News

Android 13 update announced for the third quarter of 2023

The current IS530.x smartphone and IS930.x tablet series from i.safe MOBILE will soon be able to run with Android 13. This update option provides more features and increased security for end-users

  i.safe MOBILE is proud to announce that their IS530.x smartphone and IS930.x tablet series will continue to be available in the product portfolio and can be updated from Android 10 to Android 13 starting in third quarter of 2023. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. assisted in the upgrading of the Qualcomm® SDM660 System-on-Chip (SoC) devices to the latest Android version.

i.safe MOBILE GmbH is innovation and world market leader for explosion-proof mobile devices and solutions. i.safe MOBILE is based in Lauda-Koenigshofen (Germany) and one of the most innovative developers of mobile communication devices such as mobile phones, smartphones and tablets for safe use in hazardous areas. Engineers and specialists develop practical products and customer-specific software solutions based on legal regulations such as ATEX, IECEx and NEC 500.

Not only the IS930.x tablet series, but also the IS530.x smartphone series will soon be available with ANDROID 13. The update option is provided free of charge and can thus be requested and downloaded remotely from all connected devices at any time. 

Our industrial smartphone IS530.1 combines the important ATEX and IECEx standards for explosion protection with high performance and communication requirements for use in networked industries. Automation, industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT) constantly present users of industrial communication devices with new challenges that can be easily mastered with the smart and innovative IS530.1: Equipped with Bluetooth® 5.0, a multifunctional ISM interface, huge internal 64 GB memory and the highest camera resolution in its class (13 MP main camera and 5 MP front camera), it enables users to deploy it without any difficulties in critical environments. The smartphone IS530.1 from i.safe MOBILE is ATEX and IECEx certified for zone 1/21 and can therefore also be used in potentially explosive areas. The device is also available for zone 2/22 as IS530.2. Under its i.safe MOBILE brand, the company has developed an extremely robust device for use in harsh industrial environments in non-hazardous areas. This rugged version is available under the name IS530.RG.

A high working speed is one important requirement in industrial environments. This is ensured the powerful Qualcomm SDM660 SoC inside the IS530.x and IS930.x series devices and a large internal memory capacity of 64 GB (expandable to 128 GB via microSD) and a 4 GB RAM. To act even more flexible, secure and adjusted to customers’ 

requirements, updating to Android 13 provides more features and improved security. Some of the new Android 13 features are customizable apps, improved privacy controls and cross-device features, enhanced audio features, new media controls, pre-app language preferences for fluid moving between languages.

All new devices of the IS530.x smartphone and IS930.x tablet series will be shipped with Android 13 from the third quarter of 2023. “We are glad to announce that the Android 13 version will be soon available to our customers. With this new software update, we meet the requirements of our customers who constantly asked for high-level communication devices with state-of-the-art software features”, summarizes Martin Haaf, CEO of i.safe MOBILE.

www.isafe-mobile.com

The explosion-proof 5G industrial smartphone IS540 impressed with innovative and user-oriented product design

Lauda-Koenigshofen, 04 May 2023.  i.safe MOBILE GmbH, innovation and global market leader for explosion-proof mobile devices and solutions, has won the prestigious Red Dot Design Award for its product design of the IS540, the first 5G smartphone for industrial hazardous areas. The design of the smartphone is completely tailored to the dedicated application area in explosive industrial environments: The in-house design team has combined the protective robust frame in black industrial style elegantly and at the same time strikingly for the safety area, with red line elements and an SOS button. Thanks to the rubberized honeycomb structure of the side panels, the device has a good grip, fits very well in hand and is easy to operate even with wet hands as well as gloves. The dedicated 16-pin ISM interface for accessory connection and the battery are secured with high-quality stainless steel screw connections and round off the design concept.

With the development of the IS540 smartphone, i.safe MOBILE has launched the world's first 5G smartphone for ATEX and IECEx zone 1/21. The R&D team placed particular emphasis on performance, safety, clarity and usability. This has now cleared the way for international industrial customers from the chemical, petroleum processing, pharmaceutical and other demanding process industries to use the device in explosion-proof applications in the 5G network and in 5G campus networks.  

