Measuring VOC in ground investigation.

Independent site investigation, geotechnical engineering and environmental consultancy, Southern Testing, has opted to use handheld Tiger VOC detectors from Ion Science to measure volatile organic compounds in the field.

Recommended by Ion Science’s exclusive British distributor, Shawcity Ltd, as a replacement for equipment that was no longer supported by its manufacturer, the revolutionary Tiger PID (photoionisation detection) instruments enable Southern Testing to make an assessment of risk associated with ground-borne vapour, and also to screen soil samples, which then allows them to make the best use of their laboratory analysis budgets.

According to Dr Lawrence Mockett, Director at the consultancy, the ground vapour is measured in monitoring wells, while soil samples are screened by headspace, with the equipment used four or five times each week at various sites around Britain.

He says: “The Tiger’s reliability, ruggedness and in-built humidity resistance are all key benefits to us. We frequently encounter high humidity conditions so it enables us to obtain reliable data where other kit has previously failed.”

Designed for rapid, accurate detection, with the fastest response time on the market of just two seconds and the widest measurement range of one part per billion (ppb) to 20,000 parts per million (ppm) the robust Tiger requires no complex set-up procedure and is ready to use straight out of the box.

The instrument features worldwide Intrinsic Safety (IS) certification, making it suitable for use in potentially explosive, hazardous environments. It also meets ATEX, IECEx, UL and CSA standards.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the Tiger is the most cost-effective PID available on the UK market. It has been designed for use with long life rechargeable Li-ion batteries that give up to 24 hours usage and offer fast battery charging. Plus, inexpensive disposable parts such as filters and lamps are easy to change, minimising downtime.

Simple connectivity to a PC via the USB also ensures data may be downloaded quickly.