Hazardous area sensors are specifically designed and certified to provide reliable monitoring in environments where standard industrial sensors may not be suitable. This includes locations where potentially explosive atmospheres, combustible materials, gases, vapours or dust may be present, as well as demanding industrial environments such as mines.
Like standard vibration and temperature sensors, hazardous area sensors are used to monitor the condition and performance of machinery. The key difference is that they are designed and certified for use within defined hazardous areas, helping businesses monitor critical equipment without introducing unsuitable electrical equipment into these environments.
At Monitran, we provide a range of ATEX and IECEx certified vibration sensors for hazardous area applications, including solutions suitable for mining and other high-risk industrial sectors
Why are hazardous area vibration sensors important?
Vibration monitoring plays an important role in identifying changes in the condition of rotating and reciprocating machinery. Motors, pumps, fans, compressors, gearboxes and other industrial equipment can all develop faults that cause changes in their vibration characteristics.
By continuously or periodically measuring vibration, operators and maintenance teams can identify abnormal behaviour that may indicate problems such as:
- Bearing wear or damage
- Misalignment
- Imbalance
- Mechanical looseness
- Gearbox problems
- Changes in overall machine condition
Detecting these changes at an early stage allows maintenance teams to investigate the cause and take appropriate action before a developing fault leads to more significant damage or unexpected equipment failure.
Within a hazardous area, effective condition monitoring can be particularly important. Equipment failures can have serious operational and safety implications, making reliable monitoring an important part of preventative and predictive maintenance programmes.
Where are hazardous area sensors used?
Hazardous areas can be found across a wide range of industries where flammable gases, vapours, dusts or other potentially explosive materials may be present.
Selecting the appropriate sensor depends on the particular application, hazardous area classification and monitoring requirements.
ATEX and IECEx certified vibration sensors
Equipment installed within hazardous areas needs to meet the appropriate requirements for its intended environment. Two important certification systems encountered within industrial applications are ATEX and IECEx.
ATEX applies to equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres within the UK and European markets, while IECEx provides an international certification framework for equipment used in explosive atmospheres.
Using appropriately certified vibration sensors allows businesses to incorporate condition monitoring into hazardous areas while meeting the requirements relevant to their application and location.
Monitran hazardous area sensors
Monitran manufactures a range of vibration sensors designed for demanding industrial applications, including ATEX/IECEx certified sensors for hazardous areas.
Our hazardous area range includes:
MTN/M1100I – Group I hazardous area vibration sensor
The MTN/M1100I ATEX/IECEx vibration sensor is a Group I sensor designed specifically for hazardous area applications within the mining industry.
It provides a solution for monitoring machinery where the operating environment requires appropriately certified equipment.
MTN/1100I – Group II hazardous area vibration sensor
The MTN/1100I ATEX/IECEx vibration sensor is designed for Group II hazardous area applications, providing vibration monitoring for industrial environments outside mining where explosive atmospheres may be present.
Together, these products allow businesses to introduce reliable vibration monitoring into applications where conventional industrial sensors would not be appropriate.
View our range of accelerometers and vibration sensors.
Supporting preventative and predictive maintenance
One of the principal benefits of vibration monitoring is the ability to move away from relying solely on reactive maintenance.
Instead of waiting until machinery fails, vibration data can help maintenance teams understand how equipment condition is changing over time. An increase or change in vibration can provide an early indication that further investigation is required.
This can help businesses to:
- Identify developing machinery problems earlier
- Plan maintenance at a more appropriate time
- Reduce unexpected equipment failures
- Minimise unnecessary downtime
- Protect valuable machinery and associated equipment
- Improve the effectiveness of condition-based maintenance programmes
These advantages can be particularly valuable in hazardous areas, where accessing equipment for inspection or repair may be more difficult and where unplanned failures can have wider consequences.
Choosing the right sensor for a hazardous area
Not every hazardous environment has the same requirements. The correct vibration sensor needs to be selected according to factors including the hazardous area classification, machinery being monitored, measurement requirements and operating conditions.
Monitran has extensive experience in vibration measurement and condition monitoring and can help customers identify an appropriate solution for their particular application.
Whether you require a sensor for mining equipment, oil and gas machinery, chemical processing equipment or another hazardous area application, our team can discuss your requirements and help you select a suitable monitoring solution.
Talk to Monitran about hazardous area sensors
Reliable condition monitoring shouldn't stop simply because machinery is operating within a demanding or potentially hazardous environment.
Monitran's range of ATEX and IECEx certified hazardous area vibration sensors provides businesses with solutions for monitoring critical machinery while meeting the requirements of specialist industrial environments.
If you are looking for hazardous area sensors or need advice about the most appropriate vibration sensor for your application, speak with one of our experts today.