With around 20,000 entries each year, the Red Dot Design Award is one of the largest design competitions in the world. The competition is divided into the three disciplines: Red Dot Award for Product Design, Red Dot Award for Brands & Communication Design and Red Dot Award for Design Concept. The Red Dot Design Award looks back on a history of more than 60 years: In 1955, a jury met for the first time to evaluate the best designs of that time. In the 1990s, Red Dot CEO Professor Dr. Peter Zec developed the name and the brand of the award. Since then, the prestigious "Red Dot" award has become the internationally respected seal of design excellence. The award winners are presented in the yearbooks, museums and online.

www.isafe-mobile.com

Hi-line Industries, a UK-based leader in the design, manufacture and installation of energy-efficient compressed air purification equipment, is well known for the long-standing support it provides to the local sporting community in Burton upon Trent. The company is a main sponsor at both Burton Albion Football Club and Burton Rugby Football Club. Now, Hi-line’s Managing Director Steve Smith is adding to this tradition by raising thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK through his endeavours in White Collar Boxing, a series of high-profile fundraising events organised by Ultra, the UK's largest charity sports organisation.

Ultra White Collar Boxing (UWCB) is a unique opportunity for people to experience the wonderful world of boxing in a safe and enjoyable environment, while simultaneously raising money for Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and getting into shape. The organisation is a spin-off of the original White Collar Boxing, which began in New York in 1988 when two ‘white collar’ workers, a doctor and an attorney, trained for a few weeks before boxing each other at a black-tie event. UCWB commenced in 2009, becoming a corporate partner of CRUK in 2013. Today, the organisation is one of CRUK’s largest fundraising partners, donating over £25 million to date. 

In memory of his late mother June Smith, Hi-line’s Managing Director Steve Smith decided to get involved when UWCB announced it would be staging a series of bouts in Burton upon Trent between 18 March and 18 April 2023. UWCB has now organised events in over 100 towns and cities in the UK. 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Continued ……

All those agreeing to participate in a UWCB bout receive eight weeks of free training at a local boxing gym with professional coaches. Once training is complete, participants get paired with an opponent from the same group of trainees based on weight, fitness, ability and age to ensure a fair and competitive bout under strict safety guidelines.

Every participating boxer must pledge to raise at least £50 for CRUK, but Steve Smith wanted to do more, setting up a Just Giving page with a target of £3,000. At time of writing, the total had already exceeded £4,600.

“I wanted to raise money for research into cancer cures because this devastating disease must cease,” he said. “At Hi-line we have a long association with supporting local sport, so UWCB seemed the ideal opportunity to make a further contribution. I must offer my thanks everyone who has made a donation. We associate ourselves with success at Hi-line Industries and take our social and charitable responsibilities very seriously, so a massive thank you to all who have helped make this fundraising event so hugely successful.”

A video of the entire bout between Steve ‘Nitro’ Smith (wearing blue) and his challenger Matt Long is available to view on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3l9k42cKjA. Anyone wishing to support Steve Smith and pledge a donation to Cancer Research UK can do so at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/steve-smith222

The company are also sponsoring a MotoX race team started by their Fabrication Manager, Darren Stretton. The team features a group of like-minded dirt bikers and ride at AMCA level, meeting throughout the Midlands. The all Yamaha team wear Hi-line blue with bikes in full Hi-line decals.

This artilce can also be found in the issue below.

BEKA associates have introduced two new Power Isolators which although primarily intended for powering their Pageant Operator Panels, may be used with any certified apparatus having compatible input safety parameters.

Performing the same function as a conventional galvanic isolator, the new power isolators employ an alternative configuration which delivers more power into a hazardous area. The BA212 is a single channel device, delivering 4W of usable power into a IIA or IIB flammable gas, or a combustible dust atmosphere, within Zone 0, 1, 2, 20, 21 or 22.

The BA243 has four separate galvanically isolated outputs, each can deliver 1W of usable power into a IIC flammable gas. These four outputs may be remotely combined by a certified network to provide 3.6W of usable power into a IIC hydrogen atmosphere located in Zone 0, 1 or 2.

Both models have IECEx, ATEX and UKEX [Ex ia Ga] IIC intrinsic safety associated apparatus certification, plus Ex ec increased safety component certification allowing installation in Zone 2. The isolators are DIN rail mounting, have input and output LED indicators with tagging facilities.

