How to Calculate Oxygen & Air Ratio

Human life depends on having oxygen in the air at all times. Going more than three to five minutes without oxygen can kill you. Fortunately, you generally have an ample supply of oxygen. Only a handful of activities, such as deep-sea diving or space travel, require conscious focus on the availability of oxygen. However, when working where chemicals and gases may alter the makeup of the air, you may want to use an oxygen monitor to calculate the ratio of oxygen to air.

Instructions

• 1

  Place the oxygen monitor where you want to test the air. If you want to mount it on a wall, read manufacturer's documents for instructions. You may need specific tools for mounting.

• 2

  Plug the oxygen monitor into an electrical source. If using outside, ensure that your monitor is operable with batteries then install batteries with the correct voltage. Otherwise you may have to use an extension cord that runs to an electrical outlet indoors.

• 3

  Wait for the oxygen monitor to warm up before checking the reading . The amount of time the oxygen monitor takes to warm up can vary depending on the model, but generally it should not take more than a few minutes.

• 4

  Read the measurement on the oxygen monitor's display. The amount of oxygen in the air displays as a percentage. Anything less than 19.5 percent oxygen in the air is dangerous. If the oxygen monitor detects a low amount, it will probably sound an alarm.