Smithfield, Rhode Island – Sperian Instrumentation has released the following safety notice regarding their Biosystems PhD5 Portable Gas Detector:
URGENT SAFETY NOTICE
To: ALL USERS OF THE BIOSYSTEMS PhD5 PORTABLE GAS DETECTOR
The purpose of this Urgent Safety Notice is to advise Sperian customers that we have identified an issue with the Biosystems PhD5 gas detector: There is a possibility that PhD5 instruments that have the Security Beep function enabled can stop actively detecting gas while continuing to show safe readings. See figure 1 below.
To date this problem has only been shown to exist in a handful of instruments. Each of the instruments that exhibited this problem had the security beep enabled. Disabling the security beep immediately resolved the problem in all of the affected instruments, but should not be considered a long term solution.
Figure 1: Biosystems PhD5 Showing Fresh Air Readings
When the security beep is enabled, the Biosystems PhD5 may stop actively detecting gas while continuing to show safe readings. This can occur in any PhD5 firmware version 3.90 or lower.
To eliminate this problem entirely and allow the security beep to be used safely, users must update the instrument firmware to version 3.99. The new version of PhD5 firmware includes a watchdog timer that assesses the state of the instrument at regular intervals. If the electronic components in the instrument stop functioning properly, the watchdog timer causes the instrument to automatically restart. During the restart, the electronics are automatically reassessed and any abnormalities will cause alarms to activate.
Sperian Instrumentation is taking a proactive stance in this situation to maximize worker safety by asking users to stop using the PhD5 to detect hazardous conditions until the instrument firmware can be updated to version 3.99.
WARNING
When the Security Beep is enabled, the PhD5 may stop actively detecting gas while continuing to show safe readings, even in the presence of a potential hazard. Discontinue use of the PhD5 until the instrument firmware can be updated to version 3.99. Continued use of any PhD5 without installing the updated 3.99 version of the PhD5 instrument firmware may cause serious personal injury or death.
COURSE OF ACTION
The PhD5’s instrument firmware can be upgraded in the field with most PhD5 chargers and with all IQ Docking Stations equipped with a PhD5 Dock. To upgrade the PhD5’s instrument firmware:
1. Download the new PhD5 firmware from http://www.biodownloads.com/html/flash_phd5.htm.
2. Run the flash upload utility program from
http://www.biodownloads.com/html/prog_flash_upload_utility.htm .
3. Install the new firmware into the PhD5. For detailed instructions see:
http://www.biodownloads.com/html/flash_upload_instructions.htm .
Customers with alkaline versions of the PhD5 are welcome to send the instrument in for the update at no charge.
Please call our Technical Service Department for an RA# prior to shipping the instrument.
800 711-6776
860 344-1079
Sincerely,
Dave MacDonald
Quality Assurance