BEKA Application Guide AG210, which can be downloaded from the BEKA website www.beka.co.uk describes the function of these isolators and how they can safely power Pageant Operator Panels.

For further information please visit https://www.beka.co.uk/power-isolators or phone the BEKA sales office on +44 (0) 1462 438301.

In the context of the desired decarbonisation, hydrogen is becoming increasingly important as an energy carrier (thermal utilisation) and as a starting material for chemical production lines (molecular utilisation). Plant operators and manufacturers of specific subcomponents often plan to use methane-hydrogen mixtures initially, and then to continuously increase their hydrogen content. The long-term goal is to completely substitute methane with hydrogen. However, it is often disregarded that the safety concepts and technologies suitable for the original methane operation are only functional to a limited extent or not at all for protecting plants, single components and infrastructure during operation with high hydrogen concentrations.

Particularly in the area of explosion protection, as well as pressure venting at medium to very high overpressures, the existing concepts must be carefully reviewed using the available models, and possibly re-evaluated. A comparison of the explosion characteristics of stoichiometric methane-air and hydrogen-air mixtures quickly makes this necessity clear.

Fig. 1:Comparison of explosion characteristics under atmospheric conditions (20°C; 1.01 bar) 

Sources: BAM final report on research project 2539 and own investigations.

If the maximum explosion pressure at atmospheric conditions is about 8 bar in each case, significant increases can be observed both in the KG value (rate of pressure rise) and in the laminar flame propagation speed. This may mean that safety devices tested with methane explosions show too high inertia for the rapid pressure increase. Valve-type protective systems can be severely damaged when they respond that they do not return cleanly to their original state and their functionality is impaired or they are operated unsafely. Special care must be taken when designing and assessing the geometric dimensions and sizing. For example, certain length-to-diameter ratios of vessels and pipes, especially for hydrogen as a Class IIC gas, favour the tendency towards detonative transition. If explosions propagate from one vessel to another via a pipe, there is also the risk that the ignitable mixture is pre-compressed in the second vessel, which results in significantly higher explosion pressures compared to explosions under atmospheric conditions. A hydrogen-air mixture is also more susceptible to ignition than a methane-air mixture due to the lower ignition energies and ignition temperature. In addition to the expected more severe course of events, the probability of occurrence is also higher.

Hydrogen explosions under prepressure

In addition to the aforementioned secondaryprepressurisation in the event of an incident, there are applications in which ignitable mixtures are deliberately precompressed and can ignite uncontrollably under certain circumstances. For several reasons, these scenarios pose a special challenge with regard to the design of the corresponding equipment and to the constructive protection concepts.

Firstly, the existing normative regulations do not provide any models for the design of safety relief devices for gas explosions under prepressure. Due to the prepressure at high dynamics, the problem at hand is neither covered by DIN EN 14994 (Gas explosion venting protective systems) nor by DIN EN ISO 4126 (Safety devices for protection against excessive pressure). Thus, there are no assured design standards, which means that the problem is in the "grey area of safety technology". Secondly, the explosion dynamics are significantly influenced by barely assessable turbulence-generating effects, which primarily result from the geometry at hand. Thus, it is difficult to predict what explosion pressures, flame propagation speeds and rates of pressure rise are to be expected. Whether a detonative transition occurs and whether an explosion venting device is suitable to protect the present scenario therefore requires separate investigations.

One possible way to validate a safety concept for the "hydrogen explosion under prepressure" problem dealt with here – in addition to very complex numerical simulations – is experimental verification. For this purpose, the protection scenario is simulated as realistically as possible with flameproof components and the explosion pressure resistant concept is tested with regard to its functionality via repeated explosion tests. Starting from a stoichiometric methane-air reference test, either the proportion of hydrogen in the methane-hydrogen-air mixture, the prepressure or the combustion air ratio is increased when testing a pure hydrogen-air mixture, depending on the problem. By registering the pressure curves within the simulated structure, the maximum explosion pressure can be inferred and the tendency towards detonative transition can be estimated. The aim of the verification is always the identification of safe operating parameters as well as to check product suitability, as no standard product certification is available due to the lack of a normative basis. When selecting a suitable product/explosion venting device, it is important to ensure that it is not only suitable for explosion venting, but also guarantees a long and reliable service life under the prevailing conditions during normal operations. If the explosion venting device was an explosion vent or rupture disc, the burst pressure, operating ratio, working temperature as well as the occurrence of vibrations and cyclic loads and, of course, the corresponding material must be taken into account when making the selection.

