The safety of workers, whilst always important, is moving higher up the list of priorities for investment. Companies operating within the process industries are continually looking to ensure their workers are safe whilst making sure they are getting the most from their investments. This whitepaper explores the growing need for a hybrid Real Time Location System for enhanced worker safety. With variable physical environments and a range of operational challenges to overcome, it is unlikely that any one location technology ticks all your boxes. Hybrid RTLS is the only practical solution to the complexities of the use cases in the process industries. It involves using two or more location technologies as part of the same solution: To deliver wider coverage with reduced infrastructure To add greater accuracy To provide additional functionality To reduce total cost […]
We’ve all been hearing about how passive RFID tags can help us streamline inventory and maintenance processes, but what should we consider first? This new whitepaper looks at the latest hazardous area standards and technology to answer the question: do passive RFID tags need to be hazardous area certified? In this whitepaper, you’ll see The advantages of passive RFID tags over barcode systems Types of RFID technology available How passive RFID technology works What the hazardous area standards specify Examples of interpreting those standards Who is responsible for assessing tags, and the process involved A summary flowchart to show you exactly what you need for your application
As wireless devices such as mobile phones and laptop computers become more reliable and cost effective, there is growing interest amongst the process industry as to the benefits to be found from enabling such devices to be used in hazardous areas. However, unlike most industries this is not a simple task. Installing wireless networks in hazardous areas requires careful, expert planning and execution. This white paper covers: Are radio frequency waves a hazard? consideration of the explosion protection standards defining the acceptable safe limits of RF international approval standards to which RF equipment should adhere how RF could cause an explosion Installing wireless networks in hazardous areas antenna placement gas detectors as a protective system How to minimise the potential risk previous methods used consideration of the various protection concepts limitations of existing methods new […]
Wireless technologies take personnel safety in the process industries to a new level. In modern times the Process Industries have implemented many strategies to improve the operational safety of plants to protect personnel and the surrounding environment, to the extent that accidents are thankfully few and far between. This white paper covers: Introduction current methods of accounting for personnel how that relates to muster points potential risks RFID technologies overview passive RFID assisted passive RFID active RFID Using RFID for a mustering application the importance of read reliability defining a mustering station considering entry/exit into zones After the muster: locating missing personnel potential methods to locate a missing person risks to the missing person and to the rescue team Real Time Location principles RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) TDOA (Time Difference On Arrival) Real Time […]
This whitepaper is about the ATEX Directive, the risks of potentially explosive atmospheres, and what you can do about it. This white paper is designed to help you understand what the ATEX Directive and why it’s necessary to use certified equipment in hazardous areas. So, what is the ATEX Directive? the background of the ATEX Directive a summary of the ATEX Directive’s impact on industrial locations The context of explosive atmospheres Defining an explosion The effects of oxygen enhancement, temperature, and pressure the history of explosion protection Definitions and codes surrounding areas with explosive atmospheres defining a hazardous area examples of explosive mixtures gas groups temperature codes Commonly recognised protection concepts general requirements the flameproof, or Ex d, concept the intrinsic safety, or Ex ia and ib, concept the pressurisation, or Ex p, concept the […]
The need to provide Ethernet connectivity to locations around production plants or other facilities is becoming more common place. This is mainly due to the fact that most modern control and instrumentation equipment is now supplied with an Ethernet interface as the primary means of communicating with the device. In many cases it is simply a matter of running an Ethernet cable from the switch to the device as this more often than not provides power as well using the 802.3af POE standard. This white paper covers: Why Ethernet connectivity is needed general requirements how that applies to industries such as oil and gas The practicalities of installing Ethernet in applications such as an FPSO Ethernet cabling restrictions accounting for 360 degree rotation of the FPSO’s turret drawbacks of the traditional slip ring method the […]