Global EMC Requirements For Gas And Flame Products

When certification is considered for Hazardous Location (HazLoc) products, the first thought that comes to mind is safety. Safety has a very specific meaning in the context of HazLoc certifications – the instrument itself, by its design or construction, must not be the cause of a safety problem or incident. Gas or flame detection instruments are capable of rapid, accurate detection of flame or gas events that could lead to a safety incident if present in those environments. The assumption is that the gas or flame detectors will work as intended in a hazardous location under any condition, normal or abnormal.

What is not generally considered is the electromagnetic environment in which these devices are expected to function reliably. Radio Frequency (RF) energy can also affect safety by interfering with the intended function of a gas or flame detector, causing false readings, spurious alarms and other serious malfunctions.