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A June 30, 2013 HotHardware report said a nitrogen trifluoride leak at Intel’s manufacturing plant in Chandler, Arizona, led to 11 people being hospitalized and 43 receiving treatment at the scene. The report attributed the chemical identification to a local fire department battalion chief; the incident details have not been independently confirmed here.
What the June 2013 report said
HotHardware reported that the leak occurred at Intel’s Chandler plant. It said at least 11 people were hospitalized with nausea, breathing difficulties, and eye irritation, while 43 people were treated at the scene. These are figures and symptoms reported by that article, not independently verified incident records.
The article attributed identification of the gas as nitrogen trifluoride to Battalion Chief Tom Dwiggins of the local fire department. It also said Intel shut down the tool associated with the leak.
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What Intel said about the response
HotHardware quoted Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy as saying: “They monitored the air inside and outside the structure and in all cases the air was clean.” The article also reported Mulloy’s statements that nearby neighborhoods were unaffected and that the plant had resumed normal operations.
#1 Best Overall
- Effective Gas Leak Detector: The TOPTES PT520A natural gas detector detects leaks of methane, propane, natural gas, LPG, butane, and more in tight spaces
- Flexible Probe: The 17-inch gooseneck allows easy access to hard-to-reach areas like pipelines, storage tanks, gas fireplaces, and basements, ideal for both indoor and outdoor leak detection. During use, point the probe toward the suspected leak source and move as close as 1–5 cm
- Visual and Audible Alarm: PT520A responds in 0.5 seconds, with 7 colored bars and a 75dB alarm that increase with gas concentration. Detection range: 50-10,000 ppm (Methane)
- User-Friendly Functions: Enable or disable Auto Power-Off with the APO button to save power after 10 minutes of inactivity. The Mute button silences the alarm, and the non-slip, wear-resistant design ensures a secure, comfortable grip for easy handling
- What You Get: 1×PT520A Gas Leak Detector, 3×AAA Batteries, 1×Protective Case, and 1×User Manual. Allow 30 seconds of warm-up in clean air before starting detection
What is and is not confirmed
The incident particulars above come from the HotHardware report published June 30, 2013. No primary incident record or separate confirmation from Intel, the local fire department, a regulator, or a hospital was identified for this account. The reported hospitalization and on-scene treatment counts, symptoms, chemical identification, monitoring results, and facility status should therefore be understood as claims in that report.
Intel’s current environmental, health, and safety policy describes a general corporate commitment across product development, manufacturing, and supply chain; it does not verify the 2013 event.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Quick Response & High Precision：The PT-990 gas leak detector is equipped with a high-quality Figaro sensor for combustible gases, capable of detecting concentrations from 0 to 10,000 ppm (0%LEL to 20%LEL). Its built-in fan actively draws in ambient air to ensure faster response times and improved detection accuracy, provides an instant response in as little as 0.5 seconds
- Multifunctional Detector：Designed for versatility, the PT-990 natural gas detector includes a data logging feature that records critical information such as alarm time and the PPM reading when the alarm is triggered. Additional features include one-button quick mute and manual calibration for flexible operation
- Dual Displays & Triple Alarms System: The PT-990 gas detector offers both real-time PPM readings and a dynamic trend line graph for intuitive gas concentration tracking. It also features a 90dB audible buzzer, visual indicator lights, and vibration alerts—each of which can be independently enabled or disabled according to your needs
- User-Friendly Design: The PT-990 includes a 11-inch flexible gooseneck for reaching tight or hard-to-access areas. It’s powered by a 4000mAh rechargeable lithium battery that supports over 9 hours of use, and features a USB-C charging port with dustproof cover, a colorful TFT display, adjustable screen brightness, and auto sleep mode for energy saving
- Package Listing：Includes: PT-990 Gas Leak Detector x 1, USB-C Charging Cable x 1, Zippered Storage Case x 1, and Multilingual User Manual x 1. Everything you need to get started is right in the box
Rank #4
- COMPREHENSIVE GAS DETECTION: This handheld gas detector is capable of detecting acetone, ammonia, butane, methane, natural gas, LPG, Jet fuel. Great detector for any residential or commercial HVAC needs.
- EASY TO USE: Simply turn on the gas leak detector, let it warm up for 10 seconds in open air, and then point gooseneck toward suspected areas. When a leak is found the leak detector will provide both audio and visual cues through increasing tic rate. This Gas leak detector is great for any homeowner or HVAC contractor and is great for both industrial and residential environments
- EFFECTIVE IN TIGHT SPACES: This gas sniffer features a long 18" flexible gooseneck to access hard to reach places. Also includes a tip light at the end of gooseneck to illuminate leak in a dark environment
- EFFICIENT: This combustion gas leak detector will save time while assessing equipment. It is faster and more effective than the traditional soap method.
Rank #3
- High Precision with Flexible Probe: The PT-830S gas leak detector is equipped with a Figaro sensor that precisely measures gas concentrations ranging from 0 to 10,000 ppm. The 14-inch gooseneck designed for hard-to-reach spots. It also offers customizable high and low alarm thresholds, enabling user to achieve professional-level accuracy when detecting methane, propane, butane, and other combustible gases
- Three Alarm Modes: The PT-830S natural gas detector features a 90dB buzzer, warning lights, and vibration alert. Each of them can be independently enabled or disabled by your needs. Additionally, the detector includes a quick mute function to silence the audible alerts when detecting, effectively eliminating any unnecessary noise during operation
- Big TFT Color Display: With a large TFT color screen, PT-830S gas leak detector offers a easy reading. It displays a PPM value in real time, sound mode, sensitivity levels, battery status, and more. Different information can be distinguished by various colors, allowing users to quickly identify and understand data, even in poor lighting environments
- Multifunctional & Professional: The PT-830S gas detector menu includes zero calibration, zero suppression function, detailed data storage of operation processes, high and low sensitivity adjustment, and more. These functions ensure precise measurements and comprehensive record-keeping, making it a reliable partner for maintaining a safe environment
- User-Friendly & Durable Design: The PT-830S also features adjustable screen brightness, automatic screen off, a built-in flashlight, and USB-C rechargeability, offering up to 8 hours of battery life so you never have to worry about dead batteries. The PT-830S is designed for rugged environments with its explosion-proof and dust-proof properties. The package includes PT-830S gas detector, 1 charging cable, 1 storage box and 1 user manual
Rank #2
- Rubber cushion grip on handle | Visual leak size indicators | Simple controls for easy operation | Advanced Digital Signal Processing, monitors the sensing tip up to 2000 times per second
- Detects all halogenated Gases | Variable frequency audible alarm | Constant Power/Low Battery Indicator | Operating Temperature: 30ºF to 125ºF (0ºC to 52ºC) | Sensing Tip Life: Approx. 20 hours
- Power Supply: 3VDC | Probe Length: 14” (35.5cm) | Ultimate Sensitivity: < 0.1 oz. per year (3 gr/yr) | True Mechanical Pump: Yes | Visual Leak Indication Levels: 18 (tri-color) | Sensitivity Levels: 7 | One Touch Reset and Keypad Controls: Yes
- Mute Button: Yes | Battery Test: True voltage indication | Unit Dimensions: 10.25” x 2.75” x 2.25” (26cm x 6.9cm x 5.7cm) | Unit Weight: 1.2 lbs (544 grams)
- Supply Scope: 1 Unit of TIF XP-1A, Carrying Case with Instruction manual | Applications: Fire Suppression Systems, Dry Cleaning Equipment, Leak Detection in Storage and Recovery Containers.
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