BARTEC ESI Enclosures – Safety in Stainless Steel (Ex e) ATEX Enclosure

In hazardous environments where extreme conditions—including corrosive elements, wide temperature fluctuations, and heavy mechanical stress—are the norm, standard enclosures fail. This is where the BARTEC ESI Enclosure series steps in. Unlike the flameproof (‘Ex d’) EJB series, the ESI line is based on the Increased Safety (‘Ex e’) protection concept, offering a highly robust and versatile solution in stainless steel for Zone 1/2 and Zone 21/22 applications.

The Increased Safety Principle: Ex eb IIC Gb

The ESI series is certified for Increased Safety (‘Ex e’), which dictates that the enclosure must prevent the possibility of excessive temperatures, sparks, or arcs from occurring within normal operation. This approach relies on high-quality components, robust construction, and wide clearances to ensure operational safety.

Certification and Environmental Hardiness

The ESI enclosures meet rigorous global standards, making them suitable for worldwide deployment³³.

• Gas Classification (Zone 1/2): II 2G Ex eb IIC Gb. The IIC rating covers the most volatile gases, including hydrogen and acetylene.
• Dust Classification (Zone 21/22): II 2D Ex tb IIIC Db
• Protection Class: Maximum IP 66 according to EN/IEC 60529.
• Ambient Temperature: A wide operational range of -40°C to +100°C

Material Options

The enclosures are available in two high-quality stainless steel grades:

• 1.4404 (AISI 316 L): The superior grade, offering maximum resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion, commonly used in marine and high-chloride environments.
• 1.4301 (AISI 304): A robust and widely used grade, offering excellent general corrosion resistance.

The external surface is typically brushed, with painted or electro polished finishes available on request. Sealing is provided by reliable standard seals, including Silicone and EPDM.

Design Variants

The ESI line offers high flexibility with multiple design versions:

• Enclosure with screwed lid: For applications where access is less frequent.
• Enclosure with hinged door: For distribution boxes and control systems requiring regular access.

The enclosures can be supplied with or without gland plates on different sides (A, B, C, D, E) for flexible cable entry configuration.

ESI Standard Sizes and Ordering

BARTEC offers a range of 25 standard sizes, with approved customer-specific variants also available. The table below lists a selection of standard dimensions for both lid and hinged door versions:

The BARTEC ESI enclosure series provides unparalleled protection for electrical equipment in the harshest corrosive and explosive environments. By leveraging the Ex e principle and the durability of AISI 316 L stainless steel, ESI enclosures offer a reliable, certified, and flexible platform for distribution, control, and termination applications in Zones 1/2/21/22.