Our monthly resource guide is compiled by Executive Editor Jim Montague. This month, we focus on your online needs for intrinsic safety.
USER'S GUIDE TO INTRINSIC SAFETY
The classic "AN9003—A User's Guide to Intrinsic Safety" is a 20-page PDF with definitions, examples, descriptions of advantages, levels of protection, introduction to installation and inspection of IS equipment, design of IS systems, maintenance and repair issues, and the effects of dust. It's available at www.mtl-inst.com/images/uploads/AN9003.pdf.
— Eaton / www.cooperindustries.com
INTRINSIC SAFETY AT ICEWEB
The well-known ICEweb site offers an extensive sub-page on "Intrinsic Safety, Barriers and Isolators," which covers and gathers links to other IS resources. These include IS fundamentals, design, safety applications and other topics. It's located at www.iceweb.com.au/Ex-web/ISbarriers%20and%20Isolators.htm.
— ICEweb / www.iceweb.com.au
EXPLOSION PROTECTION EBOOK
"Explosion Protection and Intrinsic Safety 101" is a 25-page ebook that covers focuses on the physical principles and fundamentals of hazardous locations and covers the basics of intrinsic safety. While hazardous location markings may seem complex, the ebook takes readers through the basics, explaining the essentials of what they need to know. Its main sections include hazardous location definitions, intrinsic safety, the ignition triangle, categorization of hazardous areas, divisions versus zones, and explosion protection methods. It's freely downloadable at www.pepperl-fuchs.us/usa/en/18432.htm
— Pepperl+Fuchs / www.pepperl-fuchs.us
APP FOR EX MARKINGS
EXCovery app for mobile devices, developed by explosion protection expert R. Stahl and provided free of charge, explains the exact meaning behind ATEX and IECEx markings by providing quick, instructive breakdowns of the information encoded on labels on explosion-protected electrical devices. The app analyses the portion of the marking specified according to the IEC 60079-0 standard, which is included in the certifications of both ATEX and IECEx devices. After the short string of characters from the nameplate of an explosion-protected device is entered, EXCovery processes it, and clearly displays the marking’s dust or gas atmosphere designation, the device’s ignition protection type, gas group and temperature class if applicable, and equipment protection level.
Besides decoding specific certifications, the app is also a repository for reference information. EXCovery provides instant access to information that can be crucial in the field, such as guidance on what to observe when dealing with certification markings, and other fundamental explosion protection know-how, including key terms or the zone concept. All special characters used in markings are available in an extra on-screen pane for very quick and comfortable input of certification strings. EXCovery app is available for Android and iPhone, and can be downloaded from the iOS app store and the Google Play Store at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.r_stahl.excovery.
— R. Stahl / www.r-stahl.com
IS EQUIPMENT INTRO
Among Omega's many technical reference selection guides is "Intrinsic Safety Equipment Introduction," which consists of basic explanations, hazardous-area applications and descriptions of required approvals. It's at www.omega.com/techref/intrinsic.html.
— Omega Engineering Co. / www.omega.com
TERMINATION PANELS AND BARRIERS
"Installing Intrinsic Safety Termination Panels and Barriers" is a 74-page PDF by Emerson Process Management. This installation manual covers barrier specifications, and panel and cable specifications, and even has a four-page glossary. Its at www.emersonprocess.com/systems/support/documentation/provox/docvue/IO/ControlIO/pnCL6340.pdf
— Emerson Process Management / www.emersonprocess.com
BEST WIRING PRACTICES
The ISA's recommended practices document, "Recommended Practice for Wiring Methods for Hazardous (Classified) Locations Instrumentation, Part 1: Intrinsic Safety," is a 60-page PDF that covers Article 504 and 505 of the NEC (ANSI/NFPA 70-2002) standard; guides for combinations of apparatus under the entity concept, maintenance and inspections, explanatory notes, wiring in hazardous (classified) locations, marking for the zone classification system and references. It's at www.isa.org/pdfs/microsites164/rp-120601
— International Society of Automation / www.isa.org
SPECIAL REPORT ON INTRINSIC SAFETY
Control's sister magazine, Chemical Processing, recently published its "Improve Plant Safety: Intrinsic Safety Special Report," which collects a variety of articles on process plant safety, analyzing electrical ratings to address zone classifications, surveying electrical risk sources, and complying with OSHA and NFPA regulations. It's located at www.chemicalprocessing.com/assets/wp_downloads/pdf/improve-plant-safety_special-report.pdf
Chemical Processing / www.chemprocessing.com
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