Page 26 - Security Today, March/April 2023

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Progressing in Capabilities Explosion-protected cameras are becoming more affordable
By Joe Morgan
Hazardous areas within industries like oil and gas, manufacturing, agriculture and the like, have long-sought reliable video surveillance cameras and equipment that can operate safely in these harsh and unpredictable environments. After all, the flammable materials often used in these production processes – if introduced to the right ignition source like a seemingly minute inner electrical spark from a video surveillance camera – could result in a damaging or even deadly explosion
Security manufacturers have progressed in developing durable enclosures that allow video surveillance cameras to function safely in these environments without exposure to hazardous materials. The industry has progressed so much that these hazardous environments can now obtain crisp video for security and investigations, and they can leverage advanced technology in video surveillance – like video analytics and machine learning – to improve security as well as operational efficiency.
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL FOR CAMERAS AND ENCLOSURES IN PREVENTING EXPLOSIONS
As companies began to incorporate video surveillance in
hazardous environments, they sought camera enclosures, often from a third party, to fit an existing camera line. This often resulted in a vulnerability if the housing were a one size fits all, it likely would not live up to standards and not be safely used.
Fortunately, the industry has improved explosion-protected cameras by designing accompanying enclosures developed specifically for these hazardous areas. Explosion-protected camera enclosures must be made to fit the camera and not the other way around. The enclosure should never limit what is possible with an explosion-protected camera because it is an integral part of the solution.
The evolution of explosion-protected cameras does not stop with specially designed enclosures. Some innovative manufactures are redesigning explosion-protected cameras to fit in more areas at a reduced cost by integrating the casing into the camera’s design. This lighter and less expensive option are opening new possibilities in these hazardous environments.
Properly designed and fitted enclosures and explosion- protected cameras must adhere to the standards set forth by the National Electric Code (NEC), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and
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MARCH/APRIL 2023 | SECURITY TODAY
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE