INDUSTRIAL SCIENTIFIC CORP
SC 13D, 1999-03-04
INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASUREMENT, DISPLAY, AND CONTROL
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<PAGE>
    
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                       INDUSTRIAL SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
                                (Name of Issuer)

                     Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                  45631G-10-6
                                 (CUSIP Number)

          Robert K. Morris                              James J. Barnes
     Reed, Smith, Shaw & McClay                     Buchanan Ingersoll P.C.
          435 Sixth Avenue                       One Oxford Centre, 20th Floor
        Pittsburgh, PA 15219                            301 Grant Street
            412/288-3126                              Pittsburgh, PA 15219
                                                          412/562-1415
 
                 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
               Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

                               February 23, 1999
            (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following
box [_].

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7(b) for other
parties to whom copies are to be sent.


                        (Continued on following pages)



- ----------- 
     The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall
not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that
section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act
(however, see the Notes).


<PAGE>
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1  NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF 
    ABOVE PERSONS:

    Kent D. McElhattan
    SSN: ###-##-####
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
                                                           (a) [X]
                                                           (b) [_]
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 3  SEC USE ONLY
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 4  SOURCE OF FUNDS
 
    BK, OO
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 5  CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED TO 
    ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)                                     [_]
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 6  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
    United States of America
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Number of Shares            7          SOLE VOTING POWER
 Beneficially Owned by                     0
 Each Reporting Person        -------------------------------------------------
          With                  8          SHARED VOTING POWER
                                           2,446,210*
                              -------------------------------------------------
                                9          SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                           0
                              -------------------------------------------------
                               10          SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                           2,446,210*
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
    PERSON

    2,446,210 Shares*
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12  CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
    SHARES                                                 [_]
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

    72.4%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

    IN
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
*Includes 110,080 shares held by various family trusts, 14,400 shares held by a
charitable foundation and 6,640 shares held by members of Kent D. McElhattan's
immediate family, as to which the Reporting Person disclaims beneficial
ownership.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1  NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF
    ABOVE PERSONS

    Kenton E. McElhattan
    SSN: ###-##-####
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
                                                           (a) [X]
                                                           (b) [_]
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 3  SEC USE ONLY
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 4  SOURCE OF FUNDS

    BK, OO
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 5  CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS
    REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)                [_]
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 6  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

    United States of America 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 7         SOLE VOTING POWER
    Number of Shares
 Beneficially Owned by                     0
 Each Reporting Person        -------------------------------------------------
          With                   8         SHARED VOTING POWER

                                           2,446,210*
                              -------------------------------------------------
                                 9         SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
                                           0
                              -------------------------------------------------
                                10         SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
                                           2,446,210*
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
    PERSON

    2,446,210 shares*
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12  CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
    CERTAIN SHARES                                         [_]
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

    72.4%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

    IN
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------


*Includes 110,080 shares held by various family trusts, 14,400 shares held by a
charitable foundation and 6,640 shares held by members of Kent D. McElhattan's
immediate family, as to which the Reporting Person disclaims beneficial
ownership.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1  NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF
    ABOVE PERSONS
 
    Florence L. McElhattan
    SSN: ###-##-####
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
                                                           (a) [X]
                                                           (b) [_]
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 3  SEC USE ONLY
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 4  SOURCE OF FUNDS

    BK, OO
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 5  CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS
    REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)                [_]
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 6  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

    United States of America
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 7         SOLE VOTING POWER
    Number of Shares
 Beneficially Owned by                     0
 Each Reporting Person        -------------------------------------------------
          With                   8         SHARED VOTING POWER

                                           2,446,210*
                              -------------------------------------------------
                                 9         SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
                                           0
                              -------------------------------------------------
                                10         SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
                                           2,446,210*
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
    PERSON
 
    2,446,210 shares
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12  CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
    CERTAIN SHARES                                         [_]
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

    72.4%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

    IN
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Includes 110,080 shares held by various family trusts, 14,400 shares held by a
charitable foundation and 6,640 shares held by members of Kent D. McElhattan's
immediate family, as to which the Reporting Person disclaims beneficial
ownership.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                                  Statement of

                              Kent D. McElhattan,

                              Kenton E. McElhattan

                                      and

                             Florence L. McElhattan

                           Pursuant to Section 13(d)

                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                 in respect of

                       INDUSTRIAL SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

     This Report on Schedule 13D relates to the common stock, par value $.01 per
share (the "Common Stock"), of Industrial Scientific Corporation, a Pennsylvania
corporation (the "Company"). Kent D. McElhattan, Kenton E. McElhattan and
Florence L. McElhattan (each, a "Reporting Person") constitute a "group" for
purposes of Rule 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), with respect to their respective beneficial ownership of
the Common Stock and are collectively referred to as the "Reporting Group."

     The summary descriptions contained in this Report of certain agreements and
documents are qualified in their entirety by reference to the complete texts of
such agreements and documents filed as Exhibits hereto and incorporated herein
by reference. Information contained herein with respect to each Reporting Person
is given solely by such Reporting Person, and no other Reporting Person has
responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information supplied by such
other Reporting Person.

ITEM 1. SECURITY AND ISSUER

     The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 1001 Oakdale
Road, Oakdale, Pennsylvania 15071. The class of securities to which this Report
relates is the Common Stock of the Company.

ITEM 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND

     Kent D. McElhattan's business address is 1001 Oakdale Road, Oakdale,
Pennsylvania 15071, and his principal occupation is President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company.

     During the last five years, Kent D. McElhattan has not been convicted in a
criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and similar misdemeanors), nor
has he been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body
of competent jurisdiction resulting in a

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting
or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding
any violation with respect to such laws.

     Kent D. McElhattan is a United States citizen.

     Kenton E. McElhattan's business address is 1001 Oakdale Road, Oakdale,
Pennsylvania 15071, and his principal occupation is Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Company.

     During the last five years, Kenton E. McElhattan has not been convicted in
a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and similar misdemeanors),
nor has he been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative
body of competent jurisdiction resulting in a judgment, decree or final order
enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject
to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to
such laws.

     Kenton E. McElhattan is a United States citizen.

     Florence L. McElhattan's address is 221 Lynn Haven Drive, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania 15228 and she is the spouse of Kenton E. McElhattan.

     During the last five years, Florence L. McElhattan has not been convicted
in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and similar
misdemeanors), nor has she been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or
administrative body of competent jurisdiction resulting in a judgment, decree or
final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating
activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation
with respect to such laws.

     Florence L. McElhattan is a United States citizen.

ITEM 3. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION

     As more fully described in Item 4 of this Schedule 13D, on February 23,
1999 the Company, and a newly-formed corporation which is wholly owned by the
Reporting Group ("Buyer"), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
"Merger Agreement") providing for the merger (the "Merger") of Buyer with and
into the Company. In the Merger, each share of Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to the time the Merger is consummated (other than shares held
by the Reporting Persons and certain of their affiliates, which will be
canceled, or shares held by shareholders who have exercised their statutory
right under the laws of the state of Pennsylvania to have such shares appraised
and be paid the fair value thereof ("Dissenting Shares")) will be converted into
the right to receive $28.50 payable entirely in cash, without any interest
thereon (such cash paid for the shares of Common Stock is hereinafter referred
to as the "Merger Consideration"), and each outstanding share of common stock of
Buyer will be converted into one share of the common stock of the Company, as
the corporation surviving the Merger (the "Surviving Corporation"). Each
outstanding option to purchase Common Stock (other than those owned by the
Reporting Group ), whether or not then exercisable, shall be canceled at the
closing of the Merger and the holder thereof will be paid an amount in cash
equal to the difference between $28.50 and the exercise price of such option.

