Workers who operate in hazardous environments face constant risks throughout their working day. In such situations, having a reliable communication device becomes crucial for maintaining contact with the outside world. This is where explosion-proof mobile phones come into play, providing a means of communication specifically designed to withstand hazardous conditions.
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Explosion-proof ATEX mobile phones, like those by SharpEagle, offer numerous benefits. These devices are engineered to ensure the safety and communication needs of workers, allowing them to stay connected and productive even in challenging environments.
One of the crucial considerations for workers in these areas is the ability to capture photographs, which can be vital for documentation and safety purposes.
In this article, we will explore the benefits of using explosion-proof mobile phones and delve into the specific industries that require such devices.
What Are ATEX Areas?
ATEX is an acronym derived from the French phrase 'ATmosphere EXplosives,' and it's used to designate sites or workplaces where there is a presence of explosive gases, dust, or vapours. These areas are classified into zones ranging from 0 to 2, with 0 being the most hazardous and 2 the least. Due to the potential for explosive atmospheres in ATEX zones, individuals entering these areas, particularly with electrical equipment like mobile phones or cameras that carry an electrical charge capable of generating sparks, must exercise extreme caution to avoid triggering an explosion.
The need to capture photos or videos in an ATEX zone can arise for various reasons. Documenting faults or malfunctions visually and transmitting them promptly to the responsible department is crucial to streamline the repair processes, potentially reducing risks for everyone involved.
If you find yourself in a situation requiring photography in ATEX areas, a few options are available for you. One option is to acquire a camera specifically designed for such environments. Alternatively, you can invest in an ATEX mobile phone by Sharp Eagle, which offers smartphone functionality along with ATEX certification, all within a comparable price range.
What Are Explosion Proof Mobile Phones?
Explosion-proof mobile devices are indispensable in hazardous and high-risk industries, providing individuals with a means to communicate even in the worst of situations. These devices are specifically engineered to endure and manage various flammable substances.
They are equally functional in non-hazardous environments, operating like any regular mobile phone. Despite misconceptions about their appearance, they maintain a sleek and contemporary design comparable to mainstream mobile phones available in the market.
The key distinction lies in their exceptional strength and durability, setting them apart from conventional devices. This empowers you to confidently utilise them within industrial settings, at home, in warehouses, and anywhere else you desire. These ATEX mobile devices serve as reliable companions, offering peace of mind and connectivity regardless of the environment you find yourself in.
Benefits of Explosion Proof Mobile
Explosion Protection
It is worth highlighting that SharpEagle's Zone 1/21 and Division 1 approved and certified devices have undergone rigorous and comprehensive testing procedures. These explosion-proof devices provided by SharpEagle are not only incredibly safe but also demonstrate exceptional resistance to shocks and high pressure and have successfully passed drop tests. They are purpose-built to handle the most challenging tasks in the world's harshest environments.
SharpEagle's product range encompasses global certifications and approvals, making them suitable for use worldwide. This ensures that no matter where you are, you can rely on the safety, quality, and performance of SharpEagle's explosion proof devices for various applications.
Usable In All Settings
Hazardous environments exist in various settings, encompassing both indoor and outdoor locations. Our devices are specifically designed to thrive in such demanding conditions, making them ideal for diverse environments like deep mines, oil rigs, oil refineries, and industrial chemical plants.
Engineered with a scratch-resistant display and robust housing, these devices exhibit exceptional durability, capable of enduring the rigours of challenging tasks. They possess a remarkable resistance to high altitudes and extreme temperature fluctuations, ensuring their reliability even in the most inhospitable surroundings.
Worker Protection
Our smartphones have earned a strong reputation for their exceptional performance, reliability, and power. Designed specifically for industrial applications, these mobile devices are built to tackle the daily challenges faced in such environments. Their unwavering performance and reliability are guaranteed through features like high battery capacity, ensuring prolonged usage, as well as robust explosion-proof hardware.
A Safety First Approach
Our lineup of mobile devices provides a safety net for mobile workers operating in explosive environments.
