Explosive or Hazardous Areas

Hazardous locations are defined as places where fire or explosion hazards may exist due to the presence of flammable gases, vapors, dust, or fibers. Due to the inherent danger in these areas, equipment must be approved for use in such locations. Such approvals confirm that a products has been tested and certified to conform to standards mandated by the European directive ATEX or another standards organization such as NEMA.

“Intrinsically Safe” is a term often used generically to describe products suitable for explosive or hazardous areas. It should be noted, however that Intrinsically Safe is different than Explosion Proof. Intrinsic Safety manages the amount of energy available to a level below which ignition can occur. Explosion Proof on the other hand contains the energy of any possible explosion within the enclosure containing the possible ignition source.