Intrinsic safety (IS) is a protection technique for the safe operation of electrical equipment in hazardous areas by limiting the energy, electrical and thermal, available for ignition. Intrinsically Safe devices are designed to operate with low electrical currents and voltages, allowing them to more safely operate in potentially hazardous environments.
What makes a device Intrinsically Safe?
Intrinsically Safe devices are designed to be incapable of producing heat or sparks sufficient to ignite an explosive atmosphere, even if the device has experienced deterioration or has been damaged.
Intrinsically Safe devices are designed with the following considerations in mind:
- Electrical current and voltage control: Ensures devices operate below ignition thresholds.
- Fail-safe design: Prevents spark generation, even during device faults or failures.
- Temperature regulation: Device components are kept below the auto-ignition temperature of flammable gases or dust.
- Energy limiting barriers: Resistive, capacitive, and inductive energy is minimized using electronic barriers.
These safety barriers ensure that, in normal operation, and with the application of faults according to the equipment protection level (EPL), even if accidental contact occurs between the instrument circuit and other power sources, no more than the approved voltage and current enters a hazardous area.
For more information about Intrinsically Safe device standards please consult the construction and safety standards detailed in IEC 60079-11 from the International Electrotechnical Commission:
What is a hazardous area?
Hazardous areas are places where fire or explosion hazards may exist. Sources of such hazards include gases, vapors, dust, fibers, and flyings, which are combustible or flammable.
These areas are subjected to hazardous area classification (HAC), which is a risk assessment methodology used to identify every location within a facility or job site where an explosive atmosphere could form.
For more information about hazardous areas, classifications, and regulation differences please consult this explainer from the Occupational Health, Safety, and Environment blog:
Does Zonar sell Intrinsically Safe rated hardware?
Zonar telematic devices (Zonar V3, Zonar V4, Zonar LD, AT22, and ZTrak devices), and equipment (Zonar 2010s, RFID/NFC Zone and Asset tags) undergo rigorous electrical testing to ensure they are in compliance with various automotive standards.
Zonar devices and equipment, however, have not been rated as Intrinsically Safe.
Does Zonar sell hardware rated to operate near Electronic Explosive Blasting caps?
Electronic Explosive Blasting caps, or electronic detonators, allow for remote detonation of explosives in potentially hazardous areas. To ensure detonations are controlled, devices that emit radio frequencies such as cellular telematics must operate with a safe separation distance from electronic detonators based on transmitter power and frequency.
Zonar telematic units have not been rated as safe to operate near electronic detonators.
For more information and recommendations on how to prevent radio frequency radiation hazards please consult Safety Library Publication #20 from the Institute of Makers of Explosives: