ATEX Keyboards

A keyboard is intrinsically safe when its electrical and thermal energy is limited by design so that it cannot produce a spark or hot surface capable of igniting a surrounding explosive atmosphere, and when it carries formal hazardous-area certification to prove it. Featured models achieve this through optical isolation, isolating barriers and separate bulkhead cables rather than sealing alone. The BT-870-TP-EX2 is ATEX certified for gas Zone 2 and dust Zone 22, while the DT-5K-FSR-IS, DT-1000-IS, PM-1000-IS and PM-2000-IS are certified intrinsically safe under the Factory Mutual scheme. The exact Ex marking for your zone should always be confirmed before specifying.

ATEX and IECEx are two certification frameworks for equipment used in explosive atmospheres. ATEX is the European Union directive and marking scheme, mandatory across Europe, while IECEx is an international scheme recognised in many countries worldwide, and the two share the same underlying technical standards. In North America, hazardous locations are instead certified under the Factory Mutual and UL Class and Division system, as used on the DT-5K-FSR-IS, DT-1000-IS, PM-1000-IS and PM-2000-IS, while the BT-870-TP-EX2 carries ATEX certification. Which scheme applies is set by the jurisdiction of your site, so it is worth confirming before specifying.

Under ATEX and IECEx, hazardous areas are classified by how likely an explosive atmosphere is to be present. Gas Zone 0 is continuous, Zone 1 is likely in normal operation and Zone 2 is unlikely and short-lived, with the equivalent dust classes being Zones 20, 21 and 22, and equipment must be certified for the specific zone in which it is installed. Among the featured range, the BT-870-TP-EX2 is ATEX certified for gas Zone 2 and dust Zone 22. For the intrinsically safe iKey IS models, the exact zone or Division marking that applies to your site should be confirmed against its certification.

Because ingress protection and intrinsic safety measure completely different things. An IP rating, such as the IP66 on the DT-1000-IS or IP67 on the BT-870-TP-EX2, tells you how well the keyboard keeps dust and water out, whereas intrinsic safety tells you the device cannot ignite the explosive atmosphere around it, which requires energy-limited design and formal hazardous-area certification. A keyboard can be fully sealed yet still unsafe in a classified zone, so only a certified model such as those featured here should be used, with its marking verified against the zone.

The right model follows from your area classification, installation format and pointing needs. For an ATEX gas Zone 2 or dust Zone 22 area needing wireless freedom, the BT-870-TP-EX2 suits. For a desktop terminal, the stainless steel DT-5K-FSR-IS adds a sealed Force Sensing Resistor pointer and the DT-1000-IS offers a full 114-key typing surface, while for flush console integration the PM-1000-IS mounts without a pointer and the PM-2000-IS adds a HulaPoint II. With your zone classification and cutout details, our engineers can confirm the correct certified model.

Only where it is certified for the specific hazardous zone. The featured BT-870-TP-EX2 is an ATEX-certified keyboard offering both Bluetooth wireless and USB wired connectivity, rated for gas Zone 2 and dust Zone 22, which removes trailing cables where that is an advantage. The other featured models, the DT-5K-FSR-IS, DT-1000-IS, PM-1000-IS and PM-2000-IS, are wired PS/2 units certified intrinsically safe. Wireless operation is not automatically permitted in every zone, so the exact Ex marking and any local restrictions should be confirmed before deployment.

The full Ex marking and the certification scheme that applies to your site are what to establish first. For a European or international site that usually means the ATEX or IECEx marking and the certified zone, and the BT-870-TP-EX2 is ATEX certified for Zone 2 and 22. For North American schemes it means the Factory Mutual Class, Division and Group, as carried by the DT-5K-FSR-IS, DT-1000-IS, PM-1000-IS and PM-2000-IS under Class I, II and III, Division I. Because markings and jurisdiction differ, the exact requirement is worth verifying before ordering.

Yes. The featured intrinsically safe models are built for aggressive process environments. The DT-5K-FSR-IS, DT-1000-IS, PM-1000-IS and PM-2000-IS use non-corrosive stainless steel enclosures, while the BT-870-TP-EX2 uses a sealed ABS polycarbonate housing, and all have smooth, sealed silicone key overlays with no open switches, so hydrocarbons, solvents and cleaning agents wipe away without reaching the electronics. Compatibility with a specific cleaning regime and chemical set is worth confirming for the model in question.

Panel-mount installs the keyboard flush into a console, cabinet or machine, and desktop provides a standalone unit on a bench or field terminal. Among the featured range, the PM-1000-IS and PM-2000-IS are panel-mount designs that sit flush to simplify sealing and reduce tampering, while the DT-5K-FSR-IS and DT-1000-IS are desktop units, and the BT-870-TP-EX2 is a portable desktop keyboard with a wireless option. In every case the certified model must match the zone of the installation, which takes priority over format.

Start with your hazardous-area classification, then match the certification, format and interface. That means defining the gas or dust zone, or the North American Class and Division, the certification scheme your jurisdiction accepts, whether you need panel-mount or desktop, a pointing device, and wired or wireless connectivity. The featured range covers ATEX Zone 2 and 22 wireless with the BT-870-TP-EX2, and Factory Mutual intrinsically safe wired units in the DT-5K-FSR-IS, DT-1000-IS, PM-1000-IS and PM-2000-IS. With your zone and installation details, our engineers can confirm the exact certified model and Ex marking.

Your site’s hazardous-area assessment defines the gas group and temperature class, so start with that documentation rather than guessing. The gas group reflects how easily the specific gases present ignite, and the temperature class sets the maximum surface temperature the equipment may reach. A certified keyboard must meet or exceed both for your zone. Share the classification drawing with a specialist, who will confirm the equipment marking that matches your gas group and T-class.

No, adding an enclosure does not make an ordinary sealed keyboard safe for a Zone 1 area. Intrinsic safety limits the electrical energy inside the device itself so it cannot spark, which a standard keyboard cannot do regardless of housing. Any equipment entering a classified zone needs its own hazardous-area certification. Specify a keyboard certified for the zone instead, and have the marking confirmed against your area classification before installation.

Often yes. Many intrinsically safe keyboards must be connected through a certified safety barrier or isolator that limits the energy reaching the device, and the installation has to follow the wiring rules in the certification. Cable type, length and earthing can all matter. Because getting this wrong voids the protection, confirm the required barrier, wiring method and any documentation with a hazardous-area specialist before the keyboard goes into service.