This is a classic case of ‘what came first, the Chicken or the Egg?’
Well all this has changed because Sira has developed modelling software resulting in the issue of ATEX certificates for Group IIC Ethernet devices. These devices act as an intrinsically safe ‘Ethernet Barrier’ so can theoretically be connected to an Ethernet load. A key consideration in developing the software was to make the final product as flexible as possible. So how many such Ethernet switches can be interconnected together without invalidating intrinsic safety?
Answer: There is no limit! This will seem strange to those who are familiar with intrinsically safe systems, but using the modelling software developed by Sira it was possible to prove the particular topology of the Ethernet switch was intrinsically safe even when the interconnections of the Ethernet switches continued infinitely.
So can you interconnect your own device into this bespoke Ethernet system and still maintain compliance with the intrinsic safety standard? The answer is again yes, provided that the product not only complies with the intrinsic safety standard, (EN 50020 or EN 60079-11), but also with Sira’s PJ Ethernet specification.
Basically the PJ Ethernet is a simple specification developed by Sira based on its own modelling software. Comply with both of these requirements and the resulting system is covered by the Sira PJ Ethernet approval without further certification. Sira would like to hear from Ethernet device manufacturers who are interested in taking advantage of this methodology for hazardous area products.
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