New Nova Weigh Indicator Ensures DSEAR (ATEX 137) Compliance
15 February 2006 10:18
Dispelling a DSEAR myth...
The purpose of DSEAR is to ensure the safety of those working in areas where potential explosives atmospheres may exist
Implementing DSEAR requires a risk assessment on every site where it applies. But, contrary to some rumours, this does not mean the replacement of all non-ATEX equipment, and if a plant was safe before 1st July then, generally, it will be safe afterwards
Practical problems start to occur when non-ATEX equipment requires maintenance. Spares for pre-ATEX equipment are sometimes not available and so equipment may become more difficult to support in the future. The risk assessment exercise presents a good opportunity to review installed equipment so that any problem areas are identified in good time
Replacing older equipment is not always as expensive as it may sound. The cost of some new EX weighing equipment is now much lower than the older equipment it replaces and the performance benefits and maintenance savings immediately noticeable
Nova Weigh's new 350IS and 355IS Digital Weight Indicators will be of great interest to those who have previously been priced out of the market of hazardous area weighing. In fact, these two new indicators make ATEX compliant weighing available at prices less than you might pay for safe area instrumentation
These ATEX Zone 1 and 21 Gas and Dust Approved instruments are derived from the 350 and 355 indicators and share the features that have made these units so popular as economically priced high specification weight indicators
This means a highly competitive price without a compromise on performance or features. A fast 20-bit ADC delivers excellent weighing performance and fully meets the European 'legal-for-trade' weighing requirements. Both units are certified according to the ATEX 100A directive, making them suitable for use in areas where there is a risk of a flammable atmosphere being present due to gas or dust releases
Within the 350IS family there are models and options to meet all EX weighing needs, from mobile drum scales to reactor weighing systems in production plants. The 350IS has all the essential weighing functions plus the 355IS has a numerical keypad for entering target weights in filling applications
Both instruments can be supplied with either an intrinsically safe power supply (suitable for safe or hazardous areas) or a 200-hour continuous use, long life rechargeable battery, making the indicators perfect for mobile applications and suitable for areas where a mains power source is unavailable
In addition to the normal LCD display types, there is a new high brightness red LED display version for use in areas with low levels of illumination
The indicators can to be linked up to supervisory systems, PLCs, printers etc, via an optional communication hub located up to 300 metres away in the safe area. A fibre-optic link to the hub carries weight data, which can then be converted to a range of interfaces, e.g. 4-20mA, RS232, RS485, 20mA serial, as well as programmable set points. As such, the instruments may be networked with other instruments to build a total automation and control package
Nova Weigh has been providing process-weighing systems to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries on a worldwide basis for over a quarter of a century. We are a 'complete solution' provider of weighing systems for all process applications, including vessel weighing, platform and bench scales, weighing instrumentation, batch controllers and management systems, dispensary management systems and mobile weighing systems
As well as providing complete process weighing solutions, we also design, manufacture, install, commission, calibrate and maintain all systems
For more information on this company:
Nova Weigh - Process Weighing System Specialists for the Pharmaceutical Industry
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