REMBE GmbH Safety+Control has been a leader in the technological fields of Process Safety and Explosion Safety for almost 50 years. As such, the careful selection of suitable safety systems and (explosion) relief devices is a key aspect of the company's service portfolio. REMBE has thus built up a profound understanding of how to analyse customers' processes and plants and identify suitable protection technologies. In collaboration with REMBE Research+Technology Center GmbH, an independent testing laboratory accredited to EN ISO / IEC 17025:2018, REMBE can also validate even highly complex protection concepts on an experimental basis. Especially in scenarios where new technologies need to be tested, no assured design standards are available or high-precision protection concepts are required, it is precisely this multidisciplinary approach that enables REMBE to develop high-quality solution concepts. In collaboration with the customer, the company combines experimental verification with its extensive expertise in explosion safety and explosion venting solutions to create highly specific protection concepts tailored to the customer's processes.

 Fig. 2: REMBE produces high-quality explosion vents and rupture discs that are not only aesthetically appealing, but also suitable for safely venting hydrogen explosions under prepressure.

‘Energy saving features a key’

Hart Industrial Doors has completed a contract to supply and install a Speedor Storm at the new Kidderminster facility for TVH UK LTD, global parts and accessories suppliers.

Brian Woodcock, Hart’s sales manager for the Midlands and South West, says the impressive building has a two storey, 6300 sq m mezzanine with 20,000m of long span shelving containing more than 32,000 product locations. At ground floor level there are over 16,500 pallet places in high-bay racking holding 71,000 stock-keeping units (sku).

“This is an outstanding development where the emphasis is on efficiency of parts delivery and faster delivery times, critical for their clients. Our high-speed Speedors have an important part to play in this,” says Mr Woodcock.

“We installed Hart’s external high-speed Speedor Storm fabric door which is designed for frequent use in high traffic situations and capable of withstanding harsh environments . This rapid roll door is robust, requires low maintenance and delivers exceptional wind resistance in exposed areas.

“While its high-speed opening and closing action improves efficiency, the energy-saving potential of this rapid roll door is also high, controlling the internal temperatures as well as limiting escaping dirt, odours and noise.”

Mr Woodcock adds:  “Given rising energy and the whole of the Climate Change issue, Speedor’s energy-saving features are very important. The automatic action ensures doors are closed for as long as possible thus reducing the loss of heated air and penetration of cold air from outside the building. Given an intensely busy loading bay scenario, heat loss and increasing energy costs have to be controlled, reducing CO2 emissions at the same.

“Hart were selected for cost of product, quality of product and are a UK based manufacturer, this helps to reduce carbon footprint of the purchase and installation.”

Other special features include moisture- controlled electrics and shielding for mechanical components together with a unique guide system offering exceptional wind resistance up to class 5 as defined by DIN EN 12424.

“The Speedor Strom is our bestselling door, ideal for challenging applications where reliability is indispensable as well as speed of the opening/closing cycle which is essential to optimise traffic flow, improve working conditions and of course save energy.”

www.hartdoors.com     + 44 (0)191 214 0404       This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Hydrogen is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas, therefore small gaseous leaks are difficult to detect by human senses. Small leaks are common due to the small size of hydrogen molecules and usually do not present a problem since the tiny amount of mixture will not be enough to cause a flammable mixture in the air. Small amounts of leaking hydrogen will rise and diffuse quickly in air because of its low density resulting in high buoyancy (it’s 14 times less dense than air).

Hydrogen is less likely to cause a fire or explosion hazard in an open or well-ventilated space, but a problem arises when hydrogen gas is allowed to accumulate in a confined area. If this is allowed to happen, there will be a risk of a flammable mixture building up. When a large amount of accumulated hydrogen rises and mixes readily with air, it creates an ignitable mixture that can result in flames or explosions. Hydrogen is flammable in air at a volume of 4-75% by volume. 

