What should you compare when reviewing Ex wireless installation and maintenance requirements? When comparing Ex wireless solutions, product suitability, certification and cost will usually be the primary considerations. Installation and maintenance requirements should also form part of that assessment, as they can influence how straightforward the system is to deploy and support over its lifetime. Different suppliers offer varying levels of: Installation guidance: Clear documentation to support correct installation and commissioning. Hazardous area and wireless expertise: Specialist knowledge of Ex compliance and wireless performance. System flexibility: Ability to adapt the solution to different equipment and site requirements. Maintenance accessibility: Design that makes inspection and component access straightforward for the site’s own maintenance teams. These factors can affect how easily a system is installed, serviced, adapted, refurbished, or upgraded over time; ultimately influencing the total cost […]
Why is it beneficial to extend my existing wireless network infrastructure into Ex zones? Extending your existing safe-area wireless infrastructure into Ex zones gives IT teams greater freedom to use the same network strategy and wireless technologies site-wide, rather than creating separate hazardous-area solutions that require additional integration with the wider network. At Extronics (BARTEC’s Connectivity & IoT brand), we provide Ex enclosure systems that are built for wireless connectivity. Key benefits of Ex enclosure systems can include: Maintaining consistency with existing network strategy, hardware choices, and operational practices. Avoiding an additional hazardous area-specific wireless platform where it is not needed. Supporting existing IT policy, cybersecurity, compatibility, maintenance, and digitalization plans. Selecting wireless technology around the application and site requirements. This flexibility is increasingly useful as industrial wireless technology evolves. The Wi-Fi Alliance highlights performance […]
What happens when digitalization plans meet Ex zones in the process industries? Hazardous area classification can have an impact how and where digital technologies and the types of equipment needed for it to be deployed safely. Zone 0, 1 and 2 requirements influence the devices and connectivity being used for your intended application. A site will often contain a combination of safe and hazardous areas, requiring both standard safe-area and Ex-certified devices to provide coverage across the entire space. For example, a chemicals factory may be Zone 2 in the stores, Zone 1 in the manufacturing areas and Safe Area in the Sales Office. Understanding how these areas are configured is therefore essential, as it will influence the type, location, and overall deployment of devices needed to support your digitalization plans. What might digitalization look like […]
How can onshore industrial sites use RTLS data to improve workforce visibility, safety compliance, and productivity? By using the MobileView API (Application Programming Interface) to connect RTLS (Real-Time Location System) data with dashboards, reporting tools and operational workflows. This helps onshore industrial operators monitor site headcount, lone workers, geofenced areas, exposure time, contractor activity, asset and personnel location tracking, productivity and tag utilization. Why API Integration Matters for Onshore Industrial Sites Onshore industrial sites face a different set of visibility challenges to offshore assets. Instead of managing helicopter transfers, lifeboat allocation, or offshore accommodation, operators are often focused on workforce movement across large and complex facilities. The offshore applications of the MobileView API are covered separately in MobileView API: Connecting Offshore Safety, Personnel and Emergency Systems, including e-POB (Electronic Personnel on Board), PAGA (Public Address […]
How can offshore sites connect RTLS data with e-POB, PAGA and emergency mustering systems? By using the MobileView API (Application Programming Interface) to connect RTLS (Real-Time Location System) data with offshore safety and emergency systems. These include e-POB (Electronic Personnel on Board), PAGA (Public Address and General Alarm), fire and gas detection, access control, personnel logistics, bed allocation, lifeboat allocation and emergency mustering. Why Integration Matters Offshore Offshore assets such as FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels), platforms and remote energy facilities are complex environments. Personnel safety depends on accurate and connected information. Operators need to know: Who is on board Where personnel are located Whether each person has checked in correctly Which bed they have been allocated Which lifeboat seat they are assigned to How personnel will be accounted for in an emergency. […]
What is the difference between mustering and e-POB? Mustering is an emergency process used to confirm who has reached a safe location during an incident or drill. e-POB, or electronic Personnel on Board, is the digital system that records who is currently on site, on board, or inside a facility. Put simply: e-POB tells you who needs to be accounted for Mustering tells you who has reached safety. Why personnel visibility matters in an emergency In high-risk industrial environments, personnel visibility is essential. This is especially true across: Offshore platforms Vessels Refineries Chemical plants Manufacturing sites. These environments often have employees, contractors, and visitors spread across multiple areas. During an emergency, teams need accurate information quickly. Effective emergency preparedness depends on having reliable visibility of personnel before an incident occurs. This is where e-POB and […]