Intrinsic Safety
Intrinsically safe equipment and wiring means the products are not capable of releasing sufficient energy in a circuit to ignite a flammable atmosphere in a hazardous location.
In order to have a fire or explosion, fuel, oxygen and a source of ignition must be present. An intrinsically safe system assumes the fuel and oxygen is present in the atmosphere, but the system is designed so the electrical energy or thermal energy of a particular instrument loop can never be great enough to cause ignition.
Intrinsically Safe Mechanical Devices
All of Solon Manufacturing's pressure switches are manufactured as intrinsically safe products. Solon's pressure switches are "simple apparatus" devices that will neither store nor generate more than 1.2 volts, 0.1 A, 25 milliwatts, or 20 microjoules of energy, as defined in the NEC Article 504-2. These devices require no certification when used with suitable associated apparatus (intrinsically safe barriers). Because of the low voltages and currents of intrinsically safe circuits, Solon suggests specifying gold contacts, which allows the product to open and close consistently.
Intrinsic Safety Barriers
Intrinsic Safety (IS) Barriers are another component of an intrinsically safe solution. Intrinsic safety barriers are devices that limit current, voltage, and total energy delivered to a sensor or other instrument located in a hazardous area. Limiting the energy prevents fire & explosions from occurring in areas with hazardous chemicals, gases or other ignitable atmospheres.
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