FIX800 Oxygen and CO₂ Monitoring Installation in Cold Storage Warehouses (Confined Space)

This article covers a cold storage warehouse installation—a site type where O₂ and CO₂ detector pairs are regularly specified. The following provides an overview of the equipment used.

The FIX800 fixed gas detector is the primary instrument selected for this application. Its ability to accommodate multiple gas sensors in a single unit makes it a cost-effective choice. For example, when both O₂ and CO₂ monitoring are required, both sensors can be installed in one FIX800 unit—eliminating the need to purchase two separate instruments.

The LED display panel allows workers to check gas concentrations at the entrance or before entering the confined space. When the FIX800 and LED display panel are deployed together, on-site gas concentration management is possible without the need for each worker to carry an individual portable detector.

This installation uses a configuration with O₂ (oxygen) and CO₂ (carbon dioxide) sensors. Installed in the field, the unit continuously monitors both oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations in the confined space in real time. If oxygen falls below or carbon dioxide rises above the configured alarm thresholds, audible and visual alarms activate.

A space may be classified as a confined space even if it has windows or ventilation, provided those windows are closed or the ventilation system is not operating at the time of entry. Cold storage warehouses—sealed like a refrigerator to maintain temperature—are designated as confined spaces, and national guidelines recommend managing worker safety through gas monitoring in such environments.

Cold storage entrances have traditionally displayed only temperature information. Recently, however, an increasing number of facilities are installing gas concentration display panels so that anyone approaching the entrance can check the internal O₂ and CO₂ levels before entry.

Where necessary, two to three pre-installation site visits are conducted to establish accurate system design and detector placement. Advance site surveys help avoid over-specifying detectors and allow configuration adjustments that reduce overall project cost.