If your job involves the risk of a fire or explosion due to an explosive element that is present, you work in a hazardous location. These environments require strict adherence to safety protocols and regulations to protect both personnel and equipment. Even a small incident in these environments could lead to costly downtime or worse. Ashcroft is a trusted brand of pressure and temperature instrumentation that can be found in countless hazardous locations across the globe. We have a tremendous amount of experience in developing products that are built to ensure smooth operations and the safety of your team. In this Understanding the Basics article, you will learn more about hazardous locations, the organizations and standards that govern them, code enforcing authorities, how to prevent explosions and more. Throughout the article, you will also find helpful links and additional resources where you can gain additional knowledge about products and best practices.

In another Ashcroft® Understanding the Basics article titled, What is a Pressure Gauge? you learn that manufacturers of pressure gauges must follow certain global standards to ensure all of these instruments function the same way. The standards that we are referring to are ASME B40.100 and EN 837-1. As a global leader in pressure instrumentation, Ashcroft is often asked which of these manufacturing standards we follow for our pressure gauges. The answer is both, and the reason is simple. This article will provide you with a brief overview of ASME B40.100 and EN 837-1 standards, what they cover, their similarities and their differences. Whether you are new to the world of pressure gauges, or you are looking for a quick refresher on the subject, you will gain a deeper understanding of these global standards after reading this piece. You will also find additional resources that may interest you when you are ready to go beyond the basics of pressure gauges.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), groundwater serves as a crucial resource for half of the U.S. population. Reliance on this vital natural resource is especially significant in regions with scarce rainfall, limited surface water availability, or high agricultural demands and population. As a leading manufacturer of pressure and temperature instrumentation, Ashcroft understands the challenges of protecting this vital resource. In this article, you will learn about submersible pressure transmitters and how they are used to monitor water levels and provide essential information to water management personnel. You will also see examples of four common applications where submersibles are used and some challenges these instruments may encounter while in use. When you are done reading, you will find additional, related resources that may be of interest when you are ready to go beyond the basics of this topic.

This article was originally published on July 24, 2023, by Rick Zerafin and was updated on April 29, 2024, by Dave Dlugos. Maintenance, reliability, process and Health Safety Environment (HSE) teams rely on accurate and stable temperature measurements to meet their goals. Thermocouples, new out of the box, are a critical tool for these measurements that help plant personnel maintain safe and efficient operations. Today, instrument designers use a wide array of thermocouple types, such as Type K, Type E and Type T to measure temperatures in applications ranging from cryogenic temperatures of -196 °C to the extremes of 1700 °C. This article will discuss how thermocouple calibration offers added benefits that promote process improvements and support compliance requirements. When you are done reading, you will also find additional related resources that can help you gain more insight into these important instruments.

Isolation rings are also known as isolators. They are designed to protect pressure-measurement instruments from the damaging effects of corrosive media in water/wastewater treatment plants, chemical processes, and mining facilities. To fully appreciate the importance of using these instruments in your operation, we need to start with a basic understanding of how they work. Ashcroft has been in the pressure and temperature instrumentation business since 1852, and we wrote this article for the industry novice. We hope you can use it as a foundation for understanding the important role isolation rings play in challenging applications. Read on to learn how isolation rings protect pressure-sensing instruments in your applications, the three most common types of rings, how they are constructed and the primary benefits of using these instruments. When you are done reading, you will also find additional, related resources in case you want to go beyond the basics of this topic.

Not every application is the same, so you need to get the right equipment for your specific needs. When it comes to temperature measurement, inaccurate readings can severely impact your process. So, how can you ensure you are correctly and reliably monitoring temperature? Whether your application is for light-industrial temperature measurements or critical heavy-duty installations, Ashcroft®, an industry leader in pressure and temperature instrumentation, has developed a line of reliable thermocouple probes that are custom-configured to meet your specific application requirements. This article will discuss how to choose the best thermocouple lead wire for common applications. When you are done reading, you will also find additional related resources that can help you gain more insight into thermocouples.