ISA has released the 100.11a standard on September 9th 2009. I’ve update the Wikipedia entry for it. I’m going to a conference and several classes at ISA Expo 2009 this year that cover the new standard. Hopefully this standard will bring some order to the wireless gas detection and industrial control industries for wireless devices. It uses IEEE 802.15.4 for the lower level which dictates a center frequency 2.4 GHz and uses DSSS for the modulation technique. It also uses some of TSMP from Dust Networks for the mesh and networking protocol. This should allow for battery operated devices with automatic routing capability, via time synchronized sleeping.
Archive for September, 2009
Just got finished with a EN 13980 assessment audit for work.
EN 13980 is an EU (European Union) standard for companies that are looking to produce ATEX (EU Directive 94/9/EC and 99/92/EC) rated equipment. It’s based off ISO 9001, with specifics to components and products in explosives atmospheres. It is not a free standard but the cost is small and can be purchase at many different website, usally depending on the language (BSI for English).
For a company, such as Otis Instruments, that is looking to produce ATEX rated equipment two certifications are needed; and they are the Quality Assurance Notification (QAN) and the EC Type Examination Certificate. The Quality Assurance Notification is issued to a company that has had an assement audit for compliance to EN 13980. A EC Type Examination Certificate is a certificate issued for specific hardware that has passed testing from the ATEX standard (usually based of EN 16079, among others).
Once that is complete the company can build the product and issue a Declaration of Conformity. The Declaration of Conformity states that the product is built and tested to comply with ATEX.
This process is very different than what is normally done in North America. In North America the equivalent standards, testing, and certifications are done/controlled by UL, FM, ETL, and CSA.
Here is a quote from the BSI site :
“Potentially explosive atmospheres – Application of quality systems
Executive summary
Requirements and information for establishing and maintaining quality systems for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
Abstract
This European Standard specifies particular requirements and information for establishing and maintaining a quality system within potentially explosive atmospheres.
It is intended for use by manufacturers, notified bodies and regulatory authorities.
When notified bodies assess the quality systems of manufacturers this standard is intended to be the basis of the initial assessment and subsequent visits.
History and related standards
This European Standard is complementary to EN ISO 9000 and EN ISO 9001 and is applicable to products intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
This standard includes the following cross references:
prEN 13237-1, EN 45012, EN 45014, EN ISO 9000:2000, EN ISO 9001:2000.“
Potentially explosive atmospheres – Application of quality systems
Executive summary
Requirements and information for establishing and maintaining quality systems for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
Abstract
This European Standard specifies particular requirements and information for establishing and maintaining a quality system within potentially explosive atmospheres.
It is intended for use by manufacturers, notified bodies and regulatory authorities.
When notified bodies assess the quality systems of manufacturers this standard is intended to be the basis of the initial assessment and subsequent visits.
History and related standards
This European Standard is complementary to EN ISO 9000 and EN ISO 9001 and is applicable to products intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
This standard includes the following cross references:
prEN 13237-1, EN 45012, EN 45014, EN ISO 9000:2000, EN ISO 9001:2000.
