This European Standard specifies general requirements and test methods for the determination of the performance characteristics of personal, portable, transportable and fixed, continuous duty electrical apparatus used for the direct detection and direct concentration measurement of toxic gases and vapours in workplace atmospheres. This European Standard is applicable to apparatus whose primary purpose is to provide an indication, alarm and/or other output function to give a warning of the presence of a toxic gas or vapour in the atmosphere and in some cases to initiate automatic or manual protective actions. It is applicable to apparatus in which the gas automatically generates an electrical signal. This European standard is not applicable to apparatus: - used for the measurement of oxygen; - used only in laboratories for analysis or measurement; - used only for process measurement purposes; - used in car parks or tunnels; - used in the domestic environment; - used in environmental air pollution monitoring; - used for the measurement of combustible gases and vapours related to the risk of explosion. It also does not apply to open-path (line of sight) area monitors. For apparatus used for sensing the presence of multiple gases this standard applies only to the detection of toxic gas or vapour.