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
     The Reporting Persons have calculated that, assuming there are no
Dissenting Shares, approximately $26,000,000 will be required to pay the
aggregate Merger Consideration due to shareholders and option holders of the
Company at the closing of the Merger. In addition, it is anticipated that an
aggregate of approximately $800,000 will be required to pay all other
expenses and costs relating to the transactions, (the "Merger Expenses").

     The Reporting Persons currently expect to cause Buyer to borrow sufficient
funds to effect the Merger and pay the Merger Expenses.  The Reporting Persons
have had discussions with financial institutions regarding such a loan and
expect to have a commitment for financing on or before March 31, 1999.

ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION

     The information set forth in Item 3 of this Schedule 13D is hereby
incorporated by reference herein.

     The Reporting Persons intend to consummate the Merger and acquire all of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock not already owned by the Reporting
Persons and certain of their affiliates at the earliest practicable date. The
Merger Agreement specifies certain conditions which must be satisfied prior to
the closing of the Merger, including, among other things, (a) no preliminary or
permanent injunction, temporary restraining order or other decree of a court,
legislature or other agency or instrumentality of federal, state or local
government (a "Governmental Entity") shall be in effect, no statute, rule or
regulation shall have been enacted by a Governmental Entity and no action, suit
or proceeding by any Governmental Entity shall have been instituted or
threatened, which prohibits the consummation of the Merger or materially
challenges the transactions contemplated thereby; and (b) all consents,
approvals an authorizations of and filing with Governmental Entities required
for the consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby,
shall have been obtained or effected or filed. The completion of the Merger is
also conditioned on the Company not paying any dividends or making any other 
distributions with respect to the Common Stock.

     As a result of the Merger, (a) all of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (other than Dissenting Shares and shares owned by the Reporting Persons,
certain of their affiliates, Buyer or any of its subsidiaries) will be canceled,
and the shares of Buyer will become shares of the Surviving Corporation, (b) the
Reporting Persons and certain of their affiliates will own 100% of the
outstanding shares of the Surviving Corporation, (c) the Common Stock will cease
to be authorized to be quoted on any national securities exchange or interdealer
quotation system of a registered national securities association, (d) the
capital stock of the Company will be removed from registration under the
Exchange Act, (e) the directors of Buyer will become the directors of the
Surviving Corporation and (f) the officers of the Company will become the
officers of the Surviving Corporation.  The Reporting Persons currently
contemplate that each of them (and certain of their affiliates) will contribute
all of their Common Stock to Buyer prior to the Merger.

     Each of the Reporting Persons executed an endorsement to the Merger
Agreement pursuant to which they agreed to: (a) execute and deliver an Action by
Written Consent of the shareholders of the Company (i) approving the Merger and
the Merger Agreement; (ii) approving an amendment to the Articles of
Incorporation of the Company providing that Title 15 of Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, Chapter 25 (Registered Corporations) Subchapter E
(Control Transactions), 15 Pa. C.S.A. (S)(S)2541-2548, shall not be applicable
to the Company; and (b) promptly after the effectiveness of the amendment to the
Articles of

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
Incorporation of the Company, contribute to the capital of Buyer the shares of
Common Stock of which each of the Reporting Persons is a holder of record.

     Following the execution of the Merger Agreement the Reporting Group
executed and delivered the consent approving the Merger and the Merger
Agreement.

     The merger will not be consummated until the expiration of twenty days from
the date a definitive information statement pursuant to Section 14(c) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is first sent to the Company's shareholders.

     The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby is only a summary thereof and does not purport to be
complete.

     Other than as set forth in this Schedule 13D, the Reporting Persons have no
present plans or proposals which relate to or would result in:

     (a)  The acquisition by any person of additional securities of the Company
          or the disposition of securities of the Company;
 
     (b)  An extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger,
          reorganization or liquidation, involving the company or any of its
          subsidiaries;
 
     (c)  A sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of the Company or
          of any of its subsidiaries;
 
     (d)  Any change in the present board of directors or management of the
          Company, including any plans or proposals to change the number or
          term of directors or to fill any existing vacancies on the board;
 
     (e)  Any material change in the present capitalization or dividend policy
          of the Company;
 
     (f)  Any other material change in the Company's business or corporate
          structure;
 
     (g)  Changes in the Company charter, bylaws or instruments corresponding
          thereto or other actions which may impede the acquisition of control
          of the Company by any person;
 
     (h)  Causing a class of securities of the Company to be delisted from a
          national securities exchange or to cease to be authorized to be
          quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system of a registered national
          securities association;
 
     (i)  A class of equity securities of the Company becoming eligible for
          termination of registration pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of the
          Exchange Act; or
 
     (j)  Any action similar to any of those enumerated in this item.
 

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER

     (a) - (b) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
October 31, 1998 reports that as of December 14, 1998, there were outstanding
3,379,037 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, the Reporting Persons
beneficially own an aggregate of 2,446,210 shares of Common Stock, or
approximately 72.4% of the shares of Common Stock deemed outstanding. Of these
shares, (i) Kent D. McElhattan is the record holder of 874,240 shares of Common
Stock and beneficially owns 1,026,250 shares of Common Stock (which includes
shares held by: members of Mr. McElhattan's immediate family, various family
trusts, shares held in a family foundation and shares held for the benefit of
Mr. McElhattan in the Company's Profit Sharing Plan), (ii) Kenton E. McElhattan
is the record holder of 668,960 shares of Common Stock and beneficially owns
1,434,360 shares of Common Stock (which includes shares held by Florence L.
McElhattan and shares held in a family foundation), and (iii) Florence L.
McElhattan is the record holder of 750,000 shares of Common Stock and
beneficially owns 1,434,360 shares of Common Stock (which includes shares held
directly by Kenton E. McElhattan and shares held in a family foundation). The
shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Kent D. McElhattan constitute
approximately 30.4% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. The shares of
Common Stock beneficially owned by Kenton E. McElhattan constitute approximately
42.4% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. The shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by Florence L. McElhattan constitute 42.4% of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock. The Reporting Persons disclaim beneficial ownership of
the 110,080 shares held by various family trusts, 14,400 shares held by a
charitable foundation and 6,640 shares held by members of Kent D. McElhattan's
immediate family.

     By virtue of their status as a "group" for purposes of Rule 13d-5, each of
Kenton E. McElhattan, Kent D. McElhattan and Florence L. McElhattan may be
deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power over the shares owned by the
other person.

     (c)  None

     (d)  None

     (e)  None

ITEM 6. CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT TO
SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER

     The information set forth in Item 4 of this Schedule 13D is hereby
incorporated by reference herein.

ITEM 7. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS

1.   Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between ISC Acquisition Corporation and
     Industrial Scientific Corporation dated as of February 23, 1999.

2.   Press Release of the Company, dated February 24, 1999.

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURE

     After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his or her knowledge and
belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this
statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated: March 2, 1999
                                               /s/ Kent D. McElhattan
                                              ---------------------------
                                                   Kent D. McElhattan



 
                                               /s/ Kenton E. McElhattan
                                              ---------------------------
                                                   Kenton E. McElhattan



 
                                               /s/ Florence L. McElhattan
                                              ---------------------------
                                                   Florence L. McElhattan

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
Seq. Pg. No.

