[RS KOREA] FIX800 5-Gas Meter & Electronic Display Board Installation — Underground Wastewater Treatment Room, Telecom Company Branch, Wonju, Gangwon-do

This installation project addresses one of the most fundamental requirements in industrial gas safety: confined-space asphyxiation prevention under Article 618 of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Rules. Rather than the high-profile CO2 fire-suppression protection zones RS Korea has worked on this year, this project focuses on gas concentration monitoring for wastewater treatment rooms.

Since 2023, RS Korea has been in discussions regarding the installation of gas concentration meters at wastewater treatment rooms located within branch buildings nationwide for a telecommunications company. After evaluating the required gas types, budget, and regulatory requirements, the first project has now begun, starting with a two-site pilot installation ahead of a planned nationwide rollout.

This particular site is an underground wastewater treatment room in a telecommunications company branch building located in Wonju, Gangwon-do.

The products installed were the FIX800 5GAS installable gas meter and the FIX800 composite/single gas meter. This product line allows the sensor configuration to be selected according to user requirements — when a CO/H2S dual sensor is installed, the unit can simultaneously measure up to five gases in a single device, meeting the legally required O2, CO, H2S, EX, and CO2 measurement standard for confined spaces.

Pre-Installation Preparation

Alongside the meter, the FIX-DS dedicated monitoring display was installed. This high-visibility LED display is manufactured to order to match the connected FIX800 unit's configuration, and can be customized in size and layout for each site. With this two-part configuration — measuring instrument and display board — evacuation and emergency response can be triggered immediately if a suffocation risk is detected before or during confined-space work.

This Wonju branch was the first site in the rollout. Construction approval was granted for 10:00 AM, and the team arrived on site around 9:00 AM to allow time for preparation and safety briefing. Before starting, the team confirmed all products and materials scheduled for installation that day: the gas meter, display board, GW waterproof corrugated conduit (16mm), VCTF 3C 1.5sq power cable, AWG 24 4C shielded signal cable, and other miscellaneous materials.

Before entering the confined space, gas concentration inside was measured at the facility manager's request using the site's own MINIMAX X4 unit. The oxygen concentration measured slightly low at 20.5%, but posed no issue for the work to proceed. A safety barrier was set up to restrict access to authorized workers only, and the previously agreed installation locations for the meter and display board were reconfirmed.

Installation Work

With sufficient crew on site, work was split between a mounting team and a wiring team to increase efficiency. Where no cable tray was available, minimal drilling was required — in these cases, caulking through the door frame was used instead of drilling into concrete, improving both safety and efficiency. Junction boxes were used at wire transition points, positioned to neatly conceal any drilled openings. Power was supplied from the panel inside the wastewater treatment room; since no spare breaker was available, a spare outlet inside the panel was used by agreement with the facility manager.

Completion

With construction completion reporting and operator training underway, the display board's communication status was tested, followed by an alarm test using calibration gas to confirm proper alert function. The facility team was trained on maintenance procedures and sensor calibration cycles. A business card holder was also attached to the base of the display board so the facility can easily reach RS Korea for support if any issues arise. The work site was then cleaned up and the installation completed.

Closing

While each of these installations may look similar on the surface, every site is a first for its own facility team, and RS Korea approaches each one as a fresh project. Even where the construction format repeats, we aim to keep refining our process step by step.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Why is this gas meter installed in a wastewater treatment room specifically?

Wastewater treatment rooms are confined spaces where hazardous gases can accumulate, creating asphyxiation risk. Article 618 of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Rules requires continuous gas concentration monitoring in such spaces.

Q2. What gases does the FIX800 5GAS meter measure?

With the appropriate sensor configuration, including a CO/H2S dual sensor, a single FIX800 unit can simultaneously measure O2, CO, H2S, EX, and CO2 — the five gases required by regulation for confined-space safety.

Q3. How is the installation site prepared and verified before work begins?

Gas concentration is measured inside the confined space before entry using a portable multi-gas meter, and access is restricted with a safety barrier. Installation only proceeds once safe working conditions are confirmed.

Q4. Is the display board customizable for different facilities?

Yes. Like the FIX800 meter itself, the FIX-DS display is manufactured to order and can be customized in size and configuration to suit each facility's layout and requirements.

Q5. What ongoing support is provided after installation?

RS Korea provides on-site training on system operation, maintenance, and sensor calibration cycles, along with contact information attached directly to the display board for future support requests.