Intrinsically Safe

In laymans terms, intrinsically safe computers are built to an exacting standard that stipulates if a computer is dropped, broken, smashed or even run over by a truck accidentally, that no sparks will come out of it becoming a source of ignition that could in turn create an explosion!

These standards are only required in hazardous environments, such as in the Oil & Gas industry, construction sites, grain handling facililties, or other restricted areas that contain a certain mix of gases, vapors, dust or fibers that have the potential for fire or an explosion.

There a different ratings for different types of machines used in different areas. For example, a location such as a petrol station where you are refilling your car with fuel outside will have a different rating to that of inside of a petrol tanker that has higher mix of fuel vs. oxygen.

Industries that work in these environments often have requirements for risk assessments, safety inspections, quality control and remote machine control where rugged computers can offer productivity and efficiency gains compared to paper based, manual data entry methods.

Not many computer manufacturers are willing to meet the intrinsically safe criteria however, and so any machines that are available are often very expensive and suffer from frustratingly slow performance because the machine design typically has to be fully sealed.