1.   Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between ISC Acquisition Corporation and
     Industrial Scientific Corporation dated as of February 23, 1999.

2.   Press Release of the Company, dated February 24, 1999.

                                       13

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     Exhibit 2.1
 
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

BY AND BETWEEN

ISC ACQUISITION CORPORATION

AND

INDUSTRIAL SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 23, 1999
<PAGE>
 
     AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER dated as of February 23, 1999 (the
"Agreement") between ISC Acquisition Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation
("Acquisition"), and Industrial Scientific Corporation, a Pennsylvania
corporation ("Industrial Scientific").

     WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Acquisition and the Board of Directors
of Industrial Scientific upon the recommendation of its special committee of
disinterested members (the "Special Committee") have unanimously approved, and
deem advisable and in the best interests of their shareholders, the merger of
Acquisition with and into Industrial Scientific in accordance with Title 15,
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (the "PBCL") and in accordance with the
terms, and subject to the conditions of, this Agreement (the "Merger");

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the representations,
warranties and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto, intending to be
legally bound, agree as follows:


Article I
The Merger

     Section 1.01.    The Merger.  At the Effective Time (as hereinafter
defined), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement and in accordance with the PBCL, Acquisition shall be merged with and
into Industrial Scientific, the separate existence of Acquisition shall cease,
and Industrial Scientific shall continue as the surviving corporation (the
"Surviving Corporation"). The Merger shall have the effects as provided by the
PBCL and other applicable law.

     Section 1.02.    Effective Time.  As soon as practicable following the
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article 5, the parties
shall file in the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
articles of merger (the "Articles of Merger") executed in accordance with the
relevant provisions of the PBCL and shall make all other filings or recordings
required under the PBCL. The Merger shall become effective at such time as the
Articles of Merger are duly filed in the Department of State of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, or at such other time as is permissible in accordance with the
PBCL and as Acquisition and Industrial Scientific shall agree and as specified
in the Articles of Merger (the time the Merger becomes effective being the
"Effective Time").

     Section 1.03.    Closing.  The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") will
take place at the offices of Buchanan Ingersoll Professional Corporation, One
Oxford Centre, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at 10:00 a.m. (Pittsburgh time) on the
date of the satisfaction of the conditions provided in Article 5, or at such
other time and place as Acquisition and Industrial Scientific shall agree (the
"Closing Date").

     Section 1.04.    Certificate of Incorporation; By-Laws; Officers and
Directors. Pursuant to the Merger: (a) the Articles of Incorporation and By-laws
of Industrial Scientific as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be the Articles of Incorporation and By-laws of the Surviving Corporation
following the Merger; provided that the number "four (4)" and "nine (9)" in
Article 6(a) of the Articles of Incorporation shall be changed to "two (2)" and
"seven (7)" respectively, until thereafter changed or amended as provided
therein and in accordance with applicable law; (b) Kenton E. McElhattan and Kent
D. McElhattan shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation following the
Merger and until the earlier of their death, resignation or removal or until
their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified; and (c)
the officers of Industrial Scientific immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation until the earlier of their
death, resignation or removal or until their respective successors are duly
elected or appointed and qualified.

                                                                               1
<PAGE>
 
     Section 1.05.    Effect on Common Stock.  As of the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Acquisition,
Industrial Scientific or the holders of any shares of Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share, of Industrial Scientific (the "Industrial Scientific Common
Stock"):

          (a)  Common Stock of Acquisition.  Each share of Common Stock, par
     value $.01 per share, of Acquisition (the "Acquisition Common Stock"),
     which is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time,
     shall be converted into and become one share of Common Stock, par value
     $.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.

          (b)  Common Stock of Industrial Scientific.  Subject to Sections 1.05
     (c), 1.05(d) and 1.06, each share of Industrial Scientific Common Stock
     which is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
     shall be converted into and become a right to receive $28.50 in cash (the
     "Merger Consideration") and, when so converted, shall automatically be
     canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a
     certificate representing any such shares of Industrial Scientific Common
     Stock shall, to the extent such certificate represents such shares, cease
     to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the
     Merger Consideration allocable to the shares represented by such
     certificate upon surrender of such certificate in accordance with Section
     1.08.

          (c)  Cancellation of Treasury Stock.  Any shares of Industrial
     Scientific Common Stock that are owned immediately prior to the Effective
     Time by Industrial Scientific or any Subsidiary of Industrial Scientific
     (as hereinafter defined) which constitute treasury stock in the hands of
     the holder thereof, shall be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist,
     and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor, and each
     holder of a certificate representing any such shares shall cease to have
     any rights with respect thereto. The term "Subsidiary" means any
     corporation, joint venture, partnership, limited liability company or other
     entity of which Industrial Scientific, directly or indirectly, owns or
     controls capital stock (or other equity interests) representing more than
     fifty percent of the general voting power under ordinary circumstance of
     such entity.

          (d)  Industrial Scientific Common Stock Held by Acquisition.  Any
     shares of Industrial Scientific Common Stock that are owned immediately
     prior to the Effective Time by Acquisition shall be canceled and retired
     and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in
     exchange therefor, and each holder of a certificate representing any such
     shares shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto. Acquisition
     hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights it may have pursuant to the
     terms of this Agreement or under the PBCL (including, without limitation,
     any rights to which it may be entitled under Part II, Chapter 15,
     Subchapter D of the PBCL) or otherwise to receive pursuant to the Merger
     cash or any other consideration for the shares of Industrial Scientific
     Common Stock owned or held by it at the Effective Time.

     Section 1.06.    Dissenting Shares.  Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, shares of Industrial Scientific Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by a holder (if
any) who has perfected his rights to dissent from the Merger in accordance with
Part I, Chapter 15, Subchapter D of the PBCL ("Dissenting Shares") shall be
canceled and retired and shall not be converted into a right to receive the
Merger Consideration, unless such holder fails to perfect or withdraws or
otherwise loses such holder's right to dissent, if any. Such shareholders shall
be entitled to receive payment of the appraised value of such Dissenting Shares
in accordance with the provisions of the PBCL. If, after the Effective Time,
such holder fails to perfect or withdraws or loses any such right to dissent,
each such share of such holder shall be treated as a share that had been
converted as of the Effective Time into the right to receive the Merger
Consideration, without interest, in accordance with Section 1.05(b).

                                                                               2
<PAGE>
 
     Section 1.07.    Treatment of Options.

          (a)  Pursuant to the Merger, at the Effective Time, each outstanding
     option to purchase shares of Industrial Scientific Common Stock (an
     "Industrial Scientific Stock Option"), other than those held by Kenton E.
     McElhattan and Kent D. McElhattan, whether or not vested, will be
     terminated and, in exchange for such Industrial Scientific Stock Option,
     the holder will be entitled to receive, for each share of Industrial
     Scientific Common Stock subject to such Industrial Scientific Stock Option,
     a cash payment equal to the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration
     over the applicable exercise price.

          (b)  Prior to the Effective Time, Industrial Scientific shall use
     its best efforts to (i) obtain any consents from holders of the options and
     (ii) make any amendments to the terms of the Industrial Scientific Stock
     Option Plan and any options granted thereunder that, in case of either (i)
     or (ii), are necessary or appropriate to give effect to the transactions
     contemplated by this Section 1.07. Notwithstanding any other provisions of
     this Section 1.07, payment in respect of any options may be withheld until
     necessary consents are obtained.

