safety


of terminal and indirect channel business at Cassidian, said: “Te THR9 Ex combines high performance and security in mission-critical voice and data communication where intrinsically safe products are needed. “With ATEX and IEC-Ex certification for both gas and


dust, the THR9 Ex offers protection against physical and environmental exposure in explosion-prone areas and can be used where flammable substances are produced, processed, transported or stored, such as oil and gas, petrochemical and steel industries as well as rigs, airports and harbours, and it also meets the needs of fire brigades for Ex equipment when working in hazardous scenarios.” Te handset’s Lifeguard feature is an advanced solution


for man-down functionality, recognizing if the radio stops moving or remains horizontal for a defined period. Te THR9 Ex features a large and bright colour display,


providing valuable information for users on changing situations in the field. For example, a red signal bar warns the user if the 2000 mAh battery is running low or network coverage is diminishing. Te radio has a dedicated fast menu key for the quick selection of the most common tasks, such as switching to direct mode. Lopez said that end users of the IS device still


Motorola’s MTP850Ex, equipped with a variety of safety features


expect a high level of functionality from their handsets alongside the ATEX protection, which is why Cassidian “always integrates ATEX into its most advanced radio platform”. Tis ensures Cassidian’s ATEX devices have virtually the same full feature set as their standard TETRA radios, including large emergency key, man-down alarm, vibrating alert, GPS, dual PTT, voice feedback, Java applications, and others. But you can’t tell a book by its cover and although, from the visible hardware point of view, the THR9 Ex looks similar to the THR9i, with the largest display existing on the market, its internal design is very specific, with the ATEX manufacturing process following stringent rules under the strict supervision of an independent ‘Notified Body’. Lopez said: “Generally the electronic board is compounded to avoid any spark or overheating in contact with gas. Component reliability and traceability at each level of the manufacturing process is key to ensure the high quality of such safety devices.” He added that Cassidian’s ATEX


TETRA radios are in use in around 30 countries around the world with various types of customers, including production, distribution and transportation of oil and gas; chemical industries, airports as well as fire services. One of these very challenging working


environments is the world’s longest oil pipeline system in Russia, covering thousands of kilometres over Eastern Europe and Asia. Here Cassidian ATEX radios are in use under extreme conditions, functioning even during harsh Siberian winters.


24 ‘ Designed to meet


essential health and safety requirements, these handsets undergo strict conformity procedures


Lately commended Motorola’s ATEX handportable, the ultra-rugged MTP850Ex radio, very recently gained distinction in the 2012 International TETRA Awards, being highly commended by the panel of judges in the Best TETRA Product for Enterprise category. Launched in 2010, the MTP850Ex ATEX radio also


’


benefits from enhanced environmental protection to IP65 certification for resistance to environments containing dust or pressurised water, such as water jets and heavy seas. Te company says its ATEX TETRA terminals are


designed to be intuitive and easy to use in hazardous environments. Tey include many advanced features, including an integrated GPS receiver that can locate personnel for safety and resource management, as well as an internal man-down sensor that sends an alert to the console operator if the radio does not move within a certain period of time or tilts past a defined angle. Other safety features include: nan emergency button that not only alerts colleagues to critical situations but also sends an update of the officer’s location;


na rugged dust- and water-proof connector, which allows the use of a wide range of accessories including ATEX-certified earpieces and headsets;


na simplified keyboard with a large button surface that is easy-to-use with protective gloves. Motorola says its terminals are especially beneficial to


fire services. It has supplied MTP850Ex portables to two Danish fire departments, ambulance Hazard Area Response Teams (HART) in the UK and SABIC, the largest and most profitable non-oil company in the Middle East, and one of the world’s five largest petrochemicals manufacturers.


Petrochemical portable At last year’s TETRA World Congress in Budapest a further ATEX handset entered the picture, from Funkwerk Security Communications. Tis, the FT4 Ex/FT4 S Ex, is the company’s first ATEX TETRA radio – it was developed for the chemical and petrochemical industries and it too is IP65-rated. Te handsets have personal security functionality for


emergency situations including both manual and automatic alarms. Tey are also certified according to Germany’s employer liability insurance association guidelines for personal emergency systems in hazardous workplaces. Te FT4 S and FT4 S Ex personal emergency systems combine in a single device which includes automatic location tracking and comprehensive personal emergency signalling with TETRA functionality specially designed for group communications.


TE TRA TODAY Issue 7 2012


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