In industrial plants where flammable materials are handled or stored, safety is of paramount importance. The presence of combustible dusts or flammable gases can, in fact, create potentially explosive atmospheres, making it necessary to use equipment designed and certified to operate in these conditions.
In such contexts, level indicators and level sensors play a vital role in monitoring the level of materials inside silos, tanks and containers. For this reason, it is essential to select instruments that comply with the regulations and certifications required by the application, particularly when operating in areas classified as at risk of explosion.
An explosive atmosphere exists when a flammable substance, in the form of gas or dust, mixes with air in concentrations sufficient to cause an explosion or fire in the presence of an ignition source.
These conditions can occur in numerous industrial plants used for the storage and handling of materials, where the presence of explosive dusts or gaseous emissions requires particular care in the selection of control and measurement equipment.
To minimise these risks, equipment installed in the relevant areas must be designed so as not to generate sparks, electric arcs or hazardous surface temperatures during normal operation.
It is precisely in this context that ATEX and IECEx certifications come into play.
Both ATEX and IECEx certifications were established with the aim of ensuring the safety of equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
ATEX certification is the regulatory benchmark for the European market and is mandatory for equipment installed within the European Economic Area.
IECEx certification, on the other hand, is recognised internationally and facilitates the marketing of equipment in major global markets.
Although they follow different classification schemes, both certify that the product has been designed, tested and manufactured to operate safely in areas at risk of explosion. Furthermore, it is not only the product that is certified, but also the manufacturing process, ensuring quality, reliability and traceability over time.
ATEX and IECEx share the same objective: to ensure the safety of equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres.
The main difference lies in their scope of application. ATEX certification is mandatory for the European market, whilst IECEx certification is recognised internationally and facilitates the marketing of products in major global markets. For this reason, many companies opt for instruments that hold both certifications, so as to meet the regulatory requirements of different countries.
Not all hazardous areas present the same level of risk. For this reason, explosive atmospheres are divided into different zones based on the frequency and duration of the presence of flammable gases or dusts.
In the case of dust, these are referred to as Zone 20, Zone 21 and Zone 22. Zone 20 identifies the areas with the highest risk, where the explosive atmosphere is present frequently or for long periods. Zone 21 covers areas where the risk is likely to occur during normal plant operation, whilst Zone 22 identifies situations where such an atmosphere is present only occasionally and for a limited time.
A similar classification system is used for gases, covering Zones 0, 1 and 2. Here too, the level of risk decreases progressively from Zone 0 to Zone 2.
The classification of areas at risk of explosion is the starting point for selecting ATEX-rated indicators, IECEx-rated indicators and sensors for explosive atmospheres that are suitable for the application, ensuring the system's compliance and operational safety.
For over sixty years, CAMLogic has been developing instruments for the control and monitoring of industrial processes, paying particular attention to aspects relating to safety, reliability and industrial automation.
For applications involving potentially explosive dusts, CAMLogic offers a range of ATEX- and IECEx-certified level indicators.
PFG05X --> Level indicator for solids, corrosive substances, and food-grade materials.
PFG05AT --> Level indicator for solids, corrosive substances, and high-temperature applications.
PFG57X --> Level indicator for solids, corrosive substances, and food-grade materials.
PFG57AT --> Level indicator for solids, corrosive substances, and high-temperature applications.
PFG06 --> Level indicator for solids and food-grade materials.
ILP3 --> Level indicator for solids.
MN21 --> Level indicator for solids.
PFGLP --> Level indicator for liquids, corrosive substances, and food-grade materials.
These solutions include rotary level indicators, capacitive sensors and pressure indicators, suitable for monitoring the level of solid materials in silos and industrial containers.
PFG09 --> Level indicator for solids.
PFG09Z --> Level indicator for solids, corrosive substances, and food-grade materials.
PFG09ZATF --> Level indicator for solids, corrosive substances, and high-temperature applications up to 200 °C.
Like all CAMLogic instruments, these solutions can also be customised to suit the plant's requirements, allowing the product to be adapted to the characteristics of the process and the material being monitored.
When working in the presence of explosive dusts or flammable gases, the choice of level indicator cannot be based solely on the instrument's functional characteristics. It is also necessary to consider the classification of the installation area, the level of risk and the certifications required by regulations.
ATEX and IECEx certifications are now an important benchmark for ensuring safety, reliability and operational continuity in industrial plants. Thanks to its expertise and a comprehensive range of level indicators for solids and liquids, certified level sensors and instruments for level monitoring in classified areas, CAMLogic supports plant manufacturers and end-users in selecting the most suitable solution for every application.
Discover CAMLogic's range of certified level indicators and find the solution best suited to your plant's requirements.