     Section 1.08.    Exchange of Certificates.

          (a)  Exchange Agent.  Prior to the Effective Time, Industrial
     Scientific shall appoint a bank or trust company to act as exchange agent
     (the "Exchange Agent") for the payment of the Merger Consideration. As of
     the Effective Time, Industrial Scientific shall have deposited with the
     Exchange Agent, for the benefit of the holders of shares of Industrial
     Scientific Common Stock, for exchange in accordance with this Section 1.08,
     the aggregate amount of cash payable pursuant to Section 1.05(b) hereof in
     exchange for outstanding shares of Industrial Scientific Common Stock (the
     "Exchange Fund").

          (b)  Exchange Procedures.  Promptly after the Effective Time, the
     Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of record of a certificate or
     certificates which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented
     outstanding shares of Industrial Scientific Common Stock whose shares were
     converted into the right to receive cash pursuant to Section 1.05(b) a
     letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected,
     and risk of loss and title to the certificates representing such shares of
     Industrial Scientific Common Stock shall pass, only upon delivery of the
     certificates representing such shares of Industrial Scientific Common Stock
     to the Exchange Agent and shall be in such form and have such other
     provisions as the Exchange Agent may reasonably specify), and instructions
     for use in effecting the surrender of the certificates representing such
     shares of Industrial Scientific Common Stock, in exchange for the Merger
     Consideration. Upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of a certificate or
     certificates representing shares of Industrial Scientific Common Stock and
     acceptance thereof by the Exchange Agent, the holder thereof shall be
     entitled to the amount of cash into which the number of shares of
     Industrial Scientific Common Stock previously represented by such
     certificate or certificates surrendered shall have been converted pursuant
     to this Agreement. The Exchange Agent shall accept such certificates upon
     compliance with such reasonable terms and conditions as the Exchange Agent
     may impose to effect an orderly exchange thereof in accordance with normal
     exchange practices. After the Effective Time, there shall be no further
     transfer on the records of Industrial Scientific or its transfer agent of
     certificates representing shares of Industrial Scientific Common Stock and
     if such certificates are presented to Industrial Scientific for transfer,
     they shall be canceled against delivery of the Merger Consideration
     allocable to the shares of Industrial Scientific Common Stock represented
     by such certificate or certificates. If any Merger Consideration is to be
     remitted to a name other than that in which the certificate for the
     Industrial Scientific Common Stock surrendered for exchange is registered,
     it shall be a condition of such exchange that the certificate so
     surrendered shall be properly endorsed, with signature guaranteed, or
     otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person requesting such
     exchange shall pay to Industrial Scientific, or its

                                                                               3
<PAGE>
 
     transfer agent, any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the
     payment of the Merger Consideration to a name other than that of the
     registered holder of the certificate surrendered, or establish to the
     satisfaction of Industrial Scientific or its transfer agent that such tax
     has been paid or is not applicable. Until surrendered as contemplated by
     this Section 1.08 each certificate for shares of Industrial Scientific
     Common Stock shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to
     represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the Merger
     Consideration allocable to the shares represented by such certificate as
     contemplated by Section 1.05(b). No interest will be paid or will accrue on
     any amount payable as Merger Consideration. Subject to completion of the
     documentation referred to above, the Merger Consideration shall be paid at
     the Effective Time to holders of Industrial Scientific Common Stock.

          (c)  No Further Ownership Rights in Industrial Scientific Stock. 
     The Merger Consideration paid upon the surrender for exchange of
     certificates representing shares of Industrial Scientific Common Stock in
     accordance with the terms of this Section 1.08 shall be deemed to have been
     paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the shares of
     Industrial Scientific Common Stock represented by such certificates.

          (d)  Termination of Exchange Fund.  Any portion of the Exchange Fund
     (including any interest and other income received by the Exchange Agent in
     respect of all such funds) which remains undistributed to the holders of
     the certificates representing shares of Industrial Scientific Common Stock
     for six months after the Effective Time shall be delivered to the Surviving
     Corporation, upon demand, and any holders of shares of Industrial
     Scientific Common Stock prior to the Merger who have not theretofore
     complied with this Section 1.08 shall thereafter look only to the Surviving
     Corporation and only as general creditors thereof for payment of their
     claim for Merger Consideration to which such holders may be entitled.

          (e)  No Liability.  No party to this Agreement shall be liable to any
     Person (as hereinafter defined) in respect of any amount from the Exchange
     Fund delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned
     property, escheat or similar law. The term "Person" means any individual,
     corporation, partnership, trust or unincorporated organization or a
     government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

          (f)  Lost Certificates.  In the event any certificate or certificates
     representing shares of Industrial Scientific Common Stock shall have been
     lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by
     the Person claiming such certificate or certificates to be lost, stolen or
     destroyed, the Exchange Agent will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen
     or destroyed certificate the Merger Consideration deliverable in respect
     thereof as determined in accordance with this Section 1.08; provided that
     the Person to whom the Merger Consideration is paid shall, as a condition
     precedent to the payment thereof, indemnify the Surviving Corporation in an
     amount reasonably satisfactory to it against any claim that may be made
     against the Surviving Corporation with respect to the certificate claimed
     to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

          (g)  Withholding Rights.  The Surviving Corporation and the Exchange
     Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration
     otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of shares of
     Common Stock such amounts as the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange
     Agent is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such
     payment under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
     (the "Code"), or any provision of state, local or foreign tax law. To the
     extent that amounts are so withheld by the Surviving Corporation or the
     Exchange Agent, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of
     this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the shares of Common
     Stock in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by the
     Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent.

                                                                               4
<PAGE>
 
     Section 1.09.    Legal Requirements for Merger.

          (a)  Acquisition will take all reasonable actions necessary to comply
     promptly with all legal requirements which may be imposed on Acquisition
     with respect to the Merger and will promptly cooperate with and furnish
     information to Industrial Scientific in connection with any such
     requirements imposed upon Industrial Scientific in connection with the
     Merger.

          (b)  Industrial Scientific will take all reasonable actions necessary
     to comply promptly with all legal requirements which may be imposed on it
     with respect to the Merger and will promptly cooperate with and furnish
     information to Acquisition in connection with the Merger.

     Section 1.10.    Additional Agreements and Provisions.  Subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of the parties hereto agrees to use
its best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action and to do, or cause
to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and
regulations to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. If at any time after the Effective Time (as hereinafter defined)
any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this
Agreement or to vest the Surviving Corporation with full title to all
properties, assets, rights, approvals, immunities and franchises of either
Industrial Scientific or Acquisition, the proper officers and directors of each
corporation that is a party to this Agreement shall take all such necessary
action. The parties hereto agree to use their respective best efforts to
challenge any action brought against any of the parties hereto seeking a
temporary restraining order or preliminary or permanent injunctive relief which
would prohibit, or materially interfere with, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.


