We have some genuinely exciting news to lead off this issue with.

i.safe MOBILE have just received the Class I, Division 1 intrinsically safe output certification for the interface module used in the IS-MOP1A.1 (Android) and IS-MOP1B.1 (Windows) Mobile Operator Panel systems. This is a new development, and it's a significant one.

Both systems pair a tablet, the IS940.1 for IS-MOP1A.1 or the IS945.1 for IS-MOP1B.1, with a docking station and interface module that let the tablet dock, charge, and connect to wired peripherals like keyboards, auto-identification modules, and sensors, plus a stable wired LAN connection, all within a classified area. When docked, the tablet charges continuously and stays fully ready for mobile use. With this new certification in hand, the interface module's intrinsically safe output for Class I Division 1 areas means the system can be deployed as and used as a permanent fixed HMI solution. This is a real shift from the traditional approach, which in a Division 1 area typically meant having to use panel PCs in large, costly purged and pressurized assemblies. Operators are now looking to save $1,000's and migrate across to this ingenious, modern approach.

Reach out to one of our applications specialists to learn more about the new Mobile Operator Panels.

Firefighters in Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan kept a September 9, 2026 refinery fire from turning into something much bigger. Two 60-tonne petroleum storage tanks on Mustafa Shokay Street were already fully ablaze by the time crews arrived, putting three more nearby tanks directly in the fire's path.

Responders set up a command post on site and brought in portable monitors and foam, both to knock down the original fire and to keep the threatened tanks cool enough that they never ignited. It worked: the fire was fully extinguished after burning across roughly 200 square meters, and none of the three exposed tanks caught fire. No injuries were reported. The cause is still under investigation, with a dedicated fire-testing lab now examining the evidence.

Takeaway: This one is worth noting for what didn't happen. The difference between a two-tank fire and a five-tank fire often comes down to how fast crews can protect exposed equipment, not just fight the original blaze. Portable monitors and foam application on adjacent tanks bought the time needed to keep this contained. If your site's emergency response plan doesn't explicitly address cooling and protecting exposed tanks separately from fighting the source fire, this is a good prompt to review that gap.

The ATEX Directive itself hasn't changed. What's changing is how closely it's being enforced, and manufacturers and suppliers should take note.

Nothing new in the law, plenty new in the scrutiny. The European Commission's supporting ATEX Guidelines have been refined to clear up ambiguity in areas that historically caused confusion, and market surveillance authorities across the EU are now using those clarifications more actively when assessing compliance. The result is a heavier focus on documentation and demonstrated intended use, not just on whether the hardware itself performs correctly.

"Intended use" is now a compliance issue, not just a technical one. Regulators increasingly expect manufacturers to clearly define where and how a piece of equipment is meant to be used, which hazardous zones it's suitable for, and what limitations apply. Simply labeling something "ATEX compliant" without that context is drawing more regulatory attention than it used to.

What's under closer review. Market surveillance is paying particular attention to incomplete or inaccurate Declarations of Conformity, incorrect Ex markings, and thin technical documentation, especially ignition risk assessments, temperature classification data, and consistency between certificates, manuals, and marketing claims. Assembled or modified equipment is getting extra scrutiny too, since responsibility can shift depending on how components are combined before hitting the market.

Where this is heading next. Hydrogen production and storage equipment, wireless and IIoT devices, and battery-powered mobile equipment are named as the categories most likely to challenge existing ATEX assumptions going forward, since these technologies don't map cleanly onto older certification frameworks.

Bottom line: If your technical files, manuals, and marketing materials aren't fully aligned with your actual certification scope, this is the year that gap is more likely to get noticed.

Every piece of Group II hazardous area equipment carries a gas group marking, IIA, IIB, or IIC, and it's easy to treat that as a minor spec sheet detail. It isn't. The gas group determines whether a device is actually safe to use around the specific substance present at your site, and getting it wrong is a real ignition risk, not a paperwork issue.

Gas groups rank flammable gases and vapors by how easily they ignite, based on two properties: the Maximum Experimental Safe Gap (MESG), how narrow a gap a flame can still pass through, and the Minimum Ignition Current (MIC) ratio relative to methane. IIA covers gases that are hardest to ignite (propane is the reference gas), IIB covers an intermediate group (ethylene is the reference gas), and IIC covers the gases that ignite most easily, including hydrogen and acetylene.

