RS Korea — FIX800 Four-Gas Detector Installation in Ship Coal Storage Room, Confined Space Safety (Yeosu)

RS Korea completed its first-ever installation aboard a ship, deploying a FIX800 four-gas fixed detector (O2, CO, H2S, LEL) and LED display board in the coal storage room of a large vessel docked in Yeosu. Site survey: The facility requested an urgent site visit due to the dust-heavy environment. Coal dust was so severe that standard masks were inadequate — the ship's crew provided proper dust respirators for the survey. Despite the heavy dust, RS Korea recommended the standard diffusion-type detector rather than a pump-sampling system with a dust pre-filter, since a suction inlet would risk clogging with coal particles; a filter-based pre-treatment unit was judged unnecessary and potentially counterproductive in this environment. Configuration: FIX800 fixed detector installed at the lowest level of the coal storage room, with a 4-channel LED display mounted at the room's entrance so workers can check internal gas levels before descending. Why gas monitoring was essential: The coal storage room is a confined space with poor ventilation, internal temperatures of 30–32°C, high humidity, and coal dust requiring respirator use throughout. Without gas verification before entry, workers descending into this hot, humid, poorly ventilated space would face serious risk. Field technicians reported that heavy sweating inside dust suits and respirators alone made breathing difficult — combined with any oxygen deficiency, the risk of collapse would be significant. Installation notes specific to marine environments: - Confirming whether wall penetration is permitted is essential; running cable through existing trays or conduit is preferred over new penetrations. - Equipment must be securely mounted to withstand vessel movement from waves. - Close coordination with the ship's engineering officer is required, since any wall penetration must be pre-approved and checked against what lies behind the wall. Work sequence: Steel conduit was clipped in place to route power and communication lines to the detector location, followed by wiring for the display board's 220V supply and the detector's 24V/RS-485 connection. After the standard 60-second warm-up period, all four gas channels were verified using calibration gas, and the alarm beacon was tested twice to confirm proper operation before the crew and engineering officer confirmed the system was functioning correctly. This project marks RS Korea's first completed gas detection installation inside a ship's interior.