safety While the basic functionality of ordinary TETRA handsets
and ATEX radios is the same, the key diff erentiator is the actual construction or manufacturing process, Barnby explained. Additional safeguards are put in place in the ATEX process so that the radio remains ‘safe’ even under fault conditions. Should a fault occur, sparking cannot start a fi re. T e company is also keen to stress the point that
the STP8X inherits a host of unique features from its fl agship STP8000 handportable range, including missed event notifi cations, a Micro-SD image viewer – ideal for looking up hazardous material data – and a display which off ers crystal-clear viewing under all viewing conditions, including harsh sunlight. Other features include extended battery (who wants to have to change a battery in the middle of a fl aming oil refi nery?), and Sepura’s man-down application, capable of identifying when a user has become incapacitated, notifying rescue crews via TETRA and sounding a local alarm to assist rescuers in locating their colleague. Since the launch of this radio, Sepura has won several contracts with clients in the oil and gas and mining industries in the Middle
East, Russia and Asia Pacifi c region.
Sepura’s STP8X handportable, seen here coupled to a large push-to-talk switch designed for users such as fi refi ghters wearing breathing apparatus. Accessories for ATEX radios should be certifi ed to at least the same protection level as the host radio
their work. Designed to meet essential health and safety requirements, these handsets undergo strict conformity procedures often involving third-party testing and certifi cation, in turn leading to the equipment being classifi ed with the letters ‘EX’. At the current time, the manufacture of Intrinsically Safe
(IS) TETRA handsets seems to be the preserve of just a handful of players, with Cassidian, Motorola, and Sepura taking centre stage while the less widely known Funkwerk also plays a part.
The makers, the handsets Launched in 2011, Sepura’s STP8X extended the company’s reach into hazardous gases and dusty environments, where Intrinsically Safe ATEX/IECEx certifi ed devices are an essential requirement. Mark Barnby, product manager, said that the STP8X
meets the most recent updates of the ATEX and IECEx standards. At the launch of this product, he emphasized that the company had paid attention to how real users around the world operated their Intrinsically-Safe radios and accessories in a wide variety of market segments. “Loud, clear audio, the ability to use the radio whilst wearing bulky gloves and a new level of ruggedness were all key attributes that were not yet present in the market”, he said. He added that the STP8X embodied all of these requirements, and described it also as the fi rst IP67-rated submersible TETRA Intrinsically-Safe hands-free radio.
Issue 7 2012 TE TRA TODAY
Worker protection An early ATEX player was Cassidian, which launched its fi rst such product, then known as the Nokia THR880i Ex handportable, back in 2007. T e THR880i Ex has a two-sided design – a phone side and a radio side. It provides integrated GPS, voice feedback, colour display, an XHTML browser and Java platform, off ering a wide range of voice and data services as well as positioning. Supporting smart card based end-to-end encryption, it is fully compliant with other Cassidian i-range radios. At the end of 2010 the
company’s THR9 Ex was released. Pierre Lopez, head
Cassidian’s new- generation ATEX handportable, the THR9 Ex
23
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36