When you need to heat containers such as drums, gas bottles and Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) in hazardous, potentially explosive areas, the regulations are extremely rigorous and therefore the options are limited. Australia adheres to IECEx which is the International Electrotechnical Commission’s [IEC] System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres. This can narrow down options even further because IECEx requires third party testing and auditing and is stricter than the European ATEX Standard and USA UL Standard.
LMK Thermosafe has invested heavily to understand the requirements for safe heating within an IECEx environment and brings this to market in the form of a unique product range:
Electromagnetic Induction ‘Thermosafe’ [TH] Drum heater.
- Fits steel drums and vessels up to 205Ltr.
- Energy savings of over 50% when compared with conventional radiant drum heaters (such as band heaters).
- IECEx and ATEX certified for Zone 1 and 2.
- Ingress protection is IP66.
- May be used individually or with other LMK Heating products (Faratherm and ‘Top Hat') to make into a mini-oven).
Electromagnetic Induction ‘Faratherm’ [FT] Drum base plate heater
- Ideal for plastic or metal drums up to 205 litres.
- Provide heat to warm drums from the bottom.
- Medium watt density for heating drum contents up to 50°C.
- IECEx and ATEX certified for Zone 1 and 2.
- Ingress protection is IP66.
- Combine with Thermosafe to boost the heating of solids by up to 40%.
Inteliheat FlexiPlus standard range of heater jackets
- Safe heating option for warming and maintaining temperature in winter in hazardous areas.
- Inteliheat FlexiPlus custom built heater jackets for any vessel or IBC.
- Ability to manufacture an IECEx-certified heater jacket for almost any non-standard container.
These products offer flexibility to production processing meaning that heating does not need to be isolated to remain safe. The heater jackets are safe to use with plastic and metal containers, while the induction heaters can heat contents in metal drums faster than any alternative (such as an IECEx heating oven). Importantly, if you have a container that is not part of the standard pre-certified range, a heater jacket can be custom-built to IECEx standards to meet your needs (within certification limits).
Heating in hazardous areas requires care and products that can be relied on. That’s why companies in Australia such as Boeing, Dulux, Wilmar, Woodside and Orica are amongst those who have joined LMK Thermosafe’s global customer base.
