Working in Ex zones does not necessarily mean compromising on user comfort, explains Kathrin Geisler
Working in Ex zones does not necessarily mean compromising on user comfort, explains Kathrin Geisler.
Working in potentially explosive atmospheres and harsh industrial environments is associated with risks on the one hand, but also with restrictions on working comfort on the other. Due to specific requirements the intrinsically safe protective equipment is often somewhat uncomfortable, unwieldy and heavy. Of course, safety and especially intrinsic safety are always top priority. To fulfil all requirements, the i.safe Mobile development team always strives to offer users the best possible user comfort for physically demanding work on site, in addition to the absolute priority of intrinsic safety.
Now there are also many areas in industrial operations in the oil & gas sector that do not belong to Zone 1/21, such as areas in Zone 2/22 or a combination of this and rugged work zones. It is precisely for these transitional areas that i.safe Mobile has now introduced its latest, light and convenient industrial smartphone for zone 2/22. The ATEX/IECEx-certified IS880.2 is a further development of its popular predecessor model, the IS655.2. During development, the company responded to customer suggestions and focused in particular on user-friendliness and product longevity.
The 5.5in smartphone (dustproof and waterproof according to IP68 and MIL-STD-810H) was developed for users who are not only working in Zone 2/22 with just one mobile device in their pocket, but also in harsh outdoor areas or also in the office area of the company. In terms user experience, the smartphone with Android 14 is almost indistinguishable from a normal, more robust smartphone thanks to its reduced weight and manageable dimensions.
A SMART SENSOR
A fingerprint sensor was a request from industry users, as facial recognition is often not possible when wearing helmets or face protection. With the IS880.2, it is now quite easy to unlock the display with a finger using a new sensor on the side of the device.
Although the Android Enterprise compliant 4G LTE smartphone is very sleek and lightweight (161.0 x 75.0 x 15.8mm, 285g) for a rugged/Zone 2/22 device, it is equipped with all key features of an industrial smartphone. The device is MDM- and zero-touch-compatible and the replaceable, powerful 4,500 mAh battery makes it suitable for long working days or even for multi-shift operation. This also ensures a long product life cycle – important for many users nowadays. The PTT/MCPTT-optimised smartphone has a large PTT side button, a channel selection switch for individual or group PTT calls via mobile networks or WLAN and a red SOS button for emergencies.
Thanks to a specially designed loudspeaker, the device can also be used in particularly loud environments, offering the best audio quality in the field. The powerful mobile platform supports the optimal transmission of real-time videos for maintenance use.
For maintenance and control tasks users can capture images and videos in real time with the 50MP AF main camera including a powerful flash. A key aspect for use in maintenance tasks is the powerful mobile platform, which supports the optimum transmission of real-time video.
Kathrin Geisler is with i.safe Mobile.
