| Advantages | 
|
 | Identifies
specific gas |
| Not
subject to interference from other gases |
| Long
term calibration stability |
| Multiple
detection points per detector |
| Detects
multiple gases at a specific point |
| Can
monitors integrity of air sampling tube |
| Most
accurate detection |
| Provides
IR spectrum for reference and verification
of unknowns |
| Disadvantages |
| High
initial capital investment |
| Significant
lag time between samples |
| Will
not detect atomic or diatomic gases that do not adsorb infrared radiation (e.g.
Oxygen (O2), Chlorine (CL2), Fluorine (F2), and
Hydrogen (H2)) |