Maintaining effective communication channels in hazardous and explosive environments is crucial, and SharpEagle's smartphones equipped with embedded cameras play a pivotal role in ensuring this aspect of safety. Additionally, certain devices feature Bluetooth functionality that can be utilised to enable or disable the camera in unauthorised areas, adding an extra layer of control and security.
What Are the Features Of An Explosion Proof Phone?
When investing in an explosion-proof mobile device that can take photographs in an ATEX area, choosing a reliable brand that offers optimal value is paramount. If you're searching for a trustworthy option, SharpEagle is a perfect choice. We specialise in creating top-tier explosion-proof cell phones that encompass all the essential features users seek:
At SharpEagle, we prioritise delivering excellence through our explosion-proof mobile devices, providing you with a reliable companion that combines durability, functionality, and innovation.
Conclusion
Contact us to discuss your requirements of explosion proof fixture. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
With the help of SharpEagle, the use of phones and cameras for accurate and reliable recordings is made possible even in highly hazardous ATEX zones. This allows for valuable assistance and documentation when needed. One notable feature that sets ATEX mobile phones apart is the ability to upload and forward captured images via WiFi quickly.
This seamless connectivity ensures that assistance can be obtained promptly, making communication more efficient than ever before. In the past, cameras and phones permitted in ATEX zones were limited in functionality, cumbersome, and challenging to use.
Our current range of smartphones offers a sensible, future-proof investment, providing enhanced capabilities and versatility across various industries. Check out our offer!
What Are ATEX Areas?
ATEX areas refer to environments where there's a potential presence of explosive gases, dust, or vapors. These zones are classified from 0 to 2, with 0 being highly hazardous. Special precautions are necessary in these areas, especially when using electrical devices like mobile phones or cameras, to prevent explosions.
Why is it Important to Capture Photos in ATEX Zones?
In ATEX zones, capturing photos or videos can be crucial for documenting faults, malfunctions, or safety concerns. Quick visual documentation and transmission to relevant departments can streamline repair processes and reduce risks.
What Are Explosion-Proof (Ex-Proof) Mobile Phones?
Explosion-proof mobile phones are designed for use in hazardous environments. They can manage flammable substances and are engineered to prevent sparks or heat that could trigger an explosion. These phones are functional in both hazardous and non-hazardous settings, combining safety with regular smartphone features.
What Features Should You Look for in an Explosion-Proof Phone?
When choosing an explosion-proof mobile phone, look for features like a vibrant display, long battery life, advanced software, durable build, secure access (like fingerprint sensors), high-quality camera, and efficient processing power. SharpEagle, for example, offers phones with these capabilities.
What Additional Features Do SharpEagle Explosion Proof Phones Offer?
SharpEagle's phones are tested for explosion protection, shock resistance, and high pressure. They are certified for global use and are suitable for various challenging environments like mines, oil rigs, and chemical plants. Their durability and resistance to extreme conditions make them reliable for industrial use.
How Do These Phones Enhance Worker Protection?
These smartphones are tailored for industrial applications. They offer high battery capacity, robust explosion-proof hardware, and reliable performance, making them suitable for demanding industrial tasks.
What is the Safety Approach of SharpEagle Phones?
SharpEagle's smartphones are designed with a safety-first approach, providing effective communication in explosive environments. Features like embedded cameras and optional Bluetooth functionality for camera control add to their safety and versatility.
How Do Ex-Proof Phones Aid in Communication and Documentation in Hazardous Areas?
SharpEagle's ATEX phones enable quick image capture and WiFi transmission, providing efficient communication and documentation capabilities in hazardous zones. This feature is particularly valuable compared to older, more limited devices previously used in these settings.
With recent technology advances, intrinsic safety now offers the safest, most cost effective and easiest way to deploy solutions that safeguard your process operations.
In every industry I can think of, exploding equipment is most certainly a bad thing. In process industry settings, however, the risk of explosions is very real. And the stakes–from impacts on revenue and the environment to loss of life–are far too great to ignore.
Engineers designing electrical equipment and processes for use in hazardous areas are offered a multitude of different methods for explosion protection. These range from exclusion methods, such oil immersion or purge and pressurization, to containment in the use of explosion-proof or flame-proof enclosures, as well as energy limiting technologies, such as non-incendive, increased safety or intrinsic safety. These principles and techniques have some inherent advantages and disadvantages. There are also some ideal applications, for example, protecting an entire control room using pressurization.
In the correct situation, however, intrinsic safety stands out as the safest, least expensive and easiest to deploy. Let’s examine why.
First, intrinsic safety is the only method of explosion protection approved for Zone 0. This is the most hazardous area recognized by ATEX, IECEx and NEC (article 505) and is considered hazardous “continuously.” The reason for this is that intrinsic safety is required to withstand two electrical faults and remain safe. It must also be immune to some of the issues arising from mechanical explosion-proof installations, such as improperly sealed conduits and damaged or improperly secured enclosures. In additional to superior safety from explosions, intrinsic safety is also inherently safer for personnel as its energy limiting principle typically only allows for up to 30 V or 100 mA to the hazardous area.
Intrinsic safety technology, such as the ELX EtherCAT Terminal series from Beckhoff, offers benefits in safety, cost and ease of implementation.
In many cases, non-hazardous rated equipment can be used in an intrinsically safe circuit if it meets certain criteria. These devices are considered “simple apparatuses,” which means they are not capable of generating more than 1.5V, 100mA or 1.5 W or they dissipate more than 2.5 W. These devices include thermocouples, switches, RTDs and LEDs and are typically much less expensive and more readily available than hazardous area approved devices.
Another area in which intrinsic safety is less costly than other forms of explosion protection is the ongoing maintenance of the process or machine. Since they use energy limitation as an explosion protection concept, the devices in the hazardous area can be worked on without removing power. Additionally, maintenance time and effort can be significantly reduced because no gas clearance is required, and additional time is no longer needed to access electronics inside explosion-proof enclosures.
One of the biggest deployment advantages to intrinsic safety is the ability to use mostly safe area wiring practices. Of course, there are some wiring rules to follow, i.e., intrinsically safe and non-intrinsically safe wiring must be separated by 50 mm, and intrinsically safe wiring must be identified by a label or light blue cable jacket. However, all other aspects of wiring–when to use cable tray, types of glands, etc.–are similar to safe area wiring practices. This is in comparison to the multitude of rules regarding explosion-proof wiring installations, such as how and where conduit must be sealed as well as the type of cables and fittings required by the electrical codes. Intrinsic safety is also much easier to deploy than purge or pressurization systems as there is no need for a supply of inert gas to pressurize the enclosure nor the tubing and fittings associated with this gas supply.
The ELX series offers a range of intrinsically safe “blue terminals” for hazardous environments, enabling communication from Zone 0 up to the cloud.
Exciting technological advancements in intrinsic safety technology are making these deployments even simpler. An example is the integrated intrinsic safety in new EtherCAT I/O terminals. These components combine explosion protection with a standard, DIN-rail-mounted I/O terminal. Other vendors offer some sort of integrated approach to explosion protection, but many result in different form factors than their non-ex counterparts and they cannot be integrated directly into the same I/O node with non-ex terminals.
The integrated approach provides many other benefits. For starters, it eliminates the need for a third-party intrinsic safety barrier. This not only greatly reduces the size of the enclosure that houses the control system, but it also cuts the number of time-consuming wiring terminations in half. This also eliminates the need to add another vendor to the bill of materials. Another noteworthy benefit of these integrated technologies is that engineers can take advantages of all the benefits of EtherCAT technology, including:
In terms of safety, cost and ease of deployment, the benefits of intrinsic safety are clear, and I/O technology advances series make this even more obvious. Engineers should evaluate whether this method fits their application and implement it as appropriate. It’s also important to work with technology partners that take the risks just as seriously as you do and provide solutions to help keep your team, company and equipment safe.
Jesse Hill is process industry manager at Beckhoff Automation.
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