The Gastec Airtec tube system is a complete sampling and analysis system for determining hazardous gas and vapour concentrations quickly and easily. The majority of activities that the detector tube system is used for is to carry out spot sampling e.g. to check the level of hazardous gas within a container that has been unloaded from a ship or for determining the level of hazardous gases present on-site. It is not advised to use detector tubes for personal safety as they don’t provide an alarm or warning system.

How is gas detected using the Gastec Airtec tube system? 

Gastec Airtec tubes are generally supplied in packs of ten, and are sealed at both ends. In operation, the tips are broken off using a tube tip breaker, a neat function often within the hand pump or otherwise sold as a separate item. Gastec Airtec tubes are used with a handheld air sampling pump. Depending on the manufacturer, the pump utilises either a bellows or piston design. The pump connects to one end of the detector tube and the user draws a sample of 50ml or 100ml of ambient air. As the gas sample works its way up the tube towards the sampling pump, it reacts with the chemical reagent within the tube. The colour stain produced is proportional in length to the concentration. By using a calibration scale printed on the tube, the concentration may be read immediately, without the need for laboratory analysis. The point where this reaction stops is easily read off against markings on the gas detector tube.