An educational session on monitoring carbon dioxide in beer

Hey! It is Friday! You know what means: Friday Fun! And what’s more fun than gaining some serious insight into the monitoring of carbon dioxide gas? I know, right?

OK, maybe it’s not technically fun, but the topic is super important. Did you know that reported CO2 exposure incidents are on the rise, and state and local fire marshals are creating new ordinances and safety regulations to monitor all businesses that use stored CO2? The regulations are designed to warn building occupants before CO2 levels become hazardous indoors. High levels of CO2 can result in dizziness, faintness, and in extreme conditions unconsciousness or death. Breweries have three main areas to monitor for: stored CO2 tanks, fermentation vessels, and cold storage.

As you know, carbon dioxide is a natural byproduct of the brewing process. As the yeast feeds on sugar, it produces alcohol and CO2. However, in modern breweries CO2 from high-pressure storage tanks may be added to beer after fermentation to increase carbonation, to pressurize beer dispensing lines, or to sterilize brewing equipment. If CO2 is not monitored throughout the process, an accidental leak could result in dangerously high levels of CO2 in an enclosed area.

While the number of breweries has been dramatically increasing in the last decade, so have CO2 related injuries and fatalities. However, with the advent of new sensor technology detecting and monitoring for CO2 safety has become more cost effective as well. The Master Brewers Association of the Americas (MBAA) recognized that some industry expertise and guidance on how to best protect employees, guests, and emergency first-responders would be a valuable addition to the education seminars provided at the conference.

CO2Meter Inc. will be providing an educational session on monitoring carbon dioxide gas at the MBAA during its 2015 Conference and Exhibition Oct. 8-10 in Jacksonville, Fla. CO2Meter Inc. is an Ormond Beach, Fla.-based business that designs, manufactures and distributes carbon dioxide and other gas detectors, monitors and sensors used in food and beverage, scientific, medical, horticultural and HVAC industries.

“CO2Meter is honored to be asked to talk about the science of CO2, and how to monitor the gas,” said Josh Pringle, Director of Marketing & Sales of CO2Meter, Inc. “The members of the MBAA are the scientists of the brewing industry. They want to understand and control every input and output in their processes. I cannot think of a better group of seminar attendees to speak with.”

The Master Brewers Association of the Americas is a global community working to advance the brewing, fermentation, and allied industries by advocating the exchange of knowledge. If you aren’t yet attending the conference, we recommend buying a ticket at the last second and heading to Jacksonville. Come on, live a little. And check out this session while you are at it.