Article II
Representations And Warranties Of Industrial Scientific

     Industrial Scientific represents and warrants to Acquisition as follows:

     Section 2.01.    Organization of Industrial Scientific and its
Subsidiaries. Industrial Scientific and each of its Subsidiaries is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of its jurisdiction of organization and has all the requisite corporate power
and authority to carry on its business as now being conducted and to own, lease,
use and operate the properties owned and used by it. Industrial Scientific and
each of its Subsidiaries is qualified and in good standing to do business in
each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business requires it to be so
qualified, except to the extent the failure to be so qualified has not had, and
would not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect. The term
"Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on the business,
assets, liabilities, results of operations or financial condition of Industrial
Scientific and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     Section 2.02.    Capitalization of Industrial Scientific; Ownership.  The
authorized capital stock of Industrial Scientific consists of 15,000,000 shares
of Industrial Scientific Common Stock, of which no more than 3,379,037 shares
are issued and outstanding as of the date hereof, and 1,000,000 shares of
Preferred Stock, without par value, of which no shares are issued and
outstanding as of the date hereof. All of the issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock of Industrial Scientific are duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable and free of preemptive rights.  Except for
outstanding Industrial Scientific Stock Options to purchase an aggregate of no
more than 52,118 shares of Industrial Scientific Common Stock, there are no
outstanding options, warrants or other rights of any kind to acquire (including
preemptive rights) any additional shares of capital stock of Industrial
Scientific or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or which
otherwise confer on the holder thereof any right to acquire, any such additional
shares, nor is Industrial Scientific committed to issue any such option,
warrant, right or security.  Following the Merger, Industrial Scientific will
have no obligation to issue, transfer or sell any shares of its capital stock or
other securities of Industrial Scientific pursuant to any employee benefit plan
or otherwise.

                                                                               5
<PAGE>
 
     Section 2.03.    Subsidiaries of Industrial Scientific.  The only direct or
indirect Subsidiaries of Industrial Scientific are as follows: Industrial
Scientific Devices, Inc.; Industrial Scientific of Delaware, Inc.; Industrial
Scientific Arabia, Ltd.; Industrial Scientific Pty.; HEG Industrial Scientific
Co. Ltd.; and Industrial Scientific PTE Ltd..  All outstanding shares of capital
stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary are owned by Industrial
Scientific (except for Industrial Scientific Arabia, Ltd., 49% of whose shares
are owned by Industrial Scientific, and HEG Industrial Scientific Co. Ltd., 50%
of whose shares are owned by Industrial Scientific) free and clear of any and
all liens, claims, security interests or options, except for restrictions on
transfer under federal and state securities laws.  All shares of capital stock
of each Subsidiary which is a corporation have been validly issued and are fully
paid and non-assessable.  There are no outstanding options, warrants or other
rights of any kind to acquire (including preemptive rights) any additional
equity interests of any Subsidiary or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for, or which otherwise confer on the holder thereof any right to
acquire, any additional equity interests of any Subsidiary, nor is any
Subsidiary committed to issue any such option, warrant, right or security.
Other than the Subsidiaries referred to in the first sentence of this Section
2.03, Industrial Scientific does not own, directly or indirectly, any equity
interest in any other corporation, joint venture, partnership, limited liability
company or other entity.

     Section 2.04.    Authorization.  Industrial Scientific has all requisite
corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and, subject to any
necessary approval of the Merger by the shareholders of Industrial Scientific,
to carry out its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized
by all requisite corporate action on the part of Industrial Scientific (other
than the approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby by
the shareholders of Industrial Scientific).  The Board of Directors of
Industrial Scientific has unanimously adopted resolutions approving this
Agreement and the Merger, and has determined that the terms of the Merger are
fair to, and in the best interests of, Industrial Scientific's shareholders
other than Kenton E. McElhattan, Florence L. McElhattan, Kent D. McElhattan and
Acquisition (the "Public Shareholders").  This Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by Industrial Scientific and, assuming the due authorization,
execution and delivery hereof by Acquisition, constitutes the valid and binding
obligation of Industrial Scientific, enforceable against Industrial Scientific
except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally
or by general equitable principles.

     Section 2.05.    Fairness Opinion and Approval by the Special Committee.
On or prior to the date hereof, the Special Committee (i) approved the terms of
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby as they relate to the
Public Shareholders, including without limitation the Merger, (ii) determined
that the Merger is fair to and in the best interest of the Public Shareholders
and (iii) recommended that the Board of Directors of Industrial Scientific
approve and authorize this Agreement and such transactions. The Special
Committee has received an opinion of Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. to the effect
that the consideration to be received by the Public Shareholders in the Merger
is fair to such shareholders from a financial point of view as of the date
hereof.

     Section 2.06.    Brokers And Finders.  Other than Ladenburg Thalmann & Co.
Inc., neither Industrial Scientific nor any Subsidiary has employed any broker,
finder, advisor or intermediary in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement which would be entitled to a broker's, finder's or similar fee
or commission in connection therewith or upon the consummation thereof. Any such
fees due to Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. shall be paid by Industrial
Scientific.

     Section 2.07.    SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities.  Industrial
Scientific has filed all required reports, schedules, forms, statements and
other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") since
January 1, 1997 (the "SEC Documents"). As of their respective dates, the SEC
Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as the case may be, and
the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to such
SEC Documents. Except to the extent that information contained in any SEC
Document has been revised

                                                                               6
<PAGE>
 
or superseded by a later filed SEC Document, none of the SEC Documents contains
any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The financial statements of Industrial Scientific included in the
SEC Documents comply as to form in all material respects with applicable
accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with
respect thereto, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except, in the case
of unaudited statements, as permitted by applicable instructions or regulations
of the SEC relating to the preparation of quarterly reports on Form10-Q) applied
on a consistent basis during the period involved (except as may be indicated in
the notes thereto) and fairly present the financial position of Industrial
Scientific as of the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows
for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to
normal year-end audit adjustments).

     Section 2.08.    Absence of Certain Changes or Events.  Except as
disclosed in the SEC Documents filed and publicly available prior to the date of
this Agreement, since the date of the most recent audited financial statements
included in the filed SEC Documents, Industrial Scientific has conducted its
business only in the ordinary course, and there has not been any material change
in Industrial Scientific or its business. Since January 1, 1997, Industrial
Scientific has not engaged in discussions with any party other than Acquisition
with respect to any material transaction or transaction that would be deemed a
change of control of Industrial Scientific or such other entity, including,
without limitation, the sale of the capital stock of Industrial Scientific, the
merger of Industrial Scientific with another entity or the acquisition by
Industrial Scientific of another entity.

     Section 2.09.    Information Statement.  None of the information to be
supplied by Industrial Scientific for inclusion in the Information Statement on
Schedule 14C to be distributed to the Shareholders of Industrial Scientific in
connection with the Merger (the "Information Statement") will, at the time of
the mailing of the Information Statement and any amendments or supplements
thereto, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading. The Information Statement will, as of its effective date, comply as
to form in all material respects with all applicable laws, including the
provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.


Article III
Representations And Warranties Of Acquisition

     Section 3.01.    Organization and Authority of Acquisition. Acquisition is
a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

     Section 3.02.    Authorization.  Acquisition has all corporate power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder
and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.  The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part
of Acquisition.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Acquisition and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof
by Industrial Scientific, constitutes the valid and binding obligation of
Acquisition, enforceable against Acquisition in accordance with its terms,
except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, or similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally or by general equitable principles.

     Section 3.03.    Brokers and Intermediaries.  Other than Parker/Hunter,
Inc., Acquisition has not employed any broker, finder, advisor or intermediary
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement which would
be entitled to a broker's, finder's, or similar fee or commission in connection

                                                                               7
<PAGE>
 
therewith or upon the consummation thereof.  Any such fees due to Parker/Hunter,
Inc. shall be the liability of Acquisition.

     Section 3.04.    Financing.  Acquisition has received indications from a
lending institution that such institution will be prepared to extend the
financing necessary to consummate the Merger.

