Intrinsically Safe Equipment
—Intrinsically safe (IS) equipment is designed to prevent the ignition of hazardous atmospheres by limiting the energy available. Typically, it’s used in environments where there’s a risk of explosive gases, vapors, dust, or fibers. Here are some scenarios where you might need to use IS equipment.
Oil & Gas Industry: In facilities where oil and gas are processed, there's a significant risk of flammable gases and vapors. Equipment used in such environments, like sensors, communication devices, and control panels, often needs to be intrinsically safe to assist in preventing potential explosions.
Chemical Plants: Much like the oil and gas industry, chemical plants deal with volatile substances that can create explosive atmospheres. IS equipment is important for helping to ensure safety in these environments.
Mining Operations: Mines often contain combustible gases, dust, and other hazardous materials. IS equipment is valuable in mining operations to help prevent accidental ignition and subsequent explosions.
Manufacturing Facilities: Certain manufacturing processes involve flammable substances or create combustible dust. IS equipment may be necessary in these environments to aid in mitigating the risk of ignition.
Pharmaceutical Industry: Some pharmaceutical processes involve the use of flammable solvents or gases. Here, IS equipment can help ensure certain safety measures are taken during these operations.
Utilities: Utilities, like wastewater treatment plants, where potentially explosive gases can be present, may require IS equipment to aid in maintaining safety standards.
Agricultural Operations: Certain agricultural activities, like grain handling and processing, can generate combustible dust. IS equipment may be needed in such environments to help prevent explosions.
Confined Spaces: Any confined space where there's a risk of accumulating flammable gases or vapors may require IS equipment to assist in preventing ignition.
Dräger Solutions
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Intrinsically Safe Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs)
Dräger's intrinsically safe powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) are utilized in various industries and environments where there is a risk of exposure to hazardous substances, gases, vapors, or particulates that could ignite or cause explosions in the presence of certain conditions such as flammable gases or combustible dust.
Intrinsically Safe Gas Detectors
Dräger's intrinsically safe gas detectors are designed to operate safely in environments where flammable gases, vapors, or combustible dust may be present.
"Intrinsically safe" vs "Explosion-proof"
—"Intrinsically safe" and "explosion-proof" are two different methods of providing protection against explosions in hazardous environments, but they achieve this goal through different means.
Intrinsically Safe (IS):
- Intrinsically safe equipment is designed to prevent the release of sufficient electrical or thermal energy to ignite a hazardous atmosphere.
- This is achieved by limiting the energy levels and electrical currents within the equipment to levels below what could cause ignition.
- Intrinsically safe devices typically use low-power components and are often designed with barriers or isolators to prevent energy transfer to potentially hazardous areas.
- IS devices are often lighter and more energy-efficient than explosion-proof alternatives, but they may have limitations on their use in certain environments.
Explosion-proof:
- Explosion-proof equipment is designed to contain and withstand an explosion within its enclosure, preventing the ignition of flammable gases or vapors surrounding the equipment.
- This is accomplished by constructing the equipment with heavy-duty, rugged enclosures that can withstand pressure from an internal explosion without rupturing.
- Explosion-proof devices are typically heavier and more robust than IS devices and are often constructed of materials such as cast aluminum or stainless steel.
- While explosion-proof equipment can be more costly and bulky, it is suitable for a wide range of hazardous environments and may be required in certain applications where the risk of explosion is high.
Futher Reading
—U.S. Hazardous Area Requirements
NFPA 70 – The National Electrical Code (NEC) is the governing set of rules in the U.S. for the selection, equipping, and installation of electronic equipment and related accessories. Article 500 is the section of NFPA 70 that governs equipment used in hazardous areas ( sometimes referred to as “NEC 500). NFPA 70 also contains Article 505 which allows for the use of the Zone scheme that is similar to that of the European schemes.
Class and Division Scheme
North America (Canada and USA) uses both the Class/Division scheme and the Zone scheme, to designate areas with hazardous potential. Class refers to the type of hazard present in the area. These are: combustible gas (Class I) or combustible dust (Class II). In the Zone scheme, probability of the hazardous material in the surrounding atmosphere is classified: combustible gas (Zone 0, 1, or 2) and for combustible dusts (Zone 20, 21, or 22). The equipment used in these areas must be approved by a notified body (UL, FM, CSA, Intertek etc.) You can check OSHA's website to get a list of approved notified bodies and nationally recognized testing labs (NRTL). The equipment must also display the appropriate marking label. . Quite often you may see equipment with approvals from more than one notified body. Draeger equipment is designed and approved for multiple markets and thus carries multiple labels for some.
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