What is the difference between intrinsically safe and flameproof equipment?
Introduction
In the event that a defect arises in a piece of electrical or electronic equipment that is positioned in a region that contains flammable gases, the fault could create heat or sparks that are sufficient to ignite the gas, which would result in a catastrophic event. There are two methods that are typically utilised to avoid situations like these.
The apparatus is only encased in a robust protective enclosure, which is often constructed out of die-cast steel but may on occasion be made of plastic. The subsequent explosion will be contained within the enclosure even if it is caused by heat or sparks generated by malfunctioning equipment located within it. Flammable gas must be present for the explosion to occur. Field wiring in North America is required to be carried out with metal conduit. In Europe and other parts of the world, appropriately rated cable is used to make direct connections to the apparatus by means of flame-proof cable glands that have been certified.
Advantages include the ease with which the system can be designed and its suitability for high-power devices
The equipment will grow exceedingly heavy and expensive, and opening the enclosure while it is powered will not be allowed. This is a disadvantage.
(a) Inherently Free From Danger
By utilising a galvanic or zener barrier, this strategy restricts the amount of energy that is available to the intrinsically safe (I.S.) equipment to an amount that is typically lower than 2 watts. As a result, the equipment is incapable of producing sufficient heat or sparks to ignite combustible gases under any circumstances. Both the I.S. equipment and the zener barrier need to have the 'Intrinsically Safe' certification from BASEEFA, SIRA, or any organisation with a comparable standard.
The advantage is that it is significantly less expensive than comparable flame proof and explosion proof equipment, and it does not require any specialised cabling. There is no need to shut down the facility as live maintenance is authorised.
The disadvantage is that it is only appropriate for low-power devices like sounders, beacons, and smoke detectors (all of which are required to be certified as Intrinsically Safe).
Proof against fire and explosions (equipment certified by ATEX and ICEX as Exd as well as North American Class 1 Division 2 equipment).
i. The phrases "flameproof" and "explosion proof" can, for the most part, be used interchangeably. Despite the fact that there are some subtle distinctions between the two, engineers and the market in general use both phrases to refer to the same item, which is a piece of electrical equipment that has been constructed for operation in a hazardous environment by means of a heavy duty enclosure.
ii. The wiring of any system that uses ATEX or ICEX Exd certified equipment, such as the sounders or xenon beacons made by E2S Ltd.'s BEX or GNEX series, must use cable that is appropriately rated and mechanically protected. To properly terminate the cable, Exd-certified cable glands and junction boxes are required to be used. At the same level as the field equipment, the glands and junction boxes are required to have the Exd certification from BASEEFA, SIRA, or another comparable recognised body.
Intrinsically Safe Equipment (ATEX & ICEX equipment certified Exia, Exib, Exic & North American Class 1 Div 1 equipment)
The use of a zener barrier, which is placed between the control panel and the device, such as the E2S Ltd MiniAlarm sounders or the Apollo Orbis Series I.S. smoke detectors, allows for safety to be attained in locations that are considered to be hazardous.
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