Account About Us Contact Us CALL US TOLL FREE 866 - 372 - 3213 Search products Frequently Asked Questions Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) Consumables General: What is the shelf life of the ETD products? DSA products are designed with an industry-leading, longest shelf life guarantee. Our consumable policy is the following: DSA ETD consumable products are warrantied for as long as the customer owns them. Use of the DSA product is as directed by the DHS/TSA protocol or the instrument manufacturer. Product must be stored at room temperature or in accordance with directions provided. The DSA manufacture date labeled on product is provided for stock rotation and usage purposes. (Use the oldest-dated product first.) Should you have any questions, please contact DSA Detection Customer Service at 1-978-975-3200. Why do we have a manufactured date on the sample traps and swabs, etc? The production date is provided to assist with your stock rotation, as DSA consumables do not expire. QS-B220 Dual-Mode Verification Traps: Are DMVTs approved by TSA? Yes. Read the TSA-approval letter . No technician (or anyone else) should be claiming that you can’t use our DMVTs. They do not damage or alter the detector’s performance. But I have a stockpile of unused A/B canisters! We understand. We’re hoping that TSA will soon recognize that the canister verification process is outdated, dirty, and inefficient. Canister verification can cause contamination of your checkpoint and operator as well. Canisters introduce excess verification substance into your system if too much pressure is applied. This causes over-contamination and a visit from the technician at times to clear the detector. If a canister is dropped and shatters, it must be thrown away. Canisters are very expensive to replace. These issues and more seem to violate the “Clean Checkpoint” mandate that TSA is striving for. All of these problems disappear with the clean, efficient DMVT. One single DMVT takes the place of the A/B canisters, and DMVT verification takes less than 30 seconds! Compare this to nearly two minutes for canister verification. I don’t have time to retrain my staff! No retraining necessary! Once you tell the detector to recognize the DMVT, verification follows the same window prompts you are used to with canister. However, you will finish nearly 3X faster! If your staff can place a trap into the desorber, they can use DMVTs. That is the only skill needed! Do I need a technician to tell my detector to “recognize” the DMVT? Not at all. It’s just a simple selection in the Settings menu. It can be accessed using the Z level login codes. It takes only 10 seconds! My operators are reluctant to do anything without support. Will you help? Absolutely! We've helped a number of airports make the switch. Just call Russ at 225-315-5870 or email orders@dsadetection.com, and we can set up a date and time with your operator. Here’s the link to the simple instructions for changing over . We may also be able to help you in person. Just ask! I’d like to estimate my costs before switching. Is that possible? Definitely! Estimate your annual savings today by using the DSA Savings Calculator , or give us your data and we’ll input it for you. Where can I find out more about the DMVT? Learn more about the cost and time benefits of the DSA Verification Trap. View the product’s webinar . It is only about 10 minutes and packed with good information. I like the DMVT! How do I order? Order the 100-count packs online. Order the 25-count packs online. Inert Training Aids Can your firearm training aids accidentally discharge? No, and we would like to assure you that our firearm training aids are manufactured to be as safe as possible. They are designed to not chamber live ammunition and are dipped in a blue, rubber-like coating. These qualities prevent the slide, cylinder, and trigger from functioning. The firing pins are trimmed, both to maintain their X-ray signatures and to prevent any contact with the inert, training bullets preloaded into the chamber prior to dipping. Lastly, the orange tips are present on the pistols as an additional indicator that these are not real firearms. Our ammunition training aids are similar. Each casing either has the primer removed or has been fired. The bullets are empty with only the brass casing and the bullet - No propellant or simulated propellant is used. The cases are drilled out to prevent any future reloading and to provide a visual indicator of safety to the user. DSA is committed to providing the highest quality training aids that are both visually and X-ray correct, while maintaining the highest possible standards of safety. Click here for more gun FAQs Are X-ray correct training aids really that important? Yes. A good portion of X-ray image analysis is based on color. The use of color allows for the rapid discrimination between types of threats. Training aids that are the incorrect color teach the operator to look for the wrong indicators. This creates operators who are inaccurate in their analysis and can permit hazards to enter your facility. Are visually correct training aids really that important? The use of training aids that are both visually stimulating and X-ray correct allow for broader training. Not only can the training aids be used in X-ray training but they can also be used in other training scenarios where visual recognition of the threat is required. Many security screeners have never seen threats like explosives or IEDs. Seeing the training aid helps visual and tactile learners integrate the information without the use of hazardous materials. Can I buy individual pieces from the IED/weapon kits? Products that can be purchased individually will be listed on the DSA website as their own products. If you do not see one you’d like, please contact us. What does “density correct” mean? The density of the simulant correctly reflects the density of the material it is simulating. What is the shelf life of the inert explosive materials? The shelf life of our simulants vary by type, but all simulants are warrantied for a year from purchase. Many simulants have a substantially longer shelf life. Can I order different size inert simulants? DSA Detection offers bulk quantities for