A gas detection panel is the control unit that reads your sensors, raises the alarm and switches valves, fans and other plant. We supply, install and service gas detection control panels from GDS Technologies, Medem, Flamefast, Duomo and Coster. This page compares them so you can see which suits your site.
The panel watches every sensor continuously. When a reading passes a set level it gives a warning, usually a pre-alarm first and then a main alarm, and switches outputs: sounders and beacons, extract fans, a signal to your building management system and, on a fuel gas supply, a gas solenoid valve that shuts off the gas.
A good panel also watches itself. It reports a sensor fault, a cable break or a power problem, so a dead sensor is never mistaken for clean air. When the panel controls a gas valve together with ventilation or gas proving, the whole arrangement is often called a gas interlock system.
The table lists what each manufacturer and our product pages state for each panel. Every panel can do more with the right sensors and accessories, so treat it as a starting point, and ask us to confirm the exact model for your site.
| Panel | Sensors or channels | Gases or applications listed | Alarm stages | Outputs and control |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDS Combi (Combi 16, 64, 80) | 1 to 64 addressable sensors, 1 to 16 direct 4 to 20 mA sensors, up to 16 networked controllers and 1,024 addressable sensors | Commercial premises to heavy industry, including hazardous area sensing | 3, with time to alarm option | Addressable relay boards (4 and 32 way) and PC data logging as options |
| GDS102 | 2 channels (mV bridge and 4 to 20 mA) | Commercial buildings to heavy industry, including hazardous area sensing | 3 | 4 alarm and fault relays (3 A at 230 V AC), 4 to 20 mA output, logging of up to 2,880 readings |
| GDS404+ | 1 to 4 sensors | Flammable, oxygen, toxic and refrigerant gases | 2 | Selectable alarm relays, 4 to 20 mA output, delay to alarm option |
| Medem AGDS-2em v2 | 1 or 2 sensors | Natural gas, LPG, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen depletion | High alarm with valve isolation | Automatic gas valve isolation, BMS relay, emergency stop and fire alarm inputs |
| Medem AGDS-V | 4 sensors | Natural gas, LPG, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen depletion | Low and high | Automatic gas valve isolation, 2 BMS relays, emergency stop and fire alarm inputs |
| Medem AGDS-MCM v2 | Up to 16 detectors with power pack, 6 without | Natural gas, LPG, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen depletion | Pre and high | Multiple BMS relays, 0 to 10 V fan speed output for CO2 and temperature, event logging |
| Flamefast GasMonitor 16 | Up to 16 Flamefast FGS sensors | Natural gas, LPG, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and more | Alarm 1 and Alarm 2 | Alarm and fault relays (5 A at 250 V), ventilation, thermal link, emergency stop and fire alarm interfaces |
| Duomo GS100M | Single channel | Carbon monoxide, natural gas, LPG | 3 (2 pre-alarms and main alarm) | Fail-safe shut-off on main alarm, relays rated 10 A resistive |
| Coster RFG 653 | 1 to 3 sensors | Methane, LPG, carbon monoxide | Pre-alarm and main alarm | Relays for valve control, fans or remote alarms (250 V, 5 A), DIN rail mounted |
For a single boiler room, kitchen or plant room with one to four sensors, a compact panel is usually enough. The Medem AGDS-V and the AGDS-2em are built around automatic gas valve isolation, with inputs for an emergency stop and the fire alarm, which makes them a common choice for boiler houses and commercial kitchens.
The GDS102 and GDS404+ suit sites where the gas list is wider, for example refrigerant or toxic gases alongside fuel gas. The Coster RFG 653 and Duomo GS100M are compact controllers for a few methane, LPG or carbon monoxide points, with relays to drive a shut-off valve.
Once a site needs more than a handful of sensors, a 16 channel gas detection control panel such as the Flamefast GasMonitor 16 or the Medem AGDS-MCM v2 keeps everything on one display. The MCM v2 also gives a 0 to 10 V output for fan speed control, useful where carbon dioxide or temperature drives ventilation.
For car parks, tunnels, large plant rooms and multi-building sites, the GDS Combi is an addressable gas detector system. Sensors share a single 4 core network instead of each needing its own cable back to the panel, and up to 16 controllers can be networked together. Where sensors are hard to reach, sequential sampling systems such as the GDS 305 bring samples back to one point.
To recommend a panel we need to know how many points you need to monitor, which gases, what the panel has to switch, and whether it must link to your BMS or fire alarm. Since October 2026 Vistec is part of Xenon Building Technology, so gas detection can be planned alongside fire detection, intruder alarms, CCTV and access control.
We install and commission the panel, sensors and valves, and train your staff on operation and on resetting after an alarm. Sensors are calibrated with certified test gases, and a maintenance contract keeps visits on schedule. Our engineers also service gas detection panels from many other manufacturers.
In an addressable system each sensor has its own address on a shared network cable, so the panel knows exactly which sensor is in alarm without a separate cable run for every point. It suits large sites with many sensors. The GDS Combi is the addressable system in our range.
Yes. Most panels in our range have relays that can close a normally closed gas solenoid valve on alarm. The Medem AGDS panels are designed around automatic valve isolation, and the Duomo GS100M has fail-safe shut-off on its main alarm.
Often, yes, as long as the panel has spare channels or network capacity. A GDS Defender can be extended with an additional power pack, and the GDS Combi can network further controllers. We check what your panel will support before quoting.
Most panels we supply have relay or analogue outputs for a building management system. The Medem AGDS-V, for example, has two BMS relay outputs, and the GDS102 has a 4 to 20 mA output.
Yes. Our engineers service and maintain gas detection equipment from many manufacturers, not only the brands we sell, including calibration of the connected sensors.
Tell us how many points you need to monitor, the gases and what the panel must control, and we will recommend a panel to suit. Call 01 289 7720 or email info@vistec.ie.
© 2026 Vistec Gas Detection Ltd
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