The largest celebration of beer and folk festival activities in the world will be starting this weekend with Oktoberfest kicking off on 21st September. Each year the official host city,  Munich in Germany, attracts more than six million people from around the world. Pubs and pop up bars will be using CO2 in abundance as they satisfy the demand for refreshing beverages including around seven million litres of beer.

Where else is Oktoberfest?

The festivities aren’t just limited to Germany, the tradition has spread worldwide and many cities pay homage to the festival with their own version. The world’s second largest Oktoberfest can be found in Brazil where Bavarian culture and German ancestors are celebrated. America’s largest Oktoberfest is held in Cincinnati which attracts more than half a million visitors every year and sees revellers consume a reported 80,500 bratwurst and thousands of gallons of beer. The Australian capital of Canberra also holds an annual Oktoberfest weekender which provides music, dancing, lederhosen and beer, of course.

Why is CO2 important for beer?

This is where we step in, CO2 is produced in the production of beer as a byproduct of fermentation, but it’s also used as a tool when dispensing keg draft beer. An optimum pressure of gas can be achieved using regulators attached to cylinders. The correct pressure is needed for the beer to be served at its ideal consistency. Using CO2 to dispense drinks gives a different taste and feel to the beverage and provides that fresh sparkling look, it is used worldwide by hundreds of thousands of leisure and hospitality venues that sell tap beer and post mix.

What safety considerations do venues need to take when using CO2?

CO2 is a toxic gas and just a small increase can start to have an effect on humans. A rise of just 1.5% can cause slight drowsiness. If left undetected, those exposed can start to suffer from reduced hearing, increased heart rate and blood pressure. If levels rise further to 8% or higher, life threatening effects will occur, including unconsciousness and potentially death. With an increase in beverage consumption during Oktoberfest, especially beer, these venues will be using much larger volumes of CO2 to ensure the beer is kept flowing and it's quality is maintained. The risk of a leak from a cylinder or draft dispenser is always possible, with more people and the increase in demand the risk can be heightened. You also don’t want a costly leak and run out of gas at your peak time of service- that’s no fun for anyone! Let’s not forget how during the football World Cup 2018, the increase in beer consumption and adverse weather conditions affected the CO2 production. As a result many venues ran out of beer.  With such a large part of the festival focused on beer, we’re pretty sure all measures are taken so this will never happen during Oktoberfest!

Our Range of Gas Detection Units:

Ensure your premises are safe from CO2 leaks by installing a gas detection unit which will sound an alarm and illuminate a strobe light if there is an increase in CO2. The alarms will alert those in the area that there is a potential leak and allow for preventative action to be taken. We have both wall mountable and portable gas detection units available. If you are unsure about which monitor is right for you then our team will be happy to help.

Analox AX60+ Wall Mountable CO2 Detector

The Analox Ax60+ is a wall-mountable multi-gas monitor for detecting carbon dioxide with an option for monitoring oxygen. There are multiple location options for alarm and sensor units, connected to a central display

Analox AX60+K Wall Mountable CO2 Monitor for food kiosks

 The AX60+K is a smaller version of the popular AX60+ carbon dioxide monitor. It is a simple wall mount in the area where the carbon dioxide is stored or piped

Analox Aspida O2 and CO2 Portable Monitor

The Aspida is an ideal solution to protect staff from the dangers of a leak of CO2, enriched oxygen or inert gases. This personal monitor can be worn on a belt or wall mounted

Analox CO2 Buddy Personal Safety Alarm

The CO2 Buddy is a personal alarm, designed to detect carbon dioxide (CO2) and warn of any dangerous levels in confined spaces. It provides you with continuous protection for those working in an environment where CO2 is present. Contact us with your requirements on 01924 444577 or hello@gemscientific.co.uk Blog reproduced with permission from Analox’s website