With the rapid growth and expansion of several industries, governments, crew, staff and ship owners alike have become increasingly safety conscious. This is especially so in vessels, workplaces and sites where there is a risk of fire or explosion attached to the immediate environment or equipment. According to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulation by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), in 2016, a minimum of 2 two-way portable and intrinsically safe radios are required on-board ships for critical fire fighter communications. And from 2022, only Marine Equipment Directive (MED) Wheelmark approved intrinsically safe radios will comply with this IMO SOLAS fire fighting regulation for EU flagged vessels.
Independent of the firefighting regulation, intrinsically safe radios are also used frequently for safe communications and operations in potentially hazardous or explosive environments, such as on oil and gas platforms or in the engine room. This is because safe operations are of utmost importance, and in potentially hazardous or explosive environments, compliance with the new SOLAS regulations is a must to prove that the ship is seaworthy and can sail safely without danger to the ship, environment, and those on board.
A Required Standard in Highly Volatile Areas
If searching for two-way radios, it is commonplace to counter terms such as “intrinsically safe”, “explosion proof”, IECEx, ATEX, and TIA UL. From the IEC 60079 standard to the SS 254 Singapore Standard, these intrinsic safety standards ensure that specific devices are incapable of triggering sparks and heat or even igniting the surrounding volatile gasses and other substances. Designed to be free of any components that could cause an ignition, these devices are ideal in environments such as oil rigs, boatyards, chemical processing plants, and engine rooms of vessels, where flammable and other combustible materials are plentiful.
As such, depending on the class of the hazardous area such as Group IIA, Group IIB and Group IIC, an intrinsically safe radio can be opted for. Generally built to limit heat production and with specially designed batteries, these radios are constructed of materials that also mitigate the risk of creating static electricity. Therefore, you can rest assured that devices with an Intrinsically Safe (IS) system act as a safeguard from possible autoignition of a volatile atmosphere.
Authorised Distributor of Intrinsically Safe Radios
At Allied eParts, we are an authorised distributor of intrinsically safe radios sourced from reputable brands like Entel. Sourced from manufacturers that meet every stringent manufacturing requirement, it is without a doubt that these devices are manufactured in accordance with strict codes and regulations. For high-performance IS radios available at cost-effective prices, browse our online catalogue and get in touch with us for a quote. Need more information on which class of intrinsically safe radio is the best fit for your industry and application? Feel free to contact our support team.