most of our simulants. Please contact us for details. Can I request a custom kit? Yes, many of our customers request customized training kits. We can work with you to build a kit specifically suited to your needs. Can you provide references on your kits? Please contact us. What is the warranty period on DSA Detection’s IED products? The purchase of DSA IED products and IED kits includes a 1-year limited warranty on all components except batteries, kit case, and foam insert. DSA Detection warrants to the original purchaser of any new merchandise that all items will be free of defects in material and workmanship when used under normal conditions and as the product is intended to be used. The limited warranty is for one year. Batteries, kit case, and foam inserts are excluded from this warranty. All items returned to DSA Detection require a returned material authorization number from DSA customer service and will be assessed for a replacement disposition. Warranty claim must be made promptly and must be received during the applicable warranty period by DSA Detection or your authorized DSA Detection distributor. If it becomes necessary to return a product for repair and/or adjustment, prior authorization from DSA Detection or DSA Detection authorized distributor must be obtained. Instructions as to how and where these products should be shipped will be provided by DSA Detection or DSA Detection authorized distributor. Any product or component returned for examination and/or warranty repair shall be sent to DSA Detection in North Andover, MA, or any of their authorized representatives. All items must be returned at the customers cost (freight pre-paid), referencing the return authorization number provided by the customer service department. All products or components repaired or replaced under warranty will be returned to the customer at DSA Detection’s expense. In all cases, DSA Detection or your DSA Detection authorized distributor has the sole responsibility for determining the cause and nature of failure, and that determination shall be final. All parts that are replaced under warranty will become the property of DSA Detection. Have all your IED/weapon kits and contents been certified, and by whom? No, currently there is no simulant certification process in place by any governing agency. However, DSA Detection participates in a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL). This allows DSA to verify that our simulants accurately reflect real-world threats. What does "X-ray correct" mean exactly? X-ray correct means that the physical properties of the simulant respond to X-rays in the same way as the material being simulated. Dual energy X-ray machines (Single View, Multi-View, and CT) all interrogate materials using two properties – the effective atomic number (Zeff), and the density. Two materials sharing these properties will appear substantially similar in an X-ray machine. Why do we have X-ray correct simulants? Modern cabinet X-ray screening technology is designed in a way to more easily identify explosives than original black and white X-rays could. They use material discrimination to display different materials in different colors to the X-ray operator. Most X-ray equipment uses this material discrimination to alert the screener to items with properties similar to explosives. Because of this technology, it is important for training aids and simulants to mimic these properties to generate the same alarms. Visually correct simulants are important, but it is the science that goes into each unique formula that causes the X-ray to alarm properly. For example, a block of clay in a M112 C-4 wrapper, or a wooden dowel wrapped to look like a stick of dynamite may fool the security officer, but it will not fool the X-ray. Neither the clay nor the wooden dowel will trigger the X-ray to alarm, and they will present very differently than a real explosive on the screen. Training Why do we need training? The value of training cannot be underestimated. Untrained operators can hurt themselves or others. There is the risk of mission failure. Overarching it all is the liability for failure to train our employees to a standard of competence. There are positive values to training as well. Training builds up employees. It gives them new skills and reinforces old ones. It builds confidence in your employees. It can also help build and solidify teamwork. Why is DSA Detection’s training different? DSA employs subject-matter experts (SME’s) who have spent their careers designing and training for the operation of security checkpoints in high-risk, high-threat locations around the world. DSA SME’s have decades of experience in WTMD, HHMD, ETD, tunnel X-ray systems, as well as hand-searching persons. DSA develops screening policies and procedures based on the venue's purpose. Is DSA Detection’s training better than the OEM? DSA Training is different than the training the OEM provides. Usually, OEM training is provided at the end of the installation by a technician. It focuses on how to run the machine. The students are taught which buttons control which functions. DSA training focuses on how to use the machine to achieve the organization’s security objectives. We train the human to integrate with the machine to create a synergistic effect. The salesman told me that anyone can use their system. Why do I need you? Many machines in the security field have excellent graphic user interfaces. They are quite intuitive and most operators can figure them with minimal instruction. Being able to operate a machine doesn’t mean that your staff can really use it. Ask yourself this question - Would I want a doctor to read my X-ray if all the training they had was an hour with the technician who installed it? DSA specializes in training the space between what the OEM teaches and day-to-day operations. Our instructors are subject-matter experts (SME’s) who have spent their careers designing and training for the operation of security checkpoints in high-risk, high-threat locations around the world. DSA SME’s have decades of experience in WTMD, HHMD, ETD, tunnel X-ray systems as well as hand searching persons. We would like more than just classroom training. Can you help us? DSA offers on-site coaching. Our