The Most Important Tips and Tricks for Safe CO2 Monitoring in the Fermentation Cellar and Tank Hazardous Area.
The underestimated danger of CO2 in wineries, cideries, distilleries, and breweries repeatedly leads to tragic accidents. With the following tips for visual and acoustic warnings against excessive CO2 concentration, you can protect your health.
Required Limits
The statutory maximum workplace concentration (MAK) for CO2 must not exceed 0.5% Vol. or 5,000 ppm. The MAK value is a daily average over an 8-hour workday. At the same time, the short-term value of 1% Vol. must be observed. This value must under no circumstances be exceeded.
In Enclosed Spaces
During fermentation, the breathing air continuously deteriorates, and gas exchange in the lungs is hindered. This has various negative effects on health. The following physical symptoms occur with a steadily increasing CO2 concentration:
- 0 to 1%… no significant impairments of bodily functions with short-term inhalation.
- 1 to 1.5%… minor effects, but increasing difficulty concentrating.
- 2%… increasing irritation of the respiratory center with intensified breathing and increased pulse rate.
- 3%… fatigue, deepened breathing, headache, elevated blood pressure and pulse, impaired hearing.
- 4 to 5%… deeper and faster breathing, significant poisoning symptoms (e.g., circulatory problems in the brain).
- 5 to 10%… labored breathing, headache, and loss of judgment, with death following shortly thereafter.
- over 10%… unconsciousness within 1 min., acute danger to life -> death occurs shortly.
Long-term Continuous Exposure
The effects of continuous CO2 exposure (above the MAK value of 0.5% Vol.) can cause chronic symptoms. These can include discomfort, lethargy, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbances. Furthermore, headaches no longer disappear after leaving the hazardous area.
Safety Solution for Countermeasures
Installation of a CO2 safety device for visual and acoustic warning. Ideally, it would also be possible to connect it with a demand-controlled exhaust system to reduce the CO2 concentration to a normal level. For this, we recommend the LogiCO2 MK90 System. To the product: Please click here!
Another personal protective measure with a smartphone app for excessive carbon dioxide content in the air is the LogiCO2 Scout. Here you have a detailed record of the LogiCO2 Scout’s usage time. To the product: Please click here!
With the LogiCO2 Scout, you can also perform the required clearance measurement for the wine tank before entering it. Simply slide the Scout detector into the attached soft ball and roll it into the hazardous area (tank). With the free app, you can view all data and the current CO2 concentration from a safe distance. To the product: Please click here!
