Honeywell BW RigRat

Honeywell BW RigRat extends gas detection from individual workers to entire work zones. Positioned near confined spaces, along fence lines, in welding tents, around compressed air supplies, or at temporary work fronts, it continuously monitors for hazardous gases and provides clear alarms to everyone nearby. This supports a layered safety approach, where personal gas detectors protect the breathing zone and RigRat provides an additional area-level safety net across the site.

The detector is designed for straightforward deployment. True grab-and-go operation and one-button start-up mean crews can place the unit where protection is needed and begin monitoring with minimal configuration. An intuitive interface and guided configuration via a mobile app simplify setup, sensor configuration, and basic programming. This helps standardise procedures across contractors and rotating teams, reduces reliance on specialist technicians, and speeds mobilisation during turnarounds, shutdowns, or emergency work.

Honeywell BW RigRat can house up to six sensors, providing broad coverage from a single platform. It supports combustible, toxic, oxygen, and volatile organic compound detection using a range of sensor technologies, including alternative LEL sensing options, infrared sensors for highly flammable gases, PID sensors for VOCs, and dedicated CO₂ modules. Specialist sensor modules, such as LEL volume and SIL-rated variants, enable closer alignment with process risks and safety integrity requirements. This flexibility allows sites to standardise on one area monitoring platform while tailoring sensor configurations to different units, reducing spares holdings and simplifying training.

RigRat creates a wireless safety perimeter around critical tasks. When a hazard is detected, the unit provides local visual and audible alarms and, in Mesh configurations, shares alarm status with linked monitors so personnel across the work front are alerted. Mesh network versions can link multiple RigRats into a self-forming, self-healing closed-loop network that automatically reconfigures as units are added, removed, or moved. If one unit goes into alarm, all units in the network alert, with clear indication of which detector is the source to support faster localisation and response.

Bluetooth Low Energy, Mesh radio, and Wi‑Fi options provide flexible connectivity. The detector integrates with Honeywell TouchPoint™ Plus and other Honeywell, BW, and RAE devices and can be monitored via Honeywell Safety Suite and related platforms for centralised visibility of alarms, live readings, and fleet status. Bluetooth connection to a mobile app streamlines configuration, calibration management, and access to calibration certificates directly at the point of use.

For temporary and remote operations, long uptime is critical. Honeywell BW RigRat delivers weeks of runtime on a single charge, depending on configuration, helping to minimise battery changes and site visits. A high-capacity rechargeable lithium-ion battery supports repeated deployment, while a line power option enables continuous operation for long-term monitoring, shutdowns, and turnarounds. Inert mode allows alarms in normal ambient air to be suppressed for specific inert gas and commissioning activities, reducing nuisance alarms within controlled procedures.

The detector is engineered for use in hazardous and energy-sector environments, including outdoor and industrial locations where dust, moisture, and mechanical impacts are common. A rugged enclosure with high ingress protection ratings supports reliable use in harsh weather and demanding process areas, with an operating range that covers cold, hot, and variable outdoor conditions. Optional accessories, such as a high-visibility protective cage, carrying straps, storage racks, and LCD protection covers, help adapt the platform for mobile, rough-service, or semi-fixed deployments while keeping hardware consistent across multiple applications.

A compact yet robust footprint, integrated handles, and optional three-point carrying strap make relocation between sites and tasks straightforward. This supports applications such as confined space entry, turnaround and shutdown zones, temporary hot work areas, compressed air monitoring, and zone declassification where permanent fixed systems are not practical.

Honeywell BW RigRat is designed to ensure gas hazards are noticed quickly. A large 3.5″ colour TFT LCD displays gas readings and device status clearly, while red, yellow, and green LEDs provide at-a-glance indication of alarm, warning, and normal conditions, with 360° visibility. A high-output audible alarm is designed to cut through noisy industrial environments so workers are not solely reliant on line-of-sight to the display. In Mesh configurations, distinct alarm behaviours indicate both the unit in alarm and those relaying the alert, improving situational awareness during incidents.

Selected RigRat models incorporate an integrated noise sensor, allowing sound levels to be monitored alongside gas readings. Combining gas, environmental, and noise data in one instrument reduces the number of devices that need to be deployed for high-risk work such as hot work or confined space entry. Optional GPS and Wi‑Fi-based outdoor location capabilities support tracking of where each monitor is installed and linking gas events to specific coordinates or areas, aiding incident investigation and planning.

Multiple communication ranges allow the detector to be matched to site layouts: Bluetooth for close-range interaction, Mesh radio for extended perimeter coverage between units, and Wi‑Fi for connection into site networks and control rooms. Built-in datalogging stores months of readings at regular intervals, supporting compliance records, trend analysis, and incident reviews. An integrated calibration and test certificate stored in the device simplifies audits and on-site inspections by providing evidence of maintenance and functional testing.

Programmable input and output ports support integration with external equipment and local executive actions, for example driving beacons, sirens, or ventilation controls when alarms occur. Compatibility with broader Honeywell monitoring systems and other Honeywell area and personal detectors enables a unified, scalable safety architecture covering both personnel and work zones.

Honeywell BW RigRat is available in multiple configurations, including diffusion and pumped versions, Bluetooth-only variants, Mesh-capable units, and models with integrated noise sensing. Mesh radio options across different frequency bands support deployment in various regions. Each monitor-only configuration includes the core components required for deployment, such as sensors, antennas, power adapter, calibration caps, and documentation, helping to simplify procurement and commissioning.

The detector is certified for use in explosive atmospheres and backed by a two-year warranty under the BW™ Technologies brand. A comprehensive library of datasheets, manuals, certificates, brochures, and installation guides supports specification, installation, and ongoing compliance. Distributors commonly complement this with technical support, training, and demonstrations to assist with selection, deployment, and long-term operation of the system.