Calibration and Bump Testing

Bump testing is the only way to ensure proper sensor and alarm functionality. A bump test is defined as the process of briefly exposing sensors in a gas detector to an expected concentration of gas that is greater than the alarm set points. The purpose of the bump test is to check for sensor and alarm functionality. However, it does not check for accuracy. It is important to note that accuracy is ensured through calibration, which is a completely different process than bump testing.

Calibration determines if a sensor can accurately read the known concentration of a calibration gas. If it does not read correctly, the calibration electronically adjusts the gas monitor to account for the difference. Simply put, a calibration aligns a sensor with a calibration gas.

Either of the above can be performed manually, but automatic test stations can provide confidence that the bump test or calibration is performed correctly. This is combined with an auditable record that contains all of the dates, times, serial numbers and test results. This is accessed via the Honeywell Fleetmanager II software