Ammonia Gas Detectors (NH3 Detectors)

NH3 Ammonium hydroxide, also known as aqueous ammonia, is a common solvent used in cleaning products and can be an ingredient in food products and fertilizers. Anhydrous ammonia (NH3) is the pure gas or compressed liquid form of ammonia that contains no water. It is used in the manufacturing of fertilizers, explosives, agricultural applications, cleaning fluids and in certain pharmaceuticals. Food and beverage companies use many tons of ammonia for refrigeration, flash freezing, and bulk storage, all running the risk of gas releases. Industrial Scientific’s personal single-gas detector GasBadge® Pro, or multi-gas detectors, including the Ventis® Pro, and the MX6 iBrid®, as well as the Radius® BZ1 Area Monitor reliably detect low ppm ammonia within the specified range. 

Talk to an Expert

Ammonia - NH3



Difficult to burn, LEL 15%



Extremely toxic 


Anhydrous ammonia, aqua ammonia, aqueous ammonia 

Exposure limits:


PEL\TWA: 50 ppm. 



STEL: 35 ppm/ 15 min. 



IDLH: 500 ppm / 30 min. 


Fertilizer plants, poultry farms, food processing, refrigeration, chemplants 

Ammonia is a widely used chemical that can be found in a variety of common industrial environments. It is a colorless gas with a pungent suffocating odor. Ammonia is characterized as a flammable although it is very difficult to ignite. When exposed to heat, an ammonia solution will decompose to form ammonia gas and oxides of nitrogen, (NOx). Ammonia is an irritant and will become extremely irritating as concentrations increase. 

Effects of Various NH3 Levels 

Ammonia Level in PPM

Resulting Conditions on Humans


Minor irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract.


Permissible Exposure Limit (OSHA).


Swelling of the eyelids, conjunctivitis, vomiting, irritation of the throat.


Concentrations are dangerously high, irritation becomes more intense. Death can result from highly concentrated, prolonged exposure.


Take the guesswork out of gas detectionWhen it comes to lifesaving gas detectors, you can’t afford to guess. Gas detectors today offer features that provide clear information on the instrument status and sensors, tell the user how to react when an alarm goes off, and make it easy to interpret the readings. This white paper covers technology that makes gas detection easy for all users.

Talk to an Expert