ALTAIR CONNECT The MSA Altair Connect application can immediately send alarm notifications to other users using text messages
With the experience gained through the application of its Altair 4X multigas detector in the South African mining sector, safety equipment supplier MSA Africa believes that the mining industry could benefit greatly from its newly launched Altair 4XR.
Meant for application in confined spaces in combustible, oxygen-rich and toxic environments, the Altair 4XR multigas detector is MSA Africa’s “most rugged gas detector yet”, says MSA Middle East and Africa product specialist for portable gas Ahmed Elzoubi, highlighting that MSA evaluates client needs to identify their operational requirements.
The detector can survive 25 drops from a height of 1.2 m and an incidental 7.5 m drop onto concrete. It also has a military- grade rating of MIL-STD-810G, as well as an ingress protection rating of IP68, which means it can be submerged in 2 m of water for at least an hour. The Altair 4XR, which can operate in temperatures of –40 ºC to over 60 ºC, also has a four- year instrument and sensor warranty.
Launched in March at the Secunda Petrochemical Roadshow, the multigas detector includes a four-gas monitor with proven MSA XCell sensors and can sense gas twice as fast as the industry average, enthuses MSA Africa production marketing manager Suraksha Mohun.
“The MSA XCell sensors are unmatched in today’s market, allowing for a faster response, shorter span calibrations and a longer operating life, saving time and money,” she adds, noting that the product was developed with the end-user in mind.
“The Altair 4XR is an improvement on the Altair 4X, which has been in circulation for seven years. The platform of the Altair 4XR is almost the same, but includes additional features targeting Bluetooth connectivity,” explains Elzoubi.
When paired with the MSA Altair Connect application – which is available from the Google Play Store – Mohun explains, the Altair 4XR can send alarm notifications using text messages, immediately informing supervisors, team members or other users of a potential problem.
“Maintenance, operational support and compliance are quickly and reliably enhanced through the Altair Connect application, while real-time alarm and event notifications let you deliver an entirely new level of safety,” she adds.
“Additional features of the Altair 4XR include quick compliance confirmation through a bump test checkmark, with users able to bump and calibrate the detector using half the gas in half the time.”
Further, the Altair 4XR can include a motion alert option, which informs others whenever a user has become immobile, and includes a user- activated instant alert option, which notifies supervisors and management of a potentially dangerous situation.