Explosion Proof Drones

ATEX Drones for Inspection in Hazardous Areas

A drone is the fastest way to look at a flare tip, a tank roof or the top of a distillation column, and for years the answer in a zoned area was simply no: a standard drone is a flying ignition source. An ATEX drone changes that. The models in this category are certified for use in explosive atmospheres, which means the motors, battery and electronics have been assessed and marked for the zone in which they fly, exactly like a certified camera or gas detector.

What is available

The explosion proof drone in this category carries ATEX Zone 1 and IECEx approval as well as the North American Class I Division 1 rating, with a control range of 4 km, so the pilot can stay well outside the hazardous area. The Xamen LE 4-8X Dual is the second platform, developed specifically for ATEX inspection work with a dual optical and thermal payload. Both are project products: we confirm payload, battery configuration and delivery time per order, so ask for a quotation rather than reading the listed price as final.

When a drone, and when not

Drones pay off where height is the problem: flare stacks, storage tank roofs, pipe racks, chimneys, offshore structures. They do not replace a handheld camera for close-up documentation, and for elevated points that a mast can reach, the Armadex Ex-RIK inspection kit with a carbon mast is the simpler and cheaper option. For continuous monitoring, a fixed thermographic camera is usually the better investment.

Regulations to keep in mind

ATEX certification covers the ignition risk only. Flight permissions, pilot licences and site rules on unmanned aircraft are separate, and most operators contract a certified pilot for the first flights. We are happy to put you in touch with inspection companies that fly these drones and to check with you which zone rating your site actually requires.