Intrinsically safe technology prevents explosions by ensuring that the energy transferred to a hazardous area is well below the energy required to init iate an explosion. As such, it is restricted to electrical apparatuses and circuits in which the output or consumption of energy is limited. Intrinsically safe systems enable equ ipment to be used without risk of igniting any flammable gas, dust or fibers that may present in hazardous areas. Our hazardous area scales are intrinsically safe.

　　The flameproof protection method is based on the explosion-containment concept, in which the explosion is allowed to take place, but it must remain confined in the enclosure that is designed to resist the excess pressure the internal explosion causes. A flameproof system is gene rally considered somewhat simpler to design than an intrinsically safe system, as it doesn’t require completely new equipment design. However, it is generally more expensive to install because of the high cost of running field wiring inside a conduit, which must be sealed between the safe and hazardous areas. It is also often physically larger and much heavier than an intrinsically safe solution. Fla meproof equipment is also more difficult and time-consuming to maintain because either the area must be known to be non-hazardous or the equipment must have the energy drained before covers can be removed. Hot permits are required to perform maintenance work on these systems. Further, when covers are re-installed, extra care must be taken that fasteners are precisely torqued to specified values

　　For more information, download the Hazardous Area Competence Guide.