H2scan P&S Catalog 2025 - Flipbook - Page 36
Intrinsically Safe
(IS) Certi昀椀cation: A
Critical Feature or a
Strategic Bene昀椀t?
Or Both?
The expanding hydrogen marketplace is growing rapidly.
Still, providers must be careful to ensure growth isn't coming
at the expense of safety and ef昀椀ciency. In this environment,
the certi昀椀cation of devices as Intrinsically Safe (IS) is not
just a regulatory feature checkbox - it is a strategic bene昀椀t
that can signi昀椀cantly impact an organization's operational
success.
The term "Hydrogen Ecosystem" is a collective term used
here to encompass hydrogen in the "clean energy" industry, the "hydrogen economy", and the myriad of industrial
processes that monitor and measure hydrogen levels, where
the volatility of hydrogen necessitates the highest levels of
safety.
The "So What?" of Intrinsic Safety
Intrinsic safety (IS) is often touted as a mandatory feature
for devices operating in hazardous environments. However,
the common question to distinguish between a feature and
a bene昀椀t is to ask, "So what?"
Since the hydrogen sector is so new and has yet to create
a history of benchmarks and standards, stakeholders in the
hydrogen ecosystem may question as IS certi昀椀cation's value. Is intrinsic safety merely a feature, or does it hold deeper
strategic bene昀椀ts and value for the customer? The answer
lies in understanding that IS certi昀椀cation is not just about
compliance - it's about ensuring the utmost reliability and
safety of devices in environments where a single spark can
lead to catastrophic consequences.
Hydrogen, alarmingly, is 昀氀ammable at concentrations in
air as small as 4% and becomes explosive between 13%
and 75%. Given these properties, any equipment used in its
production, storage, transportation or deployment must be
designed to eliminate even the smallest risk of ignition. This
is also true in industrial processes where the existence of
hydrogen can be indicative of the same ignition risk. In addition, IS-certi昀椀ed devices will also provide predictive analysis
and noti昀椀cation of an urgently required action.
Bottom line - IS hydrogen devices are engineered to prevent sparks or thermal effects that could ignite this highly
昀氀ammable gas, making them indispensable in the broader
hydrogen ecosystem - far more critical than just a mere
product feature.
90000265
Beyond Compliance: The Strategic Bene昀椀ts of IS Certi昀椀cation
While IS certi昀椀cation is indeed a compliance requirement in
many industries (but not all), it also offers a host of strategic
bene昀椀ts. Companies that prioritize intrinsic safety in their
equipment can gain a signi昀椀cant competitive edge in terms of
cost savings and reputation. Saying "all of our equipment is IS
certi昀椀ed" carries weight.
One of the most compelling strategic bene昀椀ts is the reduction
of risk. By utilizing IS devices, companies can operate with the
con昀椀dence that their certi昀椀ed equipment will not become an
ignition source. This certainty allows organizations to focus on
optimizing other aspects of their operations rather than dedicating resources to additional safety measures.
The cost savings from avoiding the need for expensive protective equipment, such as explosion-proof enclosures and backup
systems for disruptions, can be substantial.
Moreover, companies that emphasize IS certi昀椀cation in their
operations are often perceived as leaders in safety. This not
only enhances their reputation but also fosters trust among
stakeholders, including customers, employees, vendors, regulators and investors. In industries where safety is paramount, this
trust can translate into long-term business relationships, brand
building, increased market share and employee loyalty. It can
even lower insurance costs.
The Historical Context: A Foundation of Safety
The importance of intrinsic safety has deep historical roots. The
concept of IS certi昀椀cation originated in the coal mining industry
long ago, where the hazardous conditions posed by methane
gas and coal dust required stringent safety measures.
In the early 20th century, even a simple 昀氀ashlight could ignite a
deadly and disruptive explosion, leading to the development of
IS standards. The 昀椀rst IS ratings were issued in the 1930s, with
formal standards emerging in the 1950s.
Today, these standards are upheld by recognized bodies such
as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in the United States, Canadian Standards Association, ATEX Directives in the European
Union and IECEX internationally. These organizations and several others ensure that devices meet the rigorous requirements
needed to prevent accidents in hazardous environments.
pg.36
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