ATEX Balances & Scales | Getting The Balance Right!

Published 01 Feb 2024

ATEX Weighing equipment

Getting The Balance Right!

Hazardous area weighing equipment, including ATEX balances and ATEX scales, need to comply with strict safety standards to prevent explosions in potentially hazardous environments. They feature specialised design, materials, and certifications, ensuring safe operation and minimising the risk of ignition or fire hazards.

When choosing ATEX balances and scales for use in hazardous areas, it is important to consider the specific requirements of the environment, including the type of hazardous substances present, the level of protection required, and any regulatory compliance standards that must be met.

It is crucial the weighing equipment used in processes has an appropriate level of safety for the environment its being used in. Thorne & Derrick together with A&D Weighing can supply the correct scale or balance for your application.

Hazardous Areas Balances & Scales

Hazardous area balances and scales are built to meet strict ATEX regulations to ensure their safe use in hazardous locations where there may be flammable gases, vapours, or dust particles present. They are constructed using materials and components that are resistant to sparks, heat, and contact with potentially explosive substances.

ATEX weighing equipment is commonly used in industries such as chemical manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, mining, and industrial manufacturing where the presence of flammable substances is inherent.

The equipment is a crucial tool for accurate measurement and control of materials in such hazardous environments while ensuring the safety of the operators and the surrounding area.

ATEX balances and scales often come with specific markings and certifications to indicate their compliance with the ATEX directives and standards. It is essential to choose ATEX scales that are suitable for the specific hazardous zone classification and the type and level of risk present in the environment.

ATEX Scales

HV-CEP/HW-CEP series

Sparks in potentially explosive atmospheres (like those that arise where petrol and other flammable chemicals are processed) can turn a plant floor into a raging inferno in an instant. If you perform weighing in these types of environments, your equipment must have the proper features to prevent explosions and loss of life.

The HV-CEP/HW-CEP series are intrinsically safe electronic scales complying with international standards such as IECEx and ATEX or FM requirements keeping you and your colleagues safe.

The HV-CEP series are platform scales with 1/3000 resolution, and have the triple weighing range function to select the weighing range. The scale automatically switches to small scale interval when a light sample is weighed or large scale interval when a heavy sample is weighed, depending on the sample weight (multi-interval). The HW-CEP series are platform scales with 1/10000 resolution.

ATEX Scales – HV-CEP/HW-CEP series

ATEX Balances

EK-AEP Series

The EK-AEP series of internationally certified, intrinsically safe balances is compact, lightweight and economical, bringing ease and security to anyone who needs to perform precise weight measurement in potentially explosive and hazardous environments.

The ATEX Balances offer a variety of weighing capacities and readability options to suit different needs and applications. It also includes various functions such as counting, percentage weighing, and comparator, making it versatile for a range of weighing tasks.

ATEX Balances -EK-AEP Series

Selecting the weighing equipment

Choosing the correct balances and scales for the application is important for several reasons:

Accuracy: Different types of scales have different levels of accuracy. Choosing the correct weighing scales for the intended application ensures that the measurements are as accurate as possible.

For example, a balance that is precise to the nearest 0.1mg might be necessary for pharmaceutical applications, whereas a balance that is precise to the nearest gram may be adequate for weighing ingredients in the food industry.

Precision: Some balances are designed to measure small quantities, while others are designed to handle larger amounts. Choosing the correct balance ensures that the measurements are precise and the balance can handle the amount of material being weighed. Using the wrong balance can result in inaccurate measurements and wasted materials.

Cost-effectiveness: Choosing the correct balance also ensures that the investment in the balance is cost-effective. Investing in a high-precision balance when a lower-precision balance is adequate can be a waste of resources, while using a low-precision balance for a high-precision application can result in inaccurate measurements and costly errors.