Hazardous dust location switches and sensors
SENSORS CERTIFIED FOR EXPLOSIVE DUST ATMOSPHERES
Some machine applications create potentially explosive atmospheres, making reliable detection even more critical. According to the European Directive, an explosive dust atmosphere is created when the air is mixed with a flammable dust which, in the event of combustion, would spread throughout the particles in the air which were not initially ignited.
Potentially explosive dust can be produced for a specific purpose (manufacturing flour or sugar, ...), generated when processing of solid materials (sawdust from cutting wood, ...) or result from the abrasion of solid material during transport (producing cereals, ...). All companies where such manufacturing is processed will face a risk of explosion.
Sensors with International Certification
The Telemecanique Sensors line of hazardous dust atmosphere sensors are compliant with the global international standard IECEx and the latest European ATEX directive. By choosing a Telemecanique Sensor product for your hazardous dust machine application, you are choosing a sensor that has been tested and certified to perform in a manner compliant with these prominent, established safety standards.
The Zone System
ATEX (defined by AT: atmosphere and EX: explosive), IECEx and NEC 506 all use the same protection concept called the Zone system. The Zone defines the probability of the hazardous material (dust) being present in sufficient quantities to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures.
Zone 20 - An area where combustible dusts or ignitable fibers are suspended in the air continuously or for long periods of time.