ATEX Intrinsically Safe

ATEX Intrinsically Safe

Industry workers such as those who work in field services, utilities, mining, oil and gas and those who work in areas where flammable substances are produced, transported, stored or used are often exposed to harsh and dangerous environments. These workers are exposed to extremely difficult conditions, meaning they need extremely rugged and safe devices that can survive through these environments whilst keeping workers safe.

Peak Technologies are a supplier of ATEX rated products, which our team can match to your industry and workers needs so you can find the most suitable intrinsically safe solutions.

Peak Technologies ATEX Solutions

Mobile Computing Devices

Our ATEX rated rugged mobile computers give you the flexibility to redeploy staff without needing to consider the devices needed to get the job done. Workers can quickly and confidently transition to tasks on and off site without having to switch devices. With our intrinsically safe devices, your workers safety comes first when working in hazardous environments.

Communication Solutions

Our intrinsically safe smartphones and tablets allow workers to stay in constant communication while working in a hazardous environment. These devices offer explosion proof protection to ensure that tasks are completed on time. They also allow workers to make phone calls and video calls, capture photos and check information while in a challenging environment.

Lone Worker Protection

We also offer ATEX rated mobile phones are with lone worker protections functionality which have been specifically designed for the safety of people working alone. This phone is able to help locate anyone who has suffered an accident and immediately initiate the necessary measures.

Intrinsically Safe Or Explosion Proof?

Explosion Proof

An “explosion proof” protection for a product means that the housing has been engineered and constructed to contain a flash or explosion produced within it, being made of materials such as cast iron or aluminium (occasionally plastic), as to avoid the ignition of surrounding flammable gases or vapors. In other words, “explosion proof” means that the equipment is simply built in a heavy protective enclosure, that must be of sufficient mass and strength to safely contain any explosion. Note that the terms “explosion proof” and “flameproof” are not synonyms, they have some subtle differences. However, engineers and the market usually use them to refer to the same category of products.

Intrinsic Safety

An “intrinsically safe” protection, instead, means that the electronics or wiring contained within the product is engineered in such a way that it cannot accumulate enough energy to ignite the gas or vapor.

Intrinsic safety approach, then, mainly deals with limiting energy in the circuits to a level below that required to ignite a specific hazardous atmospheric mixture, both in normal condition and in case of failure.

This is typically achieved through the use of intrinsically safe interfaces (or barriers), that are classified in two categories:

Zener barriers – they divert excess energy to earth through the Zener diodes
Galvanic isolators – they provide isolation between the circuits in the hazardous area and those in the safe area, using relays, optoisolators and above all transformers.

The Main Differences And Weigh Pros And Cons Of The Two Protection Methods:

Explosion Proof

  • Functioning: Contains the explosion.
  • Price: Normally more expensive.
  • Power: Less limitation of power. Also high power devices can be used safely in the Hazardous Area.
  • Maintenance: No live maintenance permitted, you cannot open the enclosure while powered.
  • Wiring requirements: X.P. wiring requires conduit and seals to isolate the circuit from hazardous gases.
  • Hazardous Zones: Only suitable for use . 1n Zone 1 and Zone 2, not in Zone 0.

Intrinsic Safety

  • Functioning: Limits energy in the circuit.
  • Price: Normally cheaper.
  • Power: The entire power of the system is controlled and !imitated. This can be a problem if the product needs to operate 1n a power range higher than allowed.
  • Maintenance: Live maintenance permitted, there's no need to shut down the system.
  • Wiring requirements: I.S. wiring IS easier. Usually there's no need for the conduit and seals, but you will need an intrinsically safe barrier.
  • Hazardous Zones: Suitable for use in Zone 0, Zone 1 and Zone 2.
Download our basic guide to the environment “zones” which determine the type if device you require.
Download Infographic