Why this matters practically. Equipment certified for IIC is built to handle the hardest-to-contain ignition scenario, which means it's also suitable for IIB and IIA atmospheres. The reverse isn't true: IIA-rated equipment is not safe in a IIC atmosphere. This is why IIC-rated equipment costs more and is harder to design and manufacture, tighter flame paths and more conservative energy limits are required to safely contain the most easily ignited gases.

The North American angle. NEC Class I uses a different but related system, Groups A, B, C, and D, with Group A (acetylene) and Group B (hydrogen) roughly corresponding to IIC, Group C (ethylene) to IIB, and Group D (propane) to IIA. The correspondence between these two systems is commonly used as a working reference, but the exact mapping has enough nuance that it's worth checking the current edition of IEC 60079-20-1 or NEC Article 500 directly rather than relying on a rule of thumb.

Why this is worth revisiting now. As covered in this issue's Industry News, hydrogen infrastructure is one of the fastest-growing categories challenging existing ATEX assumptions. Hydrogen sits in Group IIC, the most restrictive category there is. If your site is adding hydrogen production, storage, or handling equipment, standard IIA or IIB-rated devices already on site are not automatically suitable. Gas group is a hard requirement, not a flexible one.

Note: this section rotates between leadership perspectives and real customer stories from the field. This issue features a guest piece from one of our suppliers, Armadex.

Inspections are the backbone of safe operations. Corrosion, leaks, damaged seals and loose cable glands rarely cause problems on the day they appear. They cause problems when nobody notices them.

In hazardous areas, the inspections themselves become a challenge. The places that most need checking are often the hardest to reach. And the tools normally used to document findings are often not allowed there.

Why inspections in hazardous areas are different. In a normal environment, an inspector walks in, takes a few photos with a phone and writes a report. In a classified area, every device brought in must be suitable for that environment. Standard phones and cameras contain batteries, circuits and connectors that can become ignition sources. As a result, documentation often depends on memory, handwritten notes or a hot work permit just to take a picture. Documenting is not the only problem. Access is too.

Common difficulties. Limited access: tanks, vessels, pipe racks, flare stacks and ducts are rarely easy to reach. Inspection often means scaffolding, rope access or a confined space entry. Confined spaces: every entry involves permits, gas testing, standby personnel and rescue planning, which takes time and adds risk. Poor visibility: lighting is often poor inside tanks, silos and enclosures, so hairline cracks, pitting or thin dust layers are easy to miss. Weak documentation: without photos or video, results depend on how one person describes what they saw, which makes it hard to track conditions over time or discuss findings with engineers off-site. Downtime: the more complex the inspection, the longer the equipment is out of service, which creates pressure to inspect less often than you should.

Key questions to ask before planning an inspection in a hazardous area: Which areas are classified, and to what zone or division? Can the inspection be done from a distance, or from a less hazardous area? How will findings be recorded and compared with previous inspections? Is every device brought in certified for the area where it will be used? How much downtime can the operation afford?

Inspecting without entering. The safest confined space entry is the one you don't have to make. More operators are moving toward remote visual inspection: getting a certified camera closer to the problem while the inspector stays at a safe distance. This approach reduces exposure, cuts preparation time and produces images that can be reviewed, shared and archived. A consistent photo record also makes it easier to spot gradual change, such as growing corrosion or slowly accumulating dust.

Product spotlight: Armadex OZC3 camera. The Armadex OZC3 is an intrinsically safe camera built specifically for inspection work in hazardous areas.

Photo courtesy of Armadex, credit: Bram Renkema.

A 4x optical zoom lets inspectors capture details from a distance, including looking into a Zone 1 area from within Zone 2. Mounted on a telescopic pole and controlled through a smartphone app, it can reach elevated or enclosed spots without scaffolding or entering the space. For close-up work, a microscope mode captures detail from just 1 cm away.

Unlike a smartphone, the OZC3 is a dedicated tool. It has no public network connection, needs no personal login, can be shared across a team, and runs on swappable batteries, changed outside the hazardous area. Coming soon: Class I, Division 2 certification, making the OZC3 available for North American hazardous locations.

Inspections only work when they are thorough and consistent. In hazardous areas, access, safety requirements and equipment restrictions often get in the way. By inspecting from a distance and documenting findings properly, operators can inspect more often, with less risk and better results.

By Bram Renkema, Armadex