     Section 3.05.    Information Statement.  None of the information to be
supplied by Acquisition or its shareholders for inclusion in the Information
Statement will, at the time of the mailing of the Information Statement and any
amendments or supplements thereto, contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they are made, not misleading.


Article IV
Certain Covenants And Agreements

     Section 4.01.    Announcement.  Neither Industrial Scientific nor
Acquisition shall issue any press release or otherwise make any public statement
with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby without
the prior consent of the other (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld), except as may be required by applicable law or stock exchange
regulation. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4.01 to the contrary,
Acquisition and Industrial Scientific will, to the extent practicable, consult
with each other before issuing, and provide each other the opportunity to review
and comment upon, any such press release or other public statements with respect
to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby whether or not
required by law.

     Section 4.02.    No Solicitation.  From the date of this Agreement to the
Effective Time, Industrial Scientific covenants and agrees that Industrial
Scientific shall not, nor shall it authorize or permit any of its Subsidiaries
or any officer, director, employee, investment banker, attorney or other adviser
or representative of Industrial Scientific or any of its Subsidiaries
("Industrial Scientific Representatives") to, (i) solicit, initiate, or
encourage the submission of, any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) enter into any
agreement with respect to any Acquisition Proposal or (iii) participate in any
discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any Person any information
for the purpose of facilitating the making of, or take any other action to
facilitate any inquiries or the making of, any proposal that constitutes, or may
reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition Proposal.  Without limiting
the foregoing, it is understood that any violation, of which Industrial
Scientific or any of its Subsidiaries had knowledge at the time of such
violation, of the restrictions set forth in the immediately preceding sentence
by any officer, director, employee, investment banker, attorney, employee, or
other adviser or representative of Industrial Scientific or any of its
Subsidiaries, whether or not such Person is purporting to act on behalf of
Industrial Scientific or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise, shall be deemed
to be a breach of this Section 4.02 by Industrial Scientific. Industrial
Scientific shall promptly advise Acquisition of any Acquisition Proposal and any
inquiries with respect to any Acquisition Proposal.  For purposes of this
Agreement, "Acquisition Proposal" means any proposal for a merger or other
business combination involving Industrial Scientific or any of its Subsidiaries
or any proposal or offer to acquire in any manner, directly or indirectly, an
equity interest in Industrial Scientific or any of its Subsidiaries, any voting
securities of Industrial Scientific or any of its Subsidiaries or a substantial
portion of the assets of Industrial Scientific. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Industrial Scientific, its Subsidiaries and Industrial Scientific
Representatives shall not be obligated to take or refrain from taking any action
pursuant to this Section 4.02 if the Board of Directors of Industrial
Scientific, after consultation with independent legal counsel, determines in
good faith that to take or refrain from taking any such action would result in a
violation of its fiduciary obligations.

     Section 4.03.    Notification of Certain Matters.  Industrial Scientific
shall give prompt notice to Acquisition, and Acquisition shall give prompt
notice to Industrial Scientific, of (a) the occurrence or nonoccurrence of any
event the occurrence or nonoccurrence of which would be likely to cause any

                                                                               8
<PAGE>
 
representation or warranty contained in this Agreement to be untrue or
inaccurate in any material respect at or prior to the Effective Time and (b) any
material failure of Industrial Scientific, or Acquisition, as the case may be,
to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied
with or satisfied by it hereunder; provided, however, that the delivery of any
notice pursuant to this Section 4.03 shall not limit or otherwise affect the
remedies available hereunder to the party receiving such notice.

     Section 4.04.    Directors' And Officers' Indemnification.

          (a)  The Articles of Incorporation and the By-laws of the Surviving
     Corporation shall contain the provisions with respect to indemnification
     and limitation of liability of directors and officers set forth in
     Industrial Scientific's Articles of Incorporation and By-laws on the date
     of this Agreement, which provisions shall not be amended, repealed or
     otherwise modified for a period of six years from the Effective Time in any
     manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who
     on or prior to the Effective Time were directors or officers of Industrial
     Scientific, unless such modification is required by law.

          (b)  The Surviving Corporation shall maintain in effect for six years
     from the Effective Time policies of directors' and officers' liability
     insurance containing terms and conditions which are not less advantageous
     to the insured than any such policies of Industrial Scientific currently in
     effect on the date of this Agreement (the "Industrial Scientific Insurance
     Policies"), with respect to matters occurring prior to the Effective Time,
     to the extent available, and having the maximum available coverage under
     any such Industrial Scientific Insurance Policies; provided, that in no
     event shall the Surviving Corporation be required to pay annual premiums
     for insurance under this Section 4.04(b) in excess of that which is
     commercially reasonable; and provided further, however, that if the annual
     premiums for such insurance coverage exceed that which is commercially
     reasonable, the Surviving Corporation shall be obligated to obtain a policy
     with the greatest coverage at a cost which is commercially reasonable.

     Section 4.05.    Information Statement and Schedule 13E-3.  Industrial
Scientific shall file with the SEC as soon as is reasonably practicable after
the date hereof the Information Statement and shall use all reasonable efforts
to respond to comments from the SEC and to cause the Information Statement to be
mailed to Industrial Scientific's shareholders at the earliest practicable time.
The information provided and to be provided by Industrial Scientific and
Acquisition for use in the Information Statement shall be true and correct in
all material respects without omission of any material fact which is required to
make such information not false or misleading as of the date thereof and in
light of the circumstances under which given or made.  Industrial Scientific
will not mail the Information Statement to Industrial Scientific's shareholders
unless it is satisfactory in content to the Special Committee and Acquisition,
in the exercise of their reasonable judgment.  As soon as practicable after the
date of this Agreement, Acquisition, its shareholders and Industrial Scientific
shall file with the SEC a Rule 13E-3 Transaction Statement on Schedule 13E-3
("Schedule 13E-3"), with respect to the Merger.  Each of the parties hereto
agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to cooperate and to provide each other
with such information as any of such parties may reasonably request in
connection with the preparation of the Schedule 13E-3.  Each party hereto agrees
promptly to supplement, update and correct any information provided by it for
use in the Information Statement and Schedule 13E-3 if and to the extent that
such information is or shall have become incomplete, false or misleading.

     Section 4.06.    Dividends.  Prior to the Effective Time, Industrial 
Scientific shall not pay any dividends or make any other distributions with
respect to the outstanding shares of Industrial Scientific Common Stock.

                                                                               9
<PAGE>
 
Article V
Conditions Precedent

     Section 5.01.    Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the
Merger. The respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger shall be
subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the
following conditions (any of which may be waived by the parties hereto in
writing, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by applicable law):

          (a)  No Injunction or Proceeding.  No preliminary or permanent
     injunction, temporary restraining order or other decree of a court,
     legislature or other agency or instrumentality of federal, state or local
     government (a "Governmental Entity") shall be in effect, no statute, rule
     or regulation shall have been enacted by a Governmental Entity and no
     action, suit or proceeding by any Governmental Entity shall have been
     instituted or threatened, which prohibits the consummation of the Merger or
     materially challenges the transactions contemplated hereby.

          (b)  Consents.  Other than filing the Articles of Merger, all
     consents, approvals and authorizations of and filings with Governmental
     Entities required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated
     hereby, shall have been obtained or effected or filed.

          (c)  Approval of Holders of Industrial Scientific Common Stock.  This
     Agreement and the Merger shall have been adopted by the affirmative vote or
     written consent of a majority of the shares of Industrial Scientific Common
     Stock outstanding.

