October 09, 2019 | Feature Article

About the New Gas Lab

Electrical safety and performance assured for 47 gases

Our new gas detection laboratory in West Glocester, Rhode Island, USA, will be able to test and certify gas detectors using 47 different gases. The test gases can be classified as 20 toxic-only gases, 10 combustible-only gases and 17 gases which are classified as both toxic and combustible. (See table below)

                                             Test gases available in the 
                             new FM Approvals Gas Detection Laboratory

                

FM Approvals has been testing and certifying gas detectors for more than 40 years and has led the way by requiring gas detection manufacturers to certify their products for performance in addition to electrical safety (i.e. shock, fire and/or explosion safety). It has been a common practice of other certification agencies to make the performance evaluation of gas detectors optional, often certifying these devices for electrical safety only. While it is important to validate that the detector will not present a shock, fire or explosion risk, it is critically important to be sure that it will detect the gas when it is called upon to so. 

FM Approvals is the only certification agency in the world that that requires gas detectors to be certified for performance and has been doing so for decades. If a gas detector bears the FM Diamond, you can be sure it's going to work. This is why major end users specify FM Approved gas detectors.

We look forward to working with gas detector manufacturers to certify their products in the new Gas Detection Laboratory.