LDARtools will be closed Monday September 1, 2025 in recognition of Labor Day.
We will be conducting normal business operations Friday August 29 and Tuesday September 2.
We’re excited to unveil the latest evolution in our probe lineup — a next-generation design that’s built to outperform and outlast.
This is the probe you’ve been waiting for.
v3 Probes will begin shipping with new phx42s purchased after 7/15/25. If you currently have an older model and would like to upgrade, contact sales@ldartools.com.
The future of durability is here.
For repair procedures, scan below or click here.
In honor of Memorial Day, our Warehouse and Support will be closed Monday, May 26, 2025. We will resume normal business operations on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
At a time when price increases are becoming more common, a price reduction on a quality product is always a welcoming breath of fresh air. As of February 7, 2025, we have reduced the price of the SpanBox Lite 530 from $4,198.69 to $3,653.50. This reduction is a result of the recent retirement of the SpanBox Lite 510; compensation for reducing the number of products available in our SpanBox5 series.
Paired with our Cal5.0 software, the SpanBox Lite 530’s support for five calibration gases and up to three phx42s ensures you receive the same experience as with the Lite 510, but with the added convenience of being able to calibrate multiple phx42s.
For more information on the SpanBox5 and Cal5.0, please visit our SpanBox5 page, or contact our Sales team at sales@ldartools.com.
We here at LDARtools are standing by to help create an LDAR system that works for you, and as always, we appreciate your business.
We are thrilled to announce there are more than 1,385 phx42 FID analyzers* worldwide.
This significant milestone fills us with immense pride, and we are eager to share this momentous achievement with you. Checkout the image below to see where in the world we have sold our portable FIDs.
*Also commonly known as Toxic Vapor Analyzer or TVA. This is a misnomer, but also a term the industry has accepted to describe portable FIDs.
We at LDARtools are thrilled to celebrate an incredible milestone for Chateau, LDARtools’ powerful cloud-based monitoring software!
With more than 5 million components, 1,106 users, 166 databases, and 95 Gift Cards given to our customers*, Chateau has grown into a dynamic and robust solution for businesses and innovators worldwide.
This achievement is a testament to the hard work of our team and the trust of our amazing users. Every component, every database, and every user contributes to making Chateau a smarter, more efficient, and more scalable platform. As we continue to evolve, we remain committed to delivering cutting-edge features, seamless integrations, and the best cloud experience possible. Here’s to more growth, more innovation, and more success!
Thank you for being part of our journey!
*This represents the 95 times we have presented a $50 gift card to a Chateau user who contributed a question, suggestion, or idea that contributed to making Chateau or our Knowledge Base better.
Note: This article will outline the options available to LDAR (Leak Detection and Repair) programs regarding pegged emission rates and analyzers, focusing on valves in light liquid/gas vapor service. The information is prepared solely for your consideration. LDARtools does not provide regulatory advice or guidance.
Originally published by Fugitive Emissions Journal 10/02/2024.
Pegged Emission Rate – The specified emission rate used for any leak with a “pegged” screening value (i.e., any PPM reading exceeding the Analyzer Peg Value).
Analyzer Peg Value – The highest PPM reading an analyzer is designed to detect.
When a PPM reading is higher than the Analyzer Peg – “The instrument measurement may exceed the scale of the instrument, referred to as a ‘pegged’ readout. For several instruments, the highest readout on the scale is 10,000 ppmv. For generating an emissions estimate, a dilution probe should be employed to measure concentrations greater than the instrument’s normal range unless average emission factors for greater than or equal to the ‘pegged’ readout are applied. Extending the measurement range necessitates calibrating the instrument to the higher concentrations.” (From section 2.3.3 of the 1995 Protocol for Equipment Leak Emission Estimates).
Calculation of Emissions Using Correlation Equation
To estimate emissions using the EPA Correlation Approach, measured concentrations (screening values in PPM) for each component are individually calculated by applying the PPM reading to a specific Correlation Equation, specified for that component type and physical state.
How it works: There are three possible scenarios in calculating emission for a specific component.
For an analyzer with an Analyzer Peg Value of 10,000 PPM, any reading above 10,000 ppm can be easily calculated using the 10k PPM Pegged Emission Rate. Similarly, for an analyzer that pegs at 100k, use the 100k Pegged Emission Rate (potentially subject to the calibration requirements below).
Considerations for Different Analyzer Peg Values
If you have an analyzer with an Analyzer Peg Value of 30k or 50k, it would be prudent to use the correlation equation up until that pegged value, and then use the 100k pegged value above it. However, this approach may result in an increase in reported emissions.
Example: Using an analyzer with a 30k pegged emission rate:
Converting mass back to ppm is not considered best practice, but is used here for illustration purposes.
Increased accuracy of reporting for components leaking between 10k and the analyzer peg value is a benefit of using a 30k or 50k analyzer peg, but pegged values could significantly increase reported emissions.
Do you need to calibrate to the Analyzer Pegged Value?
Maybe. The 1995 Protocol states: “The instrument measurement may exceed the scale of the instrument, referred to as a ‘pegged’ readout. A dilution probe should be employed for concentrations beyond the instrument’s normal range unless average emission factors for greater than or equal to the ‘pegged’ readout are applied. Extending the measurement range necessitates calibrating the instrument to higher concentrations.”
Since “higher concentrations” are not defined, one interpretation is to use the highest available concentration for calibration, which for methane is ~25k ppm in air (above which it becomes explosive).
Another option is to have a factory calibration done annually at 100,000 ppm. This calibration would persist during routine daily calibration.
What is my Analyzer Peg Value?
The 1995 protocol was developed with analog analyzers that could not exceed the meter dial’s printing. Modern analyzers use dynamic ranging to extend the upper limit significantly, but accuracy and linearity above 10,000 ppm (except for phx42) are uncertain, especially without higher value calibration.
The 2011 & 2015 protocols state: “If the monitoring instrument measures concentrations only up to 10,000 ppmv or 100,000 ppmv, the applicable values for pegged emission rates in Table 2-2 (below) are used to estimate emissions.”
Factors Determining Max Reliable PPM
TVA1000b:
TVA2020:
PHX21:
phx42:
Conclusion
End Users must determine the digital equivalent to “off scale,” “measures,” and the necessary calibration requirements. These decisions will determine what to select for your Analyzer Peg Value.
Due to winter weather in the Houston area, our home office in Dickinson will be closed Wednesday morning (1/22) until 12:00 PM.
Support responses might also be delayed.
Please call 877-788-1110 x 6 before coming to the office to pick up or drop off.