     Section 5.02.    Conditions to the Obligation of Industrial Scientific to
Effect the Merger. The obligation of Industrial Scientific to effect the Merger
is further subject to the satisfaction or waiver of each of the following
conditions prior to or at the Closing Date:

          (a)  Representations and Warranties.  The representations and
     warranties of Acquisition contained in this Agreement shall be true and
     correct in all material respects at and as of the Effective Time as though
     made at and as of the Effective Time, except to the extent that any such
     representation or warranty is made as of a specified date, in which case
     such representation and warranty shall have been true and correct in all
     material respects as of such date.

          (b)  Agreements.  Acquisition shall have performed and complied in
     all material respects with all its undertakings and agreements required by
     this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the
     Closing Date.

          (c)  Opinion of Financial Advisor.  The opinion of Ladenburg
     Thalmann & Co. Inc. referred to in Section 2.05 shall have been confirmed
     in writing and such written opinion shall not have been withdrawn or
     revoked.

          (d)  Opinion of Counsel for Acquisition.  Industrial Scientific shall
     have been furnished with an opinion satisfactory to it of Reed Smith Shaw &
     McClay LLP, counsel for Acquisition, dated the date of the Closing and
     addressed to Industrial Scientific, to the effect that:

               (i)   Acquisition is a corporation duly incorporated, validly
           existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of
           Pennsylvania;

                                                                              10
<PAGE>
 
               (ii)  The execution, delivery and performance of the Agreement
          by Acquisition and the consumation of the Merger have been duly
          authorized and approved by all requisite action of Acquisition's Board
          of Directors; the Agreement and the Merger have been duly approved by
          the shareholders of Acquisition; and the Agreement has been duly
          executed and delivered by Acquisition and is a legally valid and
          binding obligation of Acquisition enforceable against Acquisition in
          accordance with its terms; and

               (iii) Upon filing of Articles of Merger with respect to the
          Merger in the Department of State of Pennsylvania in accordance with
          (S)1927 of the PBCL, the Merger shall become effective under the PBCL.

          (e)  Availability of Funds.  Acquisition shall have funds available
     to it at the Closing sufficient to pay the Merger Consideration.

     Section 5.03.    Conditions to the Obligation of Acquisition to Effect the
Merger.  The obligation of Acquisition to effect the Merger is further subject
to the satisfaction or waiver of each of the following conditions prior to or at
the Closing Date:

          (a)  Representations and Warranties.  The representations and
     warranties of Industrial Scientific contained in this Agreement shall be
     true and correct in all material respects at and as of the Effective Time
     as though made at and as of the Effective Time, except to the extent that
     any such representation or warranty is made as of a specified date, in
     which case such representation or warranty shall have been true and correct
     in all material respects as of such date.

          (b)  Agreements.  Industrial Scientific shall have performed and
     complied in all material respects with all of its undertakings and
     agreements required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by
     it prior to or at the Closing Date.

          (c)  No Material Adverse Change.  Except as set forth in the
     Industrial Scientific SEC Reports filed on or prior to the date of this
     Agreement, since December 31, 1997 there shall have been no material
     adverse change in the business, assets, liabilities, results of operations
     or financial condition of Industrial Scientific and its Subsidiaries, taken
     as a whole.

          (d)  Opinion of Counsel for Industrial Scientific.  Acquisition shall
     have been furnished with an opinion satisfactory to it of Buchanan
     Ingersoll Professional Corporation, counsel for Industrial Scientific,
     dated the date of the Closing and addressed to Acquisition, to the effect
     that:

               (i)  Industrial Scientific is a corporation duly incorporated,
          validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
          Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;

               (ii) Industrial Scientific's capital stock consists of the
          numbers of authorized, issued and outstanding shares of capital stock
          set forth in Section 2.02;

               (iii)  Except for outstanding Industrial Scientific Stock 
          Options to purchase an aggregate of not more than 52,118 shares of
          Industrial Scientific Common Stock, there are no outstanding options,
          warrants or other rights of any kind to acquire (including preemptive
          rights) any additional shares of capital stock of Industrial
          Scientific or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or
          which otherwise confer on the holder thereof any right to acquire, any
          such additional shares, nor is Industrial Scientific committed to
          issue any such option, warrant, right or security;

                                                                              11
<PAGE>
 
               (iv) The execution, delivery and performance of the Agreement by
          Industrial Scientific, and the consumation of the Merger, have each
          been duly authorized and approved by all requisite action of
          Industrial Scientific's Board of Directors; the Agreement and the
          Merger have been duly approved by the shareholders of Industrial
          Scientific; and the Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
          Industrial Scientific and is a legally valid and binding obligation of
          Industrial Scientific enforceable against Industrial Scientific in
          accordance with its terms; and

               (v)  Upon filing of Articles of Merger with respect to the
          Merger in the Department of State of Pennsylvania in accordance with
          (S)1927 of the PBCL, the Merger shall become effective under the PBCL.


Article VI
Termination, Amendment And Waiver

     Section 6.01.    Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated and the
Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before
or after shareholder approval thereof:

          (a)  by the mutual written consent of Acquisition, by action of its
     Board of Directors, and the Special Committee on behalf of Industrial
     Scientific;

          (b)  by either Acquisition, by action of its Board of Directors, or
     the Special Committee on behalf of Industrial Scientific, if:

               (i)  the Merger has not been consummated on or prior to June 30,
          1999; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement
          under this Section 6.01(b)(i) shall not be available to any party
          whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement has been
          the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Merger to occur on or
          prior to such date; or

               (ii) the Special Committee shall have withdrawn, or modified or
          changed in any manner adverse to Acquisition its approval of this
          Agreement or the Merger after having concluded in good faith after
          consultation with independent legal counsel that there is a reasonable
          probability that the failure to take such action would result in a
          violation of its fiduciary obligations under applicable law.

     Section 6.02.    Effect of Termination.  In the event of the termination
of this Agreement as provided in Section 6.01, written notice thereof shall
forthwith be given by the terminating party or parties to the other party or
parties specifying the provision hereof pursuant to which such termination is
made, and this Agreement shall forthwith become null and void, and there shall
be no liability on the part of Acquisition or Industrial Scientific (except as
set forth in this Section 6.02 and Section 7.02 hereof, each which shall survive
any termination of this Agreement); provided that nothing herein shall relieve
any party from any liability or obligation with respect to any willful breach of
this Agreement.

     Section 6.03.    Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended in writing by
the parties hereto; provided, however, that after adoption of this Agreement and
the Merger by the shareholders of Industrial Scientific no such amendment may be
made without the further approval of the shareholders of Industrial Scientific
except to the extent permitted by the PBCL. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
amendment of this Agreement on behalf of Industrial Scientific shall be subject
to the approval of the Board of Directors of Industrial Scientific upon the
recommendation of the Special Committee.

                                                                              12
<PAGE>
 
     Section 6.04.    Waiver.  At any time prior to the Effective Time, whether
before or after the approval of holders of Industrial Scientific Common Stock
referred to in Section 5.01(c) hereof, Acquisition, by action taken by its Board
of Directors, or Industrial Scientific, by action taken by its Board of
Directors upon the recommendation of the Special Committee, may (i) extend the
time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of any other
party hereto or (ii) waive compliance with any of the agreements of any other
party or with any conditions to its own obligations. Any agreement on the part
of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set
forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party by a duly
authorized officer.

