Enclosures meet increased safety requirements

-- Control Engineering, 3/3/2008

Anoka, MN – Hoffman announced ATEX-certified Zonex enclosures for use in potentially hazardous locations where allowable protection methods include increased safety per ATEX Directive 94/9/EC. The enclosures are suitable for use in Zone 1 and Zone 2, EEx e, increased safety applications. They also provide the installed components with IP66/NEMA 4X environmental protection.

Hoffman enclosures help prevent igniting gas or dust.

“‘Increased safety’ deals with controlling (limiting) the arc or spark of components installed so as to eliminate the possibility of igniting a gas or dust in the environment, as well as controlling the surface temperature of the enclosure,” says Greg Quick, Hoffman product manager. “Zonex Enclosures that are factory populated with terminal blocks and ATEX Certified have limits on the number of terminal blocks installed. By limiting the number of terminal blocks installed, the amount of heat generated by the wire and installed components is controlled. Controlling the temperature rise maintains the enclosure surface temperature below defined limits, which eliminates spontaneous combustion due to known flashpoints of certain gases and dusts,” Quick says. 

The enclosures are made from Type 316 stainless steel, and the silicone gasket offers sealing and temperature performance. Side-mounted, slotted mounting brackets allow one-person mounting and installation. Standard enclosures with either one or three gland plates allow for simple modification and wiring, and a lift-off door provides access to components. Enclosures can be purchased as certified components only, which are standard catalog offerings, or Hoffman can provide certified populated and modified enclosures, configured with ATEX-certified terminal blocks, stopping plugs, and drains combined with customer-specified holes, cutouts, and markings.

– Control Engineering News Desk
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