This document is
intended to provide general safety guidance to customers regarding the
selection and use of weighing instruments in
hazardous or potentially explosive
environments, including but not limited to applications involving:
Chemical products
▪ Petroleum and
petrochemical products
▪ Oil and gas
▪ Alcohols, solvents, and flammable liquids
▪ Combustible dusts or vapours
Improper
selection or use of weighing equipment in such environments may present
serious safety risks,
including fire or explosion.
Customer Responsibility for
Equipment Selection
Customers are
solely responsible for determining whether their application involves a
hazardous location or
potentially explosive atmosphere,
as defined under applicable Canadian laws, regulations, and standards,
including but not limited to:
▪ Canadian
Electrical Code (CEC)
▪ CSA (Canadian Standards Association) standards
▪ Provincial and local safety authority requirements
Gamma Scale does
not determine site hazard
classifications unless explicitly contracted to do so in writing.
Explosion Risk and Electrical
Equipment
In hazardous
environments, standard weighing instruments, indicators, chargers, power
supplies, or peripheral devices
may pose an ignition risk, even when using certified or approved
power supplies.
Potential
ignition sources may include, but are not limited to:
▪ Electrical
sparks
▪ Static discharge
▪ Heat generated by electronic components
▪ Improper or incompatible power adapters or chargers
For these
applications, customers must use
weighing equipment specifically designed and certified for hazardous
locations, such as:
▪ Explosion-proof
equipment, or
▪ Intrinsically Safe (IS) devices
This may include,
depending on the application:
▪ Laboratory
balances
▪ Bench scales
▪ Floor scales
▪ Indicators and load cells
▪ Power supplies and accessories
All components
within the system must be compatible with the required safety
classification.
Certification and Compliance
Requirements
Where hazardous
conditions exist, weighing instruments and associated components must be
certified and installed in accordance with applicable standards, which may
include:
▪ CSA
certification
▪ ATEX or IECEx certification (where applicable and accepted)
▪ Intrinsically Safe system approval
▪ Approved barriers, isolators, and wiring methods
Customers are
responsible for ensuring that all
required certifications are appropriate for their specific
environment and jurisdiction.
Gamma Scale's Role as a Supplier
Gamma Scale acts
as a supplier of weighing instruments and related services. Unless otherwise
agreed in writing:
▪ Gamma Scale
does not provide hazard classification services
▪ Gamma Scale does not guarantee suitability of standard equipment for
hazardous environments
▪ Gamma Scale provides equipment based on information supplied by the
customer
Customers must
clearly disclose any hazardous or potentially explosive conditions
before equipment selection,
quotation, or installation.
Limitation of Liability
Gamma Scale shall
not be responsible or liable for:
▪ Improper
equipment selection
▪ Use of weighing instruments outside their certified application
▪ Modifications made by third parties
▪ Use of non-approved accessories, chargers, or power supplies
▪ Failure to comply with applicable safety laws, codes, or regulations
Failure to use
appropriately certified explosion-proof or intrinsically safe equipment in
hazardous environments may result in serious injury, property damage, or
loss of life.
Customer Acknowledgement and
Consultation
Customers are
strongly encouraged to:
▪ Consult
qualified safety engineers or authorities having jurisdiction
▪ Verify hazard classifications before purchasing or installing equipment
▪ Contact Gamma Scale for guidance on available certified solutions when
hazardous conditions are present
Gamma Scale will
make reasonable efforts to recommend suitable products
when provided with accurate and
complete application information.
Contact Information
For questions
regarding hazardous-location weighing solutions, please contact:
Gamma Scale
Email:
info@gammascale.com
Service & Technical Support available upon request
Important Notice
This document is
provided for general guidance
purposes only and does not replace applicable laws, regulations, or
professional safety advice. This policy may be updated periodically without
prior notice.
