Current
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& Product News
R
esulting from over four years of research and development by
Extronics
, the iSOLATE500 is a major breakthrough in hazardous
area wireless networking. Featuring a unique, patented galvanic isola-
tion design, the unit blocks all possible faults, including hazardous
transients, and makes any RF output intrinsically safe.
Fully certified for use in ATEX & IECEx Zone 0, the iSOLATE500
enables standard wireless equipment to be deployed in hazardous
areas without the need for costly assessment by notified bodies. Live
connect/ disconnect of standard antennas is now allowed and the
whole process of deploying wireless networks in hazardous process
areas is made a far simpler, elegant and more cost-effective process.
Key features are:
• Blocks all faults: ac, dc & Hazardous Transients
• Enables the use of standard RF equipment
• Enables any antenna to be used - improved performance
• No need for notified body assessment
• Simple installation using conventional tools
• Zone 0 ATEX and IECEx approved
iSOLATE500 is designed & built in the UK by Extronics.
Enquiries: Extech Safety Systems.Tel. 011 791 6000 or email sales@
extech.co.za.
T
he
SouthernAfrican Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC)
recently launched another independent sub-association: the
Power Line Association of Southern Africa (POLASA).
The SAISC launched POLASA in response to a period that
has been termed a ‘crisis period’ by the industry. Describing
the situation GaryWhalley, MD of Babcock Ntuthuko Powerlines
and the first Chairman of POLASA, said the irony is that in an
environment where much work needs to be done, the industry
is at a stand-still to the extent that in the recent past, six contrac-
tors in the power line and associated industries were liquidated
or applied for Business Rescue, no significant enquiries were
issued for more than 22 months and the industry faces up to
12 months without power line work.
POLASA’s fundamental task will be to turn this situation
around by helping the local industry to make interim arrange-
ments and to take advantage of the fact that power line con-
struction is integral to the National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) in
which, of the 18 Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs), six contain
transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Enquiries: Kobus de Beer.Tel. 011 726-6111.Visit
.
co.za.
T
o comply with the requirements of the Department of Minerals and
Energy (DME), (Mines Health and Safety ACT) MHS Act: Regula-
tion 2(1) of MHSAct (Act 29 of 1996) (Mines Health and Safety), clause
21.17.2: Electrical apparatus used in a hazardous area shall be explo-
sion protected and certified as such in a test report by an inspection
authority approved by the chief inspector. Further to this comes the
SANSARP 0108:2007 Edition 1.1Annex C: Upgrading andmaintenance
of EPA certificates for mines and factories.
• C.1 - In South Africa, all EPA used in underground mines (Group I)
and on surface (Group II) shall be covered by an IA certificate. The
requirements in C.2 to C.15 - cover the validity of IA certificates.
• C.2 - All IA certificates shall have a validity period of 10 years.
Where a product is in service and its certificate has expired it will
not be affected. IA certificates will be valid for a period of one
year.
This, in short, states that all imported IS equipment based on over-
seas certification must be inspected and certified by a South African
inspection authority approved by the chief inspector. No overseas
certification is valid unless it is underwritten by a local IA certificate.
This has a huge impact on local importers of overseas IS certified
instrumentation if they supply these instruments to customers without
the local IA certification.
Enquiries:Tel. 011 608 1551 or email
World's first apparatus-certified IS RF isolator
SAISC Launches Power Line Industry Association
Locally certified IS infrared thermometers
The first board of POLASA: From left: Leon Heymans (Consolidated Power Projects),
Marcello Lamperini (Mkhulu Electro Distribution Projects), Vincent Kanyongolo
(Dyambwini Construction), Gary Whalley - POLASA Chairman (Babcock Nthuthuko
Powerlines), Sagren Moodley (Metpress), Nick van der Mescht (Stefanutti Stocks
Power). Not in the picture: John I Buyers (Preformed Line Products).
49
December ‘13
Electricity+Control
