The technology of all kinds is considered a boon to humanity as it serves countless purposes in different ways. People use various technologies for personal and professional tasks, either, as an owner or an employee. However, not every technology is designed to be used anywhere and everywhere. For instance, mobile phones have become so common in our day-to-day lives that it has become almost impossible to live without them, be it from a personal or professional point of view. Even as a worker working in the industry, irrespective of the job, reporting, inspection and several such things has to be performed on mobiles or tablets for maximum efficiency. But, the mobile phones we have today, cannot be used in hazardous industries such as those dealing with petrochemical, oil and gas processing. In these risky working areas, certain regulations or codes have to be followed, to avoid causing potential damage to lives and property. There are special mobiles designed to be used in these places, allowing unrestricted communications between the staff.
These smartphones are known as explosion-proof mobiles or Ex phone. Let’s get to know what is all about explosion-proof smartphones and how they are considered the ultimate tool for communication in hazardous areas.
Hear the word explosion, and the first thing that tickles in the mind is that the mobile has some kind of solid cover that can withstand explosions. But this is not the case. Here, explosion-proof means that the mobile does have a solid covering, but it is not meant for surviving explosions. Instead, it means it can restrict any internal electric spark arising from a short circuit, and prevent it from escaping the encase and mixing up with outside combustible gas or material to trigger an explosion.
Hazardous mobile phones are designed for risky working areas to prevent any chances of accidents by fire, without compromising on the communication and features. To better understand this concept, we need to understand the reason for developing such phones.
Innovation and technology are backed-up by reasoning, and ex-proof mobiles are no exception.
• Contamination can cause an electrical spark
In hazardous locations such as petrochemical industries, any kind of contamination can be devastating. Could dust, dirt, powder, or some liquid or moisture enter the mobile casing and give a short circuit to the battery. Standard mobile phones are not designed to contain a spark.• Mobile phones are radio transmitters
Standard mobile phones comprise radiofrequency energy. Although the energy is tiny in amount, it still has the potential to induce a spark in nearby metallic objects. They can also ignite petroleum or other explosive chemicals, vapors, or gases present in the environment. Due to this reason, they are often forbidden around petrol filling stations.
• Spontaneous combustion can be dangerous
Mobiles are not intrinsically safe; they have the potential to become hot from inside and catch fire. Certain phone models are banned by some airline companies because of this risk. Mobile overheating and combustion can be harmful, especially in the sensitive areas of oil refineries and chemicals plants, although it is, highly unlikely still anything can happen.
So, given the significant reasons above, it is certain that standard mobiles have the potential to trigger an explosion, irrespective of how few its chances are. The equipment to be used in hazardous zones also implies that the product is certified by ATEX, a European Union directive that certifies the durability of the equipment to be used in hazardous areas.
The exproof mobile from SharpEagle is robust, ATEX certified and comes with all the capabilities of a modern smartphone.
• Android OS Version 9,
• Octa-core processor,
• 2GB RAM,
• 16GB internal storage,
• 4g LTE support for uninterrupted communication and browsing.
A unique 5-inch touchscreen display is engineered to protect against shocks and drop. While the high-capacity 4000 mAh battery sealed inside and IP67 waterproof rating further confirms that it is not only a solid build from the outside but also lets the user complete their task without any fear of losing battery power prematurely. Lastly, the 2D scanning capability eliminates any need for carrying two devices for RFID tag inspection and sending data. The explosion-proof mobile does both these tasks efficiently.
In short, smartphones have become an essential tool irrespective of the working conditions. The explosion-proof mobiles are an ideal product to keep workers safe while operating in the most extreme working environments. Large businesses around the world especially the oil and gas industry, are looking for ways to take advantage of big data and new smarter ways of working efficiently. SharpEagle is an innovative company characterized by its professionalism, high expertise and reliability in realizing demanding projects that require explosion-shielded products and surveillance systems. Contact us for more information on our range of products.
