Embedded Box PCs for Hazardous Areas

Zone 2 is defined for locations where an explosive gas atmosphere is unlikely to occur during normal operation, and if it does, it will exist only briefly. This allows a different approach to equipment design compared with Zone 1, where hazardous atmospheres are expected more frequently or for longer durations. Embedded box PCs for Zone 2 often use protected venting, controlled surface temperatures and appropriately rated components instead of the heavier, fully explosion-proof enclosures typically associated with Zone 1. The result is a more compact, easier-to-integrate platform, provided the overall system design respects the ATEX classification and installation rules.

Key points include the ATEX marking (equipment group, category and gas/dust type), the temperature class, and any IECEx or other international approvals that support your project. You should confirm the ambient temperature range over which the rating applies, as well as enclosure protection levels, connector types and cable gland requirements. From a computing perspective, you still need to check CPU performance, memory, storage, network ports and industrial I/O, but all within the constraints of surface temperature and power dissipation that keep the unit compliant in a hazardous environment.

These PCs are often mounted on skids, in process units and on plant structures where flammable gases or vapours might occasionally be present. Typical examples include compressors, pumps and rotating equipment skids, blending and filling lines, gas analyser shelters, tank farms, vapour recovery systems and offshore modules. By placing compute power close to sensors and control elements in these areas, you can run local monitoring, edge analytics and control functions without routing every signal back to a distant safe-area control room.

We support UK integrators and end users working in hazardous process industries with carefully selected embedded platforms suitable for Zone 2 projects. Our team can help interpret ATEX markings and datasheets, recommend appropriate hardware, and configure systems with your chosen CPU, memory, storage and operating system within the constraints of the approval. Units are assembled and tested in our UK facility, with options for pre-loading software images, labelling and documentation that align with your project standards. With local technical support, lifecycle planning and RMA handling.