Argon Electronics has an almost forty-year legacy of developing simulators that allow first responders to train for CBRNe (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives) and HazMat incidents without exposure to real agents. Its equipment supports training across emergency services, maritime organisations and defence forces – a role that places it firmly within the UK’s wider safety and preparedness architecture at a time when both civil and military authorities face an expanding threat envelope.
Unlike many natural disasters, atmospheric hazards come with very little if any warning. Chemical leaks contribute to some 15 annual deaths in Britain in confined spaces: training sometimes amounts to reading and imagining what a gas detector might say given certain circumstances. Argon’s simulators enable response teams to train realistically without inviting disaster. Instruments these responders depend upon – multi-gas monitors, photoionisation detectors, oxygen meters and combustible gas readers – form the backbone of their situational awareness: Argon’s simulators are designed to replicate their behaviour with high fidelity. Handheld devices respond as their real-world counterparts do, but operate through safe training proxies rather than live gases.
The Generic MultiGAS-SIM handheld simulator, introduced in 2025, mirrors the look, feel and operation of a multi-gas detector, runs on standard AA batteries, requires no calibration gases and can pair with an instructor’s app via Bluetooth for real-time oversight. The aim is accurate, instrument-level simulation that reflects what frontline responders genuinely rely on. “We created the MultiGAS-SIM to fill gaps in confined space training for toxic industrial chemicals, informed by our chemical warfare expertise. Ultrasound mimics vapour dispersion effectively, identifying issues like unsealed entries. It replicates various gases, densities, and oxygen drops securely, enabling authentic practice of operational intricacies,” states Argon’s Director of Business Development, Felipe Arrighi.
The company’s wider ecosystem, including Long Range Vapour Source (LRVS) emitters and options such as PlumeSIM for complex multi-hazard scenarios, allows instructors to escalate from simple leak simulations to large-scale CBRNe training events. Experience in a key NATO exercise last year and recent tragic real-world incidents confirm the efficacy of accurate and reliable detection – and the need for well trained operators. Simulated training environments allow teams to experience these hazards safely, oxygen depletion, toxic spikes, vapour movement and stratification, and to learn how readings shift in response to decisions made under pressure. This helps bridge the gap between textbook knowledge and real-world performance, especially in major exercises where multiple agencies must work together under realistic conditions.
The value of Argon’s work lies in its insistence that safety cannot be theoretical. As risks across industry, maritime operations and civil defence become more interconnected, accurate simulation becomes not a luxury but a foundation. These tools are not a ‘nice to have’; they exist so that crews can make sound decisions when the margin for error disappears. And if the coming years bring new challenges, as they surely will, organisations that invest in realism, competence and disciplined practice will be far better prepared than those that only trust to luck.
Headline image: the MultiGas-SIM sits at the heart of the company’s approach to improved situational awareness and threat recognition. (Argon Electronics)
