What is the difference between explosion proof and intrinsically safe equipment?

Answer 1

Intrinsic Safety: This method of protection limits the energy passing into the hazardous area. The energy limitation is provided by the use of safety barriers which are mounted in the safe area. Because of the energy limitation, regardless of the fault in the hazardous area, sufficient energy cannot be released to ignite the explosive atmosphere.

Explosion Proof: This is the most popular method of protection. When an explosive gas enters an enclosure containing electrical equipment an explosion could occur. With the enclosure properly installed, and the tight tolerance between the enclosure and the cover, the flame will cool sufficiently by the time it reaches the outside atmosphere.

Answer 2

Intrinsically Safe Vs Explosion Proof

Answer 3

Intrinsically safe equipment :
Intrinsically safe equipment is defined as "equipment and wiring which is incapable of releasing sufficient electrical or thermal energy under normal or abnormal conditions to cause ignition of a specific hazardous atmosphere mixture in its most easily ignited concentration".
In simple terms this means that intrinsically safe equipment and wiring limits electrical and thermal energy to a level below that required to cause an explosion.

Explosionproof apparatus:
“An enclosure for electrical machinery or apparatus that will withstand, when the covers or other access doors are properly secured, an internal explosion of the flammable gas or vapour which may enter or which may originate inside the enclosure, without suffering damage and without communicating the internal flammation (or explosion) to the external flammable gas or vapour in which it is designed to be used, through any joints or other structural openings in the enclosure.”

Answer 4

explosion proof means it will not be damaged in an explosion.... intrinsically safe means it will not cause an explosion to happen... ex... if you walked into a room full of natural gas and turned on an intrinsically safe flashlight it would not spark the gas to explode.....