Article VII
Miscellaneous

     Section 7.01.    Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties.  None of
the representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any instrument
delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time and all
such representations and warranties will be extinguished on consummation of the
Merger and neither Acquisition, Industrial Scientific, any Subsidiary, nor any
officer, director or employee or stockholder shall be under any liability
whatsoever with respect to any such representation or warranty after such time.
This Section 7.01 shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties which
by its terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time.

     Section 7.02.    Expenses.  Except as contemplated by this Agreement, all
costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be the obligation of
the party incurring such expenses. All costs and expenses incurred by
Acquisition in connection with the Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby shall, after the Effective Time, be obligations
of the Surviving Corporation.

     Section 7.03.    Applicable Law.  The rights and duties of Acquisition and
Industrial Scientific under this Agreement shall be governed by the law,
excluding conflicts of law rules, of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

     Section 7.04.    Notices.  All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made as
follows: (a) if sent by registered or certified mail in the United States return
receipt requested, upon receipt; (b) if sent by reputable overnight air courier,
two business days after being so sent; (c) if sent by telecopy transmission,
with a copy mailed on the same day in the manner provided in clauses (a) or (b)
above, when transmitted and receipt is confirmed by telephone; or (d) if
otherwise actually personally delivered, when delivered and shall be sent or
delivered as follows:


         If to Industrial Scientific, to:

           James P. Hart
           Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
           Industrial Scientific Corporation
           1001 Oakdale Road
           Oakdale, PA 15071-1500
           Fax: (412)788-8353

         with a copy to:

           James J. Barnes, Esq.
           Buchanan Ingersoll Professional Corporation
           One Oxford Centre
           301 Grant Street
           Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1410
           Fax (412) 562-1041

                                                                              13
<PAGE>
 
         and

           Joseph D. Shuman, Esq.
           Thorp Reed & Armstrong
           One Riverfront Center
           20 Stanwix Street
           Pittsburgh, PA 15222-4895
           Fax (412) 394-2555

         If to Acquisition, to:

           Kent D. McElhattan
           President
           c/o Industrial Scientific Corporation
           1001 Oakdale Road
           Oakdale, PA 15071-1500
           Fax: (412)788-8353

         with a copy to:

           Robert K. Morris, Esq.
           Reed Smith Shaw & McClay LLP
           435 Sixth Avenue
           Pittsburgh, PA 15219
           Fax (412) 288-3063

Such names and addresses may be changed by such notice.

     Section 7.05.    Entire Agreement.  This Agreement (including the
documents and instruments referred to herein) contains the entire understanding
of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contained herein,
supersedes and cancels all prior agreements, negotiations, correspondence,
undertakings and communications of the parties, oral or written, respecting such
subject matter.

     Section 7.06.    Assignment.  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties
hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written
consent of the other parties.

     Section 7.07.    Headings; References.  The article, section and paragraph
headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall
not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. All
references herein to "Articles" or "Sections" shall be deemed to be references
to Articles or Sections hereof unless otherwise indicated.

     Section 7.08.    Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts, each counterpart shall be deemed to be an original but all of
which shall be considered one and the same agreement.
 
     Section 7.09.    No Third Party Beneficiaries.  Except as provided in 
Sections 1.07, 1.08 and 4.04, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is
intended to confer upon any Person not a party to this Agreement any rights or
remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.

     Section 7.10.    Severability; Enforcement.  Any term or provision of this
Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or
unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms
and provisions 

                                                                              14
<PAGE>
 
of this Agreement or affecting the validity or unenforceability of any of the
terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If any
provision of this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the provisions
shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as
of the date first above written.


                              INDUSTRIAL SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION


                              By:
                                 -------------------------------------
                              Name: Kent D. McElhattan


                              Title: President



                              ISC ACQUISITION CORPORATION



                              By:
                                 -------------------------------------
                              Name: Kent D. McElhattan


                              Title: President

                                                                              15
<PAGE>
 
                                  ENDORSEMENT
                                        
     The undersigned, Kenton E. McElhattan, Florence L. McElhattan and Kent D.
McElhattan, hereby represent, warrant, covenant and agree as follows:

     (a)  The undersigned are the holders of record of the number of shares of
Industrial Scientific Common Stock listed below:

              Kenton E. McElhattan      668,960
              Florence L. McElhattan    750,000
              Kent D. McElhattan        869,640

     (b)  The undersigned will, on the date hereof, execute and deliver an
Action by Written Consent of Shareholders of Industrial Scientific Corporation:
(i) approving the Agreement and the Merger; (ii) approving an amendment to the
Articles of Incorporation of Industrial Scientific Corporation providing that
Title 15 of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Chapter 25 (Registered
Corporations) Subchapter E (Control Transactions), 15 Pa.C.S.A. (S)(S)2541-2548,
shall not be applicable to Industrial Scientific.

     (c)  The undersigned will, promptly after effectiveness of the amendment to
the Articles of Incorporation of Industrial Scientific Corporation referred to
in paragraph (b) above, contribute to the capital of Acquisition the shares of
Industrial Scientific Common Stock referred to in paragraph (a) above.


                                 -------------------------------------
                                 Kenton E. McElhattan
    
     
                                 -------------------------------------
                                 Florence L. McElhattan


                                 -------------------------------------
                                 Kent D. McElhattan

                                                                              16

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1
 
                             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                               FEBRUARY 24, 1999


                INDUSTRIAL SCIENTIFIC TO BE ACQUIRED BY MAJORITY
                SHAREHOLDERS IN CASH MERGER FOR $28.50 PER SHARE
                                        
PITTSBURGH, PA. (February 24, 1999) - Industrial Scientific Corporation
(NASDAQ:ISCX) announced today the execution of a Merger Agreement with ISC
Acquisition Corporation, a newly formed corporation that is wholly-owned by
Kenton E. McElhattan, Kent D. McElhattan and Florence L. McElhattan (the
"Majority Shareholders").  Kenton E. McElhattan is the Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Company and Kent D. McElhattan is President, Chief Executive
Officer and a Director of the Company.  The Board of Directors, upon the
recommendation of a Special Independent Committee, determined that the merger
was in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

As a result of this merger, all of the outstanding shares of Industrial
Scientific Corporation common stock not already owned by the Majority
Shareholders and their affiliates will be purchased for a price of $28.50  per
share, in cash, in a transaction valued at approximately $26 million.  Following
the merger, the Company's common stock will cease to be publicly traded.

Kent D. McElhattan, President and CEO, stated, "We are very pleased that this
transaction has been unanimously approved by the Special Committee and the full
Board of Directors.  In the short term it provides significantly enhanced value
to outside shareholders while allowing management to focus more intently on
fulfilling the long term life-preserving mission of the Company."

The Majority Shareholders, who collectively own in the aggregate approximately
67.7% of the outstanding shares of the Company common stock, approved the merger
agreement by written consent on February 23, 1999, following the execution of
the merger agreement.  The completion of the merger is subject to certain
conditions including a restriction on payment of dividends and, in any event,
will not be consummated until the expiration of twenty days from the date a
definitive information statement pursuant to Section 14(c) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 is first sent to the Company's shareholders.

Ladenburg Thalmann & Co., Inc. acted on behalf of the Special Independent
Committee in connection with this transaction and Parker/Hunter Incorporated
acted on behalf of the Majority Shareholders.

                                      ###

SOURCE:  Industrial Scientific Corporation
         Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
         (412) 788-4353


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