HEALTH & SAFETY
SAFER BY DESIGN
Rama Oruganti on designing intrinsically safe wearables for the oil & gas industry
RealWear’s technology helps reduce downtime and enhance safety for frontline workers
O
il rigs, chemical plants and refi neries are among the world’s most hazardous working environments.
Equipment employed in these worksites prioritise worker safety above all else. Conventional electrical gear often falls short of the safety requirements, as a single spark from a component could trigger a catastrophic explosion. Therefore, Intrinsically Safe (IS) measures are indispensable for the safe operation of electrical equipment in these volatile zones. IS is the formal design approach
aimed at making electronic equipment safe and suitable for use in hazardous zones. The technique is based on limiting energy, electrical, and thermal levels to below the thresholds that could cause combustion.
BUILDING AN IS DEVICE FOR OIL & GAS Developing an electronics device is a demanding endeavour due to numerous requirements that need to be balanced. Designing and certifying an IS device
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magnifi es these challenges. There are many authorised agencies
that certify intrinsically safe equipment. The European certifi cation is called ATEX; the North American standard is the NEC500, which can be applied for through UL, FM, CSA or QPS, for example. A procedure for the certifi cation of electrical equipment across the globe is called IECEx. Equipment employed in hazardous locations should be certifi ed by one of these reputable systems or agencies.
BENEFITS OF IECEX IECEx is a voluntary system which provides an internationally accepted means of proving compliance with IEC standards. Due to varying standards across
countries, “Ex” equipment often needs to be retested and recertifi ed to the appropriate standards of that country, adding to the cost and to the time to market for the equipment. IEC standards are used in many
national approval schemes and, as such, IECEx certifi cation can be used
to support national compliance, usually eliminating the need for additional testing. This makes international trade easier, quicker and more cost- eff ective. IECEx has a public online database (
iecex.com) and strict control mechanisms. IECEx certifi cation can also be seen as a seal of approval. A device that is designed for areas
where fl ammable vapours are present is designated with an NEC500 Class 1, Div 1 certifi cation and an ATEX Zone 1 device. These certifi ed devices can be used in environments where an explosive atmosphere, consisting of a mixture with air of dangerous substances in the form of gas, vapour or mist, is likely to occur under operations. Accurate designation is extremely important for worker safety reasons. Failing to correctly designate a product can result in severe damage to both facilities and resources, an injury or fatality, and bring about legal ramifi cations or other risks. This certifi cation is awarded only after thorough and rigorous checks by experienced, independent third parties. It
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