Where accuracy meets application: Sensitron’s approach to gas detection across complex environments
Iain Hoey
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Emanuele Barbieri, Key Account Manager HVAC-R at Sensitron, explains how gas detection systems help safeguard lives, workplaces, and infrastructure across complex and hazardous environments
With over 35 years of experience, Italian gas-detection specialist Sensitron has developed a wide portfolio of products designed to protect people, equipment, and infrastructure from gas-related risks.
Its solutions are used across industrial plants, parking facilities, commercial buildings, wastewater plants, and more.
Known for its blend of technology, reliability, and user focus, Sensitron has built a reputation for making safety systems that are robust yet straightforward to install and operate.
In this discussion, Emanuele Barbieri, Key Account Manager HVAC-R, shares insights into how Sensitron supports safer workplaces, the thinking behind its products, and where the business is heading next.
To start off, could you tell us a bit about your role at Sensitron and how long you’ve been part of the team?
I’ve been working at Sensitron for over five years as a Key Account Manager focusing on the HVAC-R sector.
My role involves developing the refrigeration market by identifying customer needs and providing bespoke solutions, ranging from integrated machine-side systems for chillers and heat pumps to standalone gas-detection products.
For someone hearing about Sensitron for the first time – what does the company do, and what problem is it trying to solve?
Sensitron designs and manufactures gas-detection systems, including both detectors and control panels, capable of monitoring more than 70 different gases.
We are committed to staying ahead of technological developments, particularly with new refrigerants, and to addressing the potential risks they introduce, such as flammability, toxicity, and environmental concerns.
Our goal is to help our customers protect people, environments, and infrastructure from gas-related hazards.
What first led Sensitron into the gas-detection field, and how has the company grown since then?
From the very beginning, Sensitron has aimed to anticipate market needs.
We’ve made significant investments in certifications that later proved essential for our customers; for example, we were already ATEX-compliant before the regulation was introduced.
Our growth has been driven by increasing attention to workplace safety and to protecting both people and the environment.
Which industries do you typically serve, and what are the safety risks that make gas detection so important in those settings?
Our products are used in a wide variety of applications, including industrial facilities, harsh environments, machinery rooms, parking garages, laboratories, light-industrial settings, and the Oil & Gas sector.
In the HVAC-R field, we specialise in detecting widely used gases such as ammonia, propane, carbon dioxide, and R32.
Our certified solutions meet the increasingly strict safety standards required to protect both individuals and the environment.
Can you walk us through your product line – what kinds of systems does Sensitron offer, and how are they used day-to-day?
Our product portfolio includes four main series: SMART 3G, SMART 3, SMART S, and the PARK system.
Each is designed to meet specific application needs; for instance, the SMART 3G series is ideal for high-performance settings.
We provide complete gas-detection systems, including both control panels and detectors, that operate autonomously when a gas hazard is detected.
However, regular maintenance is essential to ensure continued performance.
Maintenance personnel play a critical role in keeping each system efficient and reliable.
How do your detectors and panels handle different gases – such as toxic, flammable, or refrigerant gases – and why does that matter?
Each type of gas requires a specific detection technology to ensure accurate readings.
We use infrared sensors for A1 and A2L refrigerants, carbon dioxide, and flammable gases; electrochemical cells for toxic gases and oxygen; catalytic sensors for flammable gases; and photo-ionisation detectors for volatile organic compounds.
New-generation refrigerants, owing to their complex compositions, have been particularly challenging, but we’ve achieved excellent results by using infrared sensing technologies.
We remain open to evaluating new detection technologies to continuously improve performance and accuracy.
A lot of your equipment ends up in tough industrial environments – how do you make sure your products stay reliable under pressure?
Our approach always starts with understanding the customer’s specific requirements so we can provide the most suitable solutions.
Our systems are built to perform in difficult environments, including classified areas, and meet rigorous standards such as ATEX and EN 60079-29-1.
This ensures both reliability and accuracy, even under the most demanding conditions.
Are you seeing any new demands or safety concerns coming from the sectors you work in – anything shaping how you design your products?
Yes, definitely.
Since we entered the gas-detection industry, awareness has grown significantly regarding hazardous areas and the risks associated with toxic or flammable gases.
One concern we often raise is the temptation, as industries expand, to prioritise cost savings over safety.
It is crucial that safety remains the top priority across the entire value chain.
Additionally, there is increasing demand for interoperability, with gas-detection systems expected to integrate seamlessly into broader safety infrastructures without compromising their core functionalities.
Looking ahead, where is Sensitron putting its energy – what kind of progress or changes should safety professionals expect to see from you next?
We are focused on responding to evolving market needs by continuously adapting and reinventing ourselves.
We are currently developing new products that we believe will align with future safety requirements.
The HVAC-R sector, in particular, is experiencing strong growth, and we anticipate further consolidation in ATEX-classified areas as well as expansion into non-classified environments.