Fixed gas and flame detection systems play an essential role in industrial safety. Designing them for reliable, long-term performance requires more than selecting a detector — it benefits from a system-level understanding of sensor behavior, environmental influences, placement strategy, and control integration. This session provides practical engineering insights, standards-aware checklists, and real-world design examples you can apply in your facility’s decision-making process.
Overview
Fixed gas and flame detection systems serve as critical safety layers in industrial facilities. Designing them for reliable, long-term performance requires more than selecting a detector — it demands a system-level understanding of sensor behavior, environmental conditions, placement strategy, and control integration. This technical webinar explores the engineering principles behind high-integrity gas and flame detection system design. We’ll examine how sensor technologies differ in performance characteristics, how environmental and process variables influence detection accuracy, and how thoughtful placement and architecture impact overall system effectiveness.
The session will also address integration with plant control systems, alarm strategy considerations, and lifecycle planning to support sustained operational performance. Designed for instrumentation engineers, safety managers, and system integrators, this webinar provides practical, application-focused guidance to help you design, evaluate, and maintain dependable fire and gas detection systems.
Key Takeaways
- Identify the appropriate gas and flame detection technologies by evaluating sensor behavior, target gases, and environmental constraints.
- Learn how to design system architectures for high reliability, including detector spacing, voting logic, redundancy strategies, and integration with control and safety systems.
- Discover how to optimize detector placement using practical engineering criteria that improve detection probability, reduce blind spots, and align with real-world airflow and obstruction patterns.
Speaker
David Opheim has over 34 years of direct experience in the high-hazard safety systems industry, serving in a variety of professional roles including field service, engineering, marketing, and sales. A recognized subject matter expert in gas and flame detection, he spent much of his career at MSA Safety in leadership and technical capacities. Now retired from full-time industry work, he continues to support MSA as a dedicated consultant, leveraging his deep expertise to advance best practices in fixed gas and flame detection.