What makes this hard
Atmospheres that change after the permit is signed
A vessel can test clean at the start of a shift and accumulate flammable or toxic vapour later, particularly where the space has residues, has been blanked rather than isolated, or is adjacent to a live process.
Every control has to be explosion-proof
Personal monitors, cameras, lighting and communication equipment all have to be suitable for the zone, which disqualifies most of what is available off the shelf.
Rescue is the worst case in the plant
Confined space rescue in a hydrocarbon plant requires breathing apparatus, tripods, retrieval systems and trained teams. The gap between detection and incapacity may be a minute.
Contractor and turnaround surge
Turnarounds put a large external workforce into vessels and columns with tight schedules, and entry control is where the pressure shows first.
What we deploy
In a hydrocarbon or chemical plant, the atmosphere inside a confined space is both the reason the work must be done and the reason the entry is dangerous — and it can change faster than any permit assumes.
- Monitoring station rated Ex ib IIC T4 Gb with gas detector at Ex ia IIC T4 Gb and IP65 protection
- Pump-suction sampling at 0.6–1 L/min with an optional 8 m sampling hose, so the sample is drawn from where the person will be rather than at the entry point
- Four-gas monitoring with custom sensors for the specific process residues involved
- Vital-sign wristband with SOS and entry authorisation by wristband, identity or facial verification
- Video and two-way audio for remote direction of work inside the vessel
- On-premise deployment available so atmosphere and entry data stays inside the plant network
What changes on site
Sampling where the work is
A detector at the manhole reads the atmosphere at the manhole. Pump-suction sampling with an extendable hose reads it at the workface, which is where the hazard is.
Zone-appropriate throughout
Station, detector, wristbands and positioning equipment are all rated for the classified area, so the control is not partially disabled by equipment that was not permitted.
Entry control that survives turnaround pressure
Authorised-entry modes and automatic over-occupancy alerts enforce the permit in a way that a paper log cannot when a dozen contractors want into a vessel at once.
A record that holds up
Time-stamped atmosphere readings, entry and exit logs, video and alarm history, retained for incident investigation and for the audit that follows.
Frequently asked questions
Is the equipment suitable for our zone classification?
The monitoring station is rated Ex ib IIC T4 Gb, the integrated gas detector Ex ia IIC T4 Gb, and the positioning tags and beacons hold explosion-proof certification. Send us your zone classification and we will confirm suitability in writing rather than on assumption.
Why does sampling method matter so much?
Because a confined space atmosphere is not uniform. Reading at the manhole can miss stratification and heavier-than-air vapour accumulation at the bottom or at the workface. Pump-suction sampling with an extendable hose lets the sample be drawn where the worker will actually be.
How quickly are alarms raised?
Sensor response is within 25 seconds and the alarm is distributed to the detector, the wristband, the entry monitor and the platform simultaneously, rather than sequentially through a single channel.
Can the data stay inside our network?
Yes. On-premise deployment is supported for plants that cannot send operational data to an external cloud, and the station provides interfaces for integration with existing plant safety systems.
What documentation comes with the equipment?
Explosion-proof certificates, third-party test reports, Ex marking details and English manuals. Tell us what your local authority requires and we will confirm what we can supply before you order.