Gas detector calibration

Calibration means comparing a detector’s readings against calibration gas of a known concentration and correcting those readings so the measurement can be trusted. An uncalibrated instrument can under-read and fail to warn in time — while looking perfectly normal. We run our own service and calibration station in Suchy Dwór near Gdynia; it handles over 3,500 detectors a year.

What calibration looks like, step by step

Calibration is not a single operation but a procedure. Ours works like this:

1. Visual inspection and condition check. Housing, display, sounder, condition of filters and inlets. A blocked filter can distort a reading more than a drifted sensor.
2. Functional test on the old settings. We apply calibration gas and record what the instrument showed before any intervention. This is precisely the information that cannot be recovered later — it tells you whether the instrument measured correctly over the past months.
3. Zeroing in clean air. Setting the zero point from which every reading is counted.
4. Adjustment with calibration gas. Correcting sensitivity to the reference value, separately for each measuring channel.
5. Alarm check. Thresholds, audible, visual and vibrating signals — whether they trigger where they should.
6. Verification after adjustment. Applying gas again and confirming that the instrument reads correctly.
7. Document. A certificate or report with the before and after values, the instrument number and the date of the next calibration — for your health and safety records.

The second point is what separates a proper calibration from simply “resetting it”. If the report contains no values before the correction, you do not know whether the detector warned you for six months or stayed silent.

Calibration, adjustment, bump test, certification — four different things

These words are often used interchangeably, yet they mean different things. It is worth telling them apart if only to know what you are ordering.

We describe the difference between a bump test and calibration in more detail in a separate article: bump test versus calibration — how they differ.

How often to calibrate

There is no single answer for everyone. The manufacturer’s documentation is the starting point, but the real schedule depends on where and how the instrument works:

• Every 12 months — work in a clean environment, occasional use, stored in an office.
• Every 6 months — daily use, industrial conditions, dust, damp, wide temperature swings.
• More often — after an alarm at high concentration, after a drop, after a sensor change, after a long period out of use, and whenever a bump test has failed.

A bump test before every use is a separate matter and does not replace calibration — it only checks whether the instrument responds at all. We help set a schedule for your whole fleet and remind you of the dates.

Two modes — at your site or at ours

• On-site service. We come to your premises with calibration gases and equipment. This makes sense with a larger number of instruments and with fixed detectors that cannot be removed.
• Service in the laboratory. We receive and return equipment by courier from all over Poland. Cheaper for single instruments; with a larger batch we can calibrate in stages so that part of the fleet stays with you and ready.

We describe both modes on the page about gas detector service.

What the service covers

• Calibration and adjustment of single-gas and multigas detectors (EX, O₂, H₂S, CO, PID/VOC and others).
• Bump test — checking the sensor and alarm response.
• Replacement of sensors, filters, batteries and wearing parts.
• Periodic inspections, fault diagnosis and repairs.
• A calibration certificate or report for your health and safety records.
• Certification of ship equipment — a station recognised by the Director of the Maritime Office in Gdynia.

What the price depends on

We do not quote a single rate, because the differences can be several-fold. What matters:

• The number of measuring channels — a single-gas detector means one adjustment, a four-gas detector four, each with a different calibration gas.
• The type of gases — mixtures for rarer gases cost more than a standard four-gas mixture.
• The condition of the instrument — whether a sensor, filters or a repair are needed.
• The quantity — with a larger batch the unit price falls.
• The mode — a site visit costs more than sending the equipment to the laboratory.

Tell us which instruments you have and how many — we will send back a specific quote.

Brands we service

Authorised service and calibration of, among others, Honeywell (BW, RAE Systems), Bieler+Lang, Dräger, GfG, MSA, WatchGas, Industrial Scientific, Crowcon, Analox, Scott Safety, SENSIT Technologies, Teledyne Oldham, Atler and Gazex. We receive and return equipment by courier from all over Poland. We serve Gdynia, Gdańsk, Sopot, Rumia, Reda, Wejherowo, the whole Tricity and the Pomeranian region.

Frequently asked questions

Is calibration mandatory?
Health and safety rules require protective equipment to be in working order and require that this can be demonstrated. In practice that means documented calibration at intervals following the manufacturer’s documentation and the workplace risk assessment. For ship equipment there is the additional requirement of certification.

Can I calibrate a detector myself?
A bump test, yes — calibration gas with a regulator and a cap is enough. Full calibration requires certified mixtures, equipment and knowledge of the specific model, and above all it ends with a document that only carries evidential weight when issued by an authorised service.

What if a detector fails calibration?
We call before doing any work. Usually a sensor replacement is enough — sensors have a limited life, typically 2–3 years, after which they can no longer be adjusted.

How long does calibration take?
The procedure itself takes several dozen minutes per instrument. The lead time depends on the queue and on whether parts are needed — we agree it when we take the equipment in.

Will I receive a document?
Yes. A certificate or report with the values before and after calibration, the instrument number, the date it was carried out and the date of the next one. That is what you show an inspector.

We have written more about what the service looks like step by step in the article what professional gas detector service and calibration looks like. The calibration gas you need is also in our range.

GAS DETECTOR SERVICE

See the difference made by professional handling.

Drag the slider to compare two example units: an instrument requiring diagnosis and an instrument after the appropriate service work.

Comparison material — the photographs show two different detector models.

EXAMPLE: BEFORE

EXAMPLE: AFTER

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01 INSPECTION02 CLEANING03 FUNCTIONAL TEST04 CALIBRATION / ADJUSTMENT*05 FINAL CHECK

01

A small part.
An important job.

The condition of the filter can affect the flow of sample to the sensors. The need for replacement is decided by an assessment in line with the instrument’s manual.

BEFORE

AFTER

123

02

The inside under control.

Select a point on the photo

See the components taken into account during diagnosis.

03

The response is confirmed by calibration gas.

A functional test checks the instrument’s response to calibration gas. Below is a real recording from our service bench — from connecting the gas to the “TEST OK” result. Calibration and adjustment are separate operations carried out in line with the manufacturer’s procedure.

Full test bench

Recording from our service

* The scope of work depends on the type of instrument, the manufacturer’s recommendations and the result of the initial diagnosis. This module is for information only.