Robert Any radio source can prove hazardous in explosive atmospheres. Metal work of the right shape and size can act as an antenna, then all that is required is momentary discontinuity, or a momentary return path to ground and a spark will form.
The petrochemical industrial have been aware of this problem for a long time and a draft EN standard is in progress regarding RF fields in proximity to areas with explosive atmospheres. I do not know about the rest of the world, but in the UK petrol stations have big signs saying, "Switch of ignition. No Smoking, No Cell Phones". Although today's low powered phones are unlikely to cause a spark to form. Andrew Carson - Senior Compliance Engineer, Xyratex, UK Phone: +44 (0)23 9249 6855 Fax: +44 (0)23 9249 6014 -----Original Message----- From: Robert Wilson [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 22 February 2002 00:04 To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Potentially Explosive Atmospheres This may seem like a dumb question, but how would a cellphone pose a hazard? I am unaware of anything in a cellphone that can cause any kind of a spark or arc that might start combustion in such an atmosphere. Certainly none of the keypad contacts could cause a problem. Bob Wilson TIR Systems Ltd. Vancouver. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: February 21, 2002 10:55 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Hi, I am trying to find in the UL specifications where a cell phone manual must contain a warning to the user on using the phone in a potentially explosive atmosphere. Thanks in advance, Ron Chernus Compliance Engineer, DENSO ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: [email protected] with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Ron Pickard: [email protected] Dave Heald: [email protected] For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: [email protected] Jim Bacher: [email protected] All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://ieeepstc.mindcruiser.com/ Click on "browse" and then "emc-pstc mailing list" ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: [email protected] with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Ron Pickard: [email protected] Dave Heald: [email protected] For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: [email protected] Jim Bacher: [email protected] All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://ieeepstc.mindcruiser.com/ Click on "browse" and then "emc-pstc mailing list" ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: [email protected] with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Ron Pickard: [email protected] Dave Heald: [email protected] For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: [email protected] Jim Bacher: [email protected] All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://ieeepstc.mindcruiser.com/ Click on "browse" and then "emc-pstc mailing list"
