
2. Description........................................................................................................... 8
2.1. Instrument Overview .................................................................................. 8
2.2. On-Screen Indicators ............................................................................... 10
2.3. Monitoring Toxic Gases............................................................................ 12
2.4. Monitoring the Oxygen Concentration ...................................................... 13
2.5. Duration of Use of the Instrument ............................................................ 14
3. Operation ........................................................................................................... 15
3.1. Changing Alarm Setpoints........................................................................ 15
3.2. Turning ON the Instrument....................................................................... 18
3.3. Toxic Gas Measurements ........................................................................ 21
3.4. Oxygen Measurements ............................................................................ 23
3.5. Displaying the Instrument Data - excluding the Steel Mill Version ........... 24
3.6. Displaying the Instrument Data - Steel Mill Version only.......................... 25
3.7. Turning OFF the Instrument ..................................................................... 26
3.8. Data Logging............................................................................................ 28
3.9. Function Tests on the Instrument............................................................. 29
3.10. Calibrating the Instrument ........................................................................ 31
4. Maintenance....................................................................................................... 36
4.1. Troubleshooting ....................................................................................... 36
4.2. Replacing the Battery............................................................................... 37
4.3. Replacing the Sensor............................................................................... 38

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MSA CONTENTS
ALTAIR PRO - Operating Manual 5
5. Technical Specifications/Certifications........................................................... 39
5.1. Technical Specifications........................................................................... 39
5.2. Certifications ............................................................................................ 41
5.3. Test Gases Table ..................................................................................... 42
5.4. Oxygen Typical Performance Specifications ............................................ 42
5.5. Toxic Performance Specifications ............................................................ 42
5.6. Data Logging Specifications ..................................................................... 43
6. Order Information .............................................................................................. 44

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SAFETY REGULATIONS MSA
6ALTAIR PRO - Operating Manual
1. Safety Regulations
1.1. Correct Use
The ALTAIR PRO 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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MSA SAFETY REGULATIONS
ALTAIR PRO - Operating Manual 7
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 PRO 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
Although the ALTAIR PRO unit will detect up to 25% oxygen, all ALTAIR PRO
versions are not certified or approfed for use in atmospheres containing more
than 21% oxygen.
Check function and alarm before each use
In case of failed function tests, the instrument must be removed from use.
Conduct additional tests after any significant impact
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.
Observe BG information
In Germany, observe the BG information BGI 836 (5).

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DESCRIPTION MSA
8ALTAIR PRO - Operating Manual
2. Description
2.1. Instrument Overview
Fig. 1 Instrument view
1 Alarm LED 5 Button
2 Infrared port 6 Display with backlight
3 Sensor cover 7 Stipulated gas type
4 Acoustic alarm transmitter
The instrument is a portable gas meter for monitoring gases in the ambient air
and in the workplace.
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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MSA DESCRIPTION
ALTAIR PRO - Operating Manual 9
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 version 4.4 or higher
(available as option; "Description of software).
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.

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DESCRIPTION MSA
10 ALTAIR PRO - Operating Manual
2.2. On-Screen Indicators
Fig. 2 Display
1 Self-test in progress
2 Bump check indicator
3 Hour glass
4 Confidence indicator
5 Alarm indicator
6 Battery life indicator
7 Numeric indicator
8 Gas concentration units
Battery Life Indicator
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.
The battery condition icon continuously displays in the upper right-hand corner of
the display. As the battery is depleted, battery icon segments go blank until only
the outline of the battery icon remains.
Each battery indicator segment represents approximately 1/4 of the total battery
capacity.
1
6
7
3 4 5
8
2