Any structure that contains hydrogen components should be ventilated adequately. Since hydrogen is lighter than air, it collects under roofs and overhangs. Most people are familiar with protecting plants from heavier than air vapours, but are unfamiliar with upward issues. There have been many reports of hydrogen leaks igniting over the decades, and several potential ignition prevention mechanisms and hydrogen leak detection systems have been proposed. 

Methods for hydrogen leak detection include:

Reducing the Volumetric ratio of Hydrogen to Air

Ignition can occur at a volumetric ratio of hydrogen to air as low as 4% due to the oxygen in the air and the simplicity and chemical properties of the reaction. 

The best practice to avoid accumulation is to determine where hydrogen leaks are likely to occur and how they may disperse and ventilate accordingly to manage the airflows sufficiently to keep hydrogen concentrations below the lower flammability level(LFL) during probable release scenarios. Ventilation rates should be sufficient to dilute hydrogen leaks to less than 25% of the LFL which is about 1% volume by air. The minimum ventilation rate should safely dilute hydrogen build-up in the event of leakage and the ventilation should not shut down in emergency or during periods of shut down. 

It is generally safe to exhaust hydrogen into open atmosphere providing it is kept high enough that the heat does not harm anyone. Ventilation systems should not be used for the disposal of hydrogen; this should be managed by a separate system called a vent system. 

IIC Fans for Potentially Explosive Environments

Hydrogen is a gas group IIC gas and belongs to the T1 temperature class making it one of the hottest, most dangerous gases. Mechanical exhaust fans should be ATEX rated to the appropriate IIB+H2 or IIC T1 ATEX certification andconstructed from the suitable permissible material pairings as noted in the current legislation surrounding equipment for explosive environments. Material pairings should specifically relate to the rotating and stationary parts that may come into contact with each other during standard or rare malfunction. This material pairing reduces the risk of ignition created from friction and the build up of static electricity to create a spark. ATEX fans are therefore often referred to as having a spark proof construction. 

Our entire range of ATEX certified fans are suitable for gas group IIC or IIB + Hydrogen applications for effective hydrogen ventilation. Learn more by visiting our website. 

www.axair-fans.co.uk

Providing your workforce with a hard hat they can be proud of isn’t just a nice to have, but essential to operating a safe site.  

But beyond choosing a hard-hat that is high quality, comfortable and with a low profile and modern design, you can improve them further by taking advantage of MSA’s hard hat branding. 

How does branding improve safety on site? 

We know that the safest helmet is the one that workers are going to wear and unifying your employees with a sense of pride and cohesiveness, by providing a branded hard-hat, dramatically improves the use of PPE and people’swillingness to look after their kit.  

Beyond that, however, there are some important benefits to customising the hard hat your workforce are using. 

Managing a busy project site can be challenging, with dozens or even hundreds of workers and sub-contractors.  It’s important to remember that many of these workers may be relative strangers and unfamiliar with an organisation’s procedures and rules.  Customising your hard hats, using different colours and artwork, provides a reminder of people’sroles and responsibilities while on site. 

Other safety features can be added on, including retro-fitted stickers, that enhance the visibility of the workers, and name badges, to enhance security on site and to ensure it is restricted to those that should have access. You can also use it to promote potentially life-saving safety messages and reminders.  

Furthermore, in an increasingly competitive market, customisation, including the printing of companies’ logos, is an invaluable marketing tool, enabling companies to stand out from the crowd.  It can also unify workforces and foster a greater sense of collective teamwork and pride.  

Experts you can rely on

Having decided that helmet customisation is a valuable tool for your company, here are some things to consider when branding up your hard hats:

Working with MSA’s Let’s Logo service, we make life simple for customers, offering

Ordering from MSA you get all this, and our best-in-class helmets.  We know that comfort and fit aren’t nice to haves, but essential to safe site operation.  That’s because we’ve been protecting lives for over 100 years.  

Our team is here to help make purchasing high quality, customised hard hats, quick and hassle-free.  And, if you’re using a safety helmet from another brand, for a limited time we are offering a free front logo if you make the switch to us. 

Visitmsasafety.com/customhardhatsto experience the benefits of hard-hat customisation for yourself.