Hydrogen Alarms

Hydrogen is a highly flammable and explosive gas; therefore a hydrogen alarm has been installed in the ECE444 laboratory to monitor hydrogen levels.

There are 2 levels of alarms reported by the Hydrogen Detection System located by the main glass doors to the lab:

Alarm Level 1

• Prepare to evacuate the lab

If the concentration of H₂ exceeds 5% of the LEL (lower explosive limit) alarm level one is activated.

This alarm level is local only (Sonalert annunciates, beacon light activated) and allows the TA a window of time to evaluate the lab for gross leaks or simple mistakes.

Alarm Level 2

• Evacuate the building immediately

If the concentration of H₂ exceeds 10% of the LEL alarm two is activated.

This is a building wide alarm which activates the lab and building fire alarm. Hydrogen levels are dangerously high and an explosion could occur.

Local Furnace H₂ Alarm

• Notify a TA

The oxidation furnaces have built-in flow meters which determine the amounts of O₂ and H₂ injected into the furnace. If too much H₂ is injected, a local alarm at the furnace will sound.

The gas controller fails-over to a safe condition, so no evacuation is needed.