What is an intrinsically safe scanner?

Introduction

There can be many reasons why you would need a barcode scanner for your business. You might have a system in which you need to account for every single machine in your inventory. This may cause concern for your company because you need strong, functioning scanners, and unfortunately, the environment you’re working in may cause the barcode scanners to break. Fortunately, the solution is fairly simple: Intrinsically safe scanners are required in hazardous areas to prevent the ignition of flammable atmospheres. In addition to this critical safety function, they are typically built with rugged designs to withstand harsh industrial conditions.

 

General Benefits

 

Intrinsically safe scanners offer several critical advantages for operations in hazardous environments.

 

These devices feature robust onboard memory, capable of storing thousands of scans to ensure a full shift of productivity without data loss. What this means is that you can have several machines stored in your system and correlated with certain barcodes. For a big facility, this is absolutely necessary. With only one battery charge, this device can perform several scans and can last several hours.

Additionally, the device is also a barcode scanner, which is, of course, a given. This scanner can scan many other barcodes. This scanner is also Bluetooth-friendly!

 

Benefits Found Only in IS Scanners

Of course, the previous two paragraphs focused on the general benefits that the scanners have. Those can be true for any type of scanner. The scanner was discussed in the previous paragraphs and linked here on our website for your convenience(and to check out). What sets the IS scanners apart from normal ones are the certifications that are prevalent for these scanners. The IS scanner is certified to be in a hazardous zone, and it has the required ATEX and IECEx certifications. Normal scanners don’t have this feature, so they can’t be used in hazardous environments. If you work with dangerous chemicals, or generally in a hazardous environment, then you need an IS scanner. Using a non-certified device in a hazardous area creates a severe risk of ignition, which can lead to catastrophic explosions, endangering personnel and facility assets.

 

Key Features & Benefits of Intrinsically Safe Scanners

Beyond their basic function, intrinsically safe scanners are engineered with specific features that make them indispensable in hazardous locations. Understanding these features helps in selecting the right device for your operational needs.

• Certified for Hazardous Areas: The primary benefit is their certification for use in environments with flammable gases, vapors, or dust. Look for ratings like ATEX, IECEx, and Class I/II/III, Division 1/2 to ensure compliance with safety standards.
• Rugged and Durable Design: These scanners are built to withstand drops, vibrations, and extreme temperatures. Their robust casings protect internal components from physical damage, ensuring a long operational life in tough industrial settings.
• Advanced Data Capture: Many models, like the Bartec BCS 3600 series, go beyond simple barcode reading. They can capture high-resolution photos, documents, and signatures, providing a multi-functional tool for field workers.
• Seamless Connectivity: Most intrinsically safe scanners feature Bluetooth technology, allowing for wireless connection to tablets, smartphones, and other host devices. This enables real-time data transfer to your inventory or asset management systems.
• Long Battery Life: Designed for long shifts, these devices have powerful batteries that can last for hours on a single charge, performing thousands of scans without needing to be recharged.

Investing in a scanner with these features not only ensures safety and compliance but also boosts productivity by providing reliable performance in challenging conditions.

Other Potentially Cool Features

 

Another feature that isn’t necessarily scanner-related is discussed with this link. This barcode is not only super tough against harsh environments, as the provided video says, it can also do what not many other scanners can do. This can capture photographs, other documents, or signatures, as well as OCR(Optical Character Recognition). This information, taken directly from the provided video on our website, further enhances the potential features that IS scanners have over their regular counterparts, and also reaffirms their superiority.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a barcode scanner “intrinsically safe”?

A barcode scanner is “intrinsically safe” when its electrical and thermal energy is limited to a level that is below what is required to ignite a specific hazardous atmospheric mixture. This is achieved through specialized design and components, ensuring it cannot create a spark or hot surface, even in a fault condition. They are rigorously tested to meet standards like ATEX and IECEx.

In which industries are IS scanners most commonly used?

Intrinsically safe scanners are essential in industries where flammable substances are present. This includes oil and gas, chemical processing, pharmaceuticals, mining, and manufacturing facilities that handle combustible dusts or volatile chemicals. Any environment classified as a hazardous area requires such certified equipment for safe operations.

Can an intrinsically safe scanner connect to my existing inventory system?

Yes, most modern intrinsically safe scanners are designed for easy integration. They typically use standard connectivity options like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to pair with mobile computers, tablets, or PCs, allowing them to communicate directly with your existing inventory management, ERP, or asset tracking software.

Conclusion

When used within the specific hazardous locations for which they are certified, intrinsically safe scanners are engineered to operate safely without creating an ignition source. Examining the benefits, we can see that there are many benefits. The general benefits, which include plenty of storage, allows for the scanning of multiple items. Additionally, the ability to scan QR codes, Bar codes, and RFID tags are other benefits that are prevalent in any other scanner, to make life easier. Regarding benefits specific to IS scanners, they include durability in harsh environments, can handle being dropped, and in some cases, can capture more than just bar codes and their variants. As you can see, the edge that IS scanners have over regular scanners is profound, and as a result, should be the standard that hazardous work environments use. For a detailed comparison of certified models, see our full range of Intrinsically Safe Scanners.