Which Arlyn Scales Models Suit Hazardous Areas, and What Does "Intrinsically Safe" Mean?

For hazardous locations, Arlyn Scales points buyers to its ArlynGuard line — Bench, Cylinder, Platform, and Floor scales described as intrinsically safe for a range of hazardous area classes, divisions, and groups. The same safety approach appears in two related products: the MKE-5-IS Intrinsically Safe Digital Indicator ($969) and the ArlynGuard S Intrinsically Safe Ultra Precision Scale ($2,629). "Intrinsically safe" means the equipment is designed so it cannot release enough electrical or thermal energy to ignite a flammable atmosphere — which is why the scale type you pick should match both the vessel you weigh and the area classification.

What "intrinsically safe" means in practice

An intrinsically safe (IS) device limits energy at the source rather than relying only on a heavy enclosure. In a weighing system, that generally covers two parts:

• The indicator/electronics — the display and communication hardware that could otherwise produce sparks or heat. Arlyn sells the MKE-5-IS as a standalone intrinsically safe indicator, which tells you the electronics are treated as a separate safety-relevant component.
• The load cell and wiring — the sensing element and its connections inside the hazardous zone.

Arlyn's hazardous-area scales use heat-treated stainless steel load cells with internal resolutions of 1 part in 500,000. The stainless construction is also aimed at difficult factory conditions, so the same unit is meant to survive washdown-prone or corrosive surroundings as well as the classified area.

One caution: "intrinsically safe" is not a universal stamp. It is granted relative to specific classes, divisions, and groups of hazardous atmosphere. Arlyn states the ArlynGuard line covers an "impressive range" of these, but the exact rating for your area is what you must verify before purchase — not the general label.

Matching the scale type to the environment

Arlyn's hazardous-area offering is organized by what you are weighing, not by a single model number. Use this to narrow the choice:

The ArlynGuard S is the specialized option: it pairs hazardous-area safety with Arlyn's SAW (surface acoustic wave) transducer technology, which the company says is 10x to 20x more sensitive than strain gauge scales. Capacities in that ultra-precision family run from 10 lb at 0.0001 lb resolution up to 1,000 lb at 0.005 lb resolution. If your hazardous-area task involves leak detection, filling verification, or small additive dosing, that sensitivity matters more than platform size.

Indicators and system building

If you already have a scale or load cell and only need safe electronics, the MKE-5-IS Intrinsically Safe Digital Indicator ($969) is the component-level answer. For a complete new system, the indicator is typically specified together with the scale rather than chosen independently — the IS rating applies to the combination, so mixing an IS indicator with a non-IS load cell does not automatically produce a safe system.

Arlyn's standard industrial scales also offer Wi-Fi and USB communication options, but do not assume those interfaces carry over unchanged into a hazardous-area installation. Communication wiring is part of what an IS assessment covers, so confirm the interface configuration as part of the hazardous-area specification.

A worked example

Suppose a facility fills solvent drums in a room classified as a hazardous location and needs to confirm each drum reaches a target weight.

1. Identify the load: drums on a pallet — this points to a platform or floor scale rather than a bench unit.
2. Confirm the area classification: get the class, division, and group from the site's safety documentation.
3. Match the rating: check that the ArlynGuard platform or floor scale configuration is rated for that specific classification, including the indicator and cabling.
4. Check the resolution need: if the fill tolerance is loose, the standard 1-part-in-500,000 internal resolution is likely sufficient; if you are verifying grams-level additions, look at the ArlynGuard S instead.
5. Verify before ordering: ask Arlyn to confirm the exact model-and-rating pairing for your classification in writing.

The failure mode to avoid is step 5 being skipped — buying an ArlynGuard scale because the line is "intrinsically safe" without confirming it matches your specific area group.

Practical selection checklist

• Start with the classification, not the model. Get class, division, and group from your safety engineer or site documentation.
• Then pick the form factor — bench, cylinder, platform, or floor — based on what you actually weigh.
• Then decide on precision. Standard ArlynGuard for general weighing; ArlynGuard S when small weight differences are the point.
• Treat the indicator as part of the system. The MKE-5-IS is available separately, but the safety case is for the assembled system.
• Confirm the rating in writing for the exact configuration before purchase.

Prices shown here are the starting figures listed on Arlyn's site and will vary with capacity, platform size, and configuration.