Intrinsic Safe Mobile Phone Blog

In the real world we have found how mobile phones are becoming more like computers and mini PDAs for the urge of communication and information.  It makes sense that the same rules apply to intrinsically safe PDAs also, where engineers working in dangerous areas prone to fire would want to use a PDA to collect information or present information on the location or situation they are working in.

These ATEX PDAs need to be manufactured in a way that prevents any spark or heat omitting from the unit so the worker can work safely.

There are different models available but examples are the i.roc  range from ecom often known as Intermec pocket PCs.

such as

i roc 420

i roc 52x

i roc 62x

These PDAs can work to certain zone levels of danger and can be essential equipment for certain businesses.

Many are not aware of the dangers a typical mobile phone can create if used in atmospheric areas that could create an explosion. The voltage of a phone is very small, but even within these small circuits there is the ability to deliver a spark or heat that could create a far bigger incident in terms of an explosion or fire. Te product to use in hazardous areas would be the intrinsically safe mobile phone, which is built in a way to shield all sparks and thermal energy. Sometimes these units are built from scratch but in other cases certain professional electronic companies, sit with soldering irons in hand and make existing units intrinsically safe, although they need to be a different case and  will look different.

It can be surprising the areas you should be using these intrinsically safe mobile phones but many are probably unaware. Take filling up your car with fuel, most garages will have a do not use your mobile phone sign up, but in reality anyone on that forecourt should use an ATEX phone.  Other examples are fuel boats filling up ships with fuel, or even filling aviation fuel into planes. The workers doing this, should not be using their own usual mobile phone, or even have it switched on in case a phone call comes in.

Whilst working in areas prone to explosion, then there are certain rules you need to stay by when working with electronic equipment including mobile phones.  Wikipedia explains that intrinsic safety is a technique used for the safe use of electronic equipment in areas of explosion an example given is the the operations used in North Sea oil platforms.

The principle is about using shielding within electronic devices, to ensure not sparks or heat is transferred from the equipment being used. As in the 21st century some electronic equipment like mobile phones is essential for the safe and efficient operations, it is essential that these units are intrinsically safe.

Wikipedia goes on to explain the lack of sparks and that no single device  is safe by itself, so a system of units and processes needs to be designed to keep things safe. There are some directives that insist intrinsically safe mobile phones and other equipment are used in certain conditions, so specialist manufacturers have sprouted up to support the need for such devices. In future posts we hope to show some of these intrinsically safe mobile phones and equipment and now and again we may add normal mobile phones, when there is little to talk about. This subject matter is extremely specialised, so this blog should not be used as a training manual or an official source, it is merely a blog communication information we find on the internet.