subject-matter experts will be on-site at your checkpoint, offering advice and assistance to your staff. Coaching extends the training experience into the real world where the operators have a resource to call on while they build their skills. Is your training online, in person, or both? DSA provides on-site training. Where is your training done? Our training is provided at your facility, which is recommended, as you will learn on your own instruments at their own current settings. Alternatively, DSA provides training at its location in North Andover, MA. Do you need to buy a kit for the training? You do not need to buy an inert kit for the training. However, it is recommended for the continual training and testing of your screeners. ETD training courses utilize standard consumables and maintenance items for your instrument. If you are in need of them, we do recommend purchasing those. Can your training be tailored to our needs or mission? In many instances, DSA is able to cater its training to the needs of your organization. Contact us to discuss. Is it just government agencies or do you train civilian companies as well? DSA trains both government agencies and civilian companies. We have also customized X-ray and metal detector training kits for corporations concerned with the loss of internal information and data. Can you provide references on your training? Please contact us. Do you do training outside of the United States? DSA does provide training internationally as well. Miscellaneous How long has DSA Detection been in business? DSA has been in operation since 2005. Who are the SME’s at DSA Detection? ETD Consumables - Russ Horseman Training Aids - Blaine Vernon Training Courses - Clay Edwards To reach our SME's, please reach out to orders@dsadetection.com for the most current contact information. Why do I have to log in for pricing and information? First, no product or training class information is concealed behind a login wall, other than some of the X-ray images for security reasons. In terms of pricing, DSA has contracts with some organizations that affect their pricing. The registration/login wall allows us to ensure those companies are assigned to their contracted pricing when logged in. Additionally, online accounts have access to purchase any items on our website, including security-sensitive products. For additional security, many customers are asked to place orders/request quotes over the phone. Do you share my information with outside vendors? No, your contact information is not sold to any third parties. Is my information kept confidential, and how do you protect that information? We use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocols, which ultimately means that personal information entered on our website cannot be deciphered by the wrong parties. Payments are PCI compliant, and credit card information is never saved on our website. How many distributors do you have? DSA currently has 27 distributors across the globe and counting. How do I become a distributor or partner of DSA Detection? Please contact orders@dsadetection.com. What is your return policy? Please view DSA Terms and Conditions . Do you supply many airports? DSA is an approved supplier of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration, with whom we have had 4 consecutive Blanket Purchase Agreements to supply the nation's 432 +/- TSA airports with ETD consumables and checkpoint accessories. DSA also has a Creative Research and Development Agreement with the DHS - Transportation Security Laboratory for X-ray correct explosive simulants, also supplied to the nation's TSA airports. In addition to U.S. airports, DSA works with several international airports in the UK, France, the Netherlands, and more. Can I talk with your SME’s before I make a decision on buying a product and/or service? Absolutely! Contact Customer Service, and we will route you to the most appropriate subject-matter expert related to your questions - 978-975-3200 / orders@dsadetection.com What do I do if my goods are faulty? Contact our Customer Service department at 978-975-3200 / orders@dsadetection.com or the distributor from whom you purchased. Can all of DSA’s products be shipped overseas? This depends on the current global regulations. DSA remains knowledgeable on United States export regulations, but it is the responsibility of the customer to understand and abide by its destination country's import regulations. For example, some countries may not accept firearm replicas. What does ITAR mean? "ITAR" stands for "International Traffic in Arms Regulations", which are laws that largely relate to exporting goods from the United States. To determine if a shipment is ITAR-controlled, DSA will ask a number of questions and provide an End User Statement form. If the shipment/product is ITAR-controlled, DSA must apply for an ITAR license from the U.S. State Department, and must receive the license before the shipment may occur. ITAR-controlled products are noted as such on our website product pages. A shipment may also be ITAR-controlled depending on its receiving country/countries, end use, and end user. Please contact us if you would like to discuss further. Why must I sign an End User Statement? End User Statements help DSA determine if an export license may be required for your order. Contact Us Phone +1 978-975-3200 Toll Free 866-372-3213 Submit a Request Email Us Let's get social! INFORMATION About Us FAQ Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions © 2006-2021 DSA Detection. All Rights Reserved. DSA Detection, DSA Detection and Design, and Single Focus Single Source are registered trademarks of DSA Detection LLC. DSA Detection, independent of any instrument manufacturer affiliation, sources and manufactures all its products and guarantees they are instrument compatible and DHS approved, where required. Itemiser®, MobileTrace®, and VaporTracer2® are registered trademarks of Rapiscan Systems. IONSCAN® and SABRE® are registered trademarks of Smiths Detection. QS-B220™ is a trademark of Leidos (formerly L3HARRIS). VELCRO® is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries B. V. Nomex® is a registered trademark of DuPont. Drierite™ is a trademark of W. A. Hammond Drierite Company, Ltd.