Executive Summary and Core Capabilities
Engineered by Belden Hirschmann, these switches deliver intrinsically safe communication to Zone 0, 1, and 2 hazardous areas. Combining high-speed fiber-optic uplinks with single-pair Ethernet field spurs, they deliver simultaneous power and data over 2-wire cabling up to , unlocking real-time asset analytics without risking electrical ignition in explosive atmosphere loops.
- Intrinsically Safe Ex Field Spurs: Delivers Ex ia / Ex ic field connections, allowing safe hot-swapping and wiring of instruments in explosive gas and dust environments.
- High-Integrity Fiber Backbones: Fast SFP/ST/SC optical interfaces extend network links across kilometers of high-EMC plant territory.
- HiOS Industrial Software: Runs Hirschmann HiOS firmware, featuring sub-20 ms HiPER Ring redundancy and Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) for deterministic loop timing.
Housed in ruggedized IP30 or IP67 die-cast aluminum enclosures, the switch features conformal-coated PCB assemblies resistant to corrosive gases and thermal extremes ranging from to .
The architecture provides high isolation between system power supplies, fiber trunk interfaces, and APL field spur circuits. Built-in diagnostic LEDs, relay contact outputs, and integration with Hirschmann Industrial HiVision allow proactive network monitoring from central control rooms.
Technical Specifications Matrix
| Parameter | Specification Details |
|---|---|
| Field Layer Standard | Ethernet-APL (10BASE-T1L, IEEE 802.3cg compliant) |
| Field Spur Port Count | Up to 16x 2-wire SPE ports supporting combined power + data |
| Maximum Spur Length | Up to 1,000 m (Trunk) / 200 m (Spur) over shielded twisted pair |
| Optical Trunk Ports | 2x or 4x 100/1000 Mbps SFP fiber uplinks (Multimode / Singlemode) |
| Supported Protocols | PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, HART-IP, OPC UA, Modbus TCP |
| Standard / Certification | Certified Protection Level |
|---|---|
| Switch Installation Zone | ATEX / IECEx Zone 2 / Class I Div 2 compliant |
| Field Instrument Zone | Intrinsically Safe Ex ia / Ex ic for Zones 0, 1, and 2 |
| Power Class Support | Power Class A, B, and C (supporting up to 500 mW Ex ia power) |
| Input Operating Voltage | Redundant 24 VDC (18 to 30 VDC) terminal block inputs |
| Electromagnetic Immunity | Exceeds EN 61000-6-2 heavy industrial EMC standards |
| Feature | Standard Support |
|---|---|
| System Firmware | Hirschmann HiOS (High Performance Operating System) |
| Redundancy Protocols | HiPER Ring (recovery < 20 ms), MRP, RSTP/STP, Trunking |
| Time Synchronization | IEEE 1588v2 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) & TSN support |
| Cybersecurity Baseline | IEC 62443-4-2 compliant, IEEE 802.1X, Encrypted SSH/HTTPS, ACLs |
| Management Platforms | Hirschmann Industrial HiVision & Belden Horizon software |
Target Industry Applications
Hazardous Process Plant Field Loops
Routes intrinsically safe 10BASE-T1L loops directly to pressure, flow, and temperature transmitters in Zone 0/1.
High-Integrity Fiber DCS Networks
Forms a redundant optical backbone bridging field instrumentation clusters back to main DCS control rooms.
External Resources and Documentation
Access official manuals, whitepapers, and product guides directly from Belden Hirschmann:
