What is the primary purpose of a bump test on a gas detector?

• A. Calibrate the detector to a standard gas concentration
• B. Verify that a gas detector is functioning properly
• C. Replace the sensor in the detector
• D. Check the device's battery life

Answer: (B)

A bump test is about confirming that the gas detector actually responds to gas and will trigger alarms. By exposing the device to a known, representative gas concentration and watching for a prompt sensor response and audible/visual alarms, you verify that the sensor and alarm circuitry are working as intended. This is about functional readiness, not about matching an exact concentration reading. Calibration, in contrast, is a more thorough process used to adjust readings to a known standard. Replacing the sensor or checking battery life are separate maintenance tasks and aren’t what a bump test is designed to assess. So, its primary purpose is to verify that the detector is functioning properly and will alert when gas is present.