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Hazardous Area Instruments
Every industry should put safety as their paramount concern in industrial environments. Proper lighting, handrails, safety guards, fire extinguishers, non-slip footing and personal safety gear are all obvious ways of trying to make a work environment safe, comfortable and efficient.
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Some industries present additional hazards for employees, just by the nature of the materials being handled. A factory or logistical center that handles chemicals, petroleum products, paint, solvents, propellants, powders or other combustibles can be an extremely hazardous place, and additional safety measures are called for. Even a wastewater treatment plant can hold dangers for employees and equipment.
In the case of industrial scales, the most important factor will be a FM rating that meets requirements for the application and area where it will be used. Depending on the application, ratings can include Class I, II or III, Division I or Groups A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Scales can also be certified for Indoor Hazardous Locations, Division 2 Indoor Hazardous (Classified) Locations or Class II, Division 2, Groups F or G.
Hazard-safe and explosion-proof scales are available in load capacities ranging up to 100 lb for bench scales and 20,000 lb for floor scales. They are also available in many designs such as cylinder scales, drum scales, crane scales and platform scales. Better-quality scales will use stainless steel load sensors (rather than the less-expensive aluminum or nickel-plated load cells of many scales). Stainless steel offers much better durability, shock load protection, overload protection and rust/corrosion resistance. Some scales have stainless steel construction throughout, with a diamond-plate platform. Others are made from steel with a galvanized epoxy coating for corrosion resistance.. Some popular designs are powered by a 3800mah NiMH C-cell rechargeable battery. Though the battery comes with its own charger, it must be charged or changed only in a safe area!
Hazard-safe scales should also include accurate, consistent electronics with signal processors that provide stable weight readings in any condition. Quality scales can offer internal resolution as precise as 1 part in 500,000, and weight resolution down to 0.001 lb. Modern, state-of-the-art designs require no setup or dealer service, and calibrate themselves automatically. Like many other quality scales, intrinsically-safe hazardous area scales will often feature a printer, Ethernet connection, easy-to-read digital display and Windows-compatible software. Many will include a rubber gasket around the display's enclosure for water resistance. Hazardous-area industrial scales have to meet the same rigorous standards as any other hazardous-area equipment such as lighting, mixers, batchers or packaging setups. The goal is to design a product that cannot possibly cause a problem even if it's abused or used incorrectly. This is not only important from a safety standpoint. Because an intrinsically scale often represents a big investment for a company it is something that should provide years of safe, trouble-free operation.
It is a good idea to discuss your needs with a qualified representative. Relying on their knowledge of scales, they can select the filling station or machine that will best be able to meet the needs of your industry or business. A filling machine is an investment in the future of your business and should be carefully chosen.
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