VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are expelled into the air by a variety of human activities including breathing, cooking, bodily functions, perfumes and deodorants, paints and cleaners, cigarette smoke, office supplies and more. These gases can cause a number of health effects including irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and lungs and some are believed to be carcinogenic with long term exposure.

A VOC meter is used to monitor these gases in indoor environments such as offices, restaurants and hotels. In addition, they are used in confined spaces to protect workers from the hazards of asphyxiation due to lack of oxygen, explosions from the presence of H2S or methane and poisoning from exposure to VOCs like formaldehyde, acetaldehyde or benzene.

Finding the Source: Trace Gas Leak Detection and Its Applications

Many voc meter products on the market use low cost MOS sensors which have significant performance issues such as humidity sensitivity, non-linear response and long term sensor drift. This is why it is important to purchase a high quality product that uses a state-of-the-art HMOS sensor with a proven track record.

The BAPI VOCS sensor eliminates the need for frequent manual calibration by providing a relative measurement and using an Automatic Baseline Correction logic algorithm. This system constantly adjusts the 450 ppm (outdoor air) baseline to eliminate sensor drift. This allows the sensor to respond faster to changes in VOC concentrations and maintain a stable reading. The system also self-corrects for sensor drift based on its knowledge of the VOC fingerprints which are known to be influenced by environmental factors such as temperature and humidity.