When it comes to explosion proof cameras, there’s no single model or brand that’s best for every situation. The “best” custom explosion proof camera is the one designed specifically to fit your hazardous site’s conditions, operational needs, and safety requirements. At 2M Technology, we create custom explosion proof housings that transform any camera model you choose into a safe and compliant surveillance solution. Instead of settling for off-the-shelf options, you can take a camera you already trust and have it custom-fitted with an explosion-proof housing, making it safe for use in any hazardous work site.
What Is a Custom Explosion Proof Camera?
A custom explosion proof camera is a standard security camera enclosed in a special housing that makes it safe to use in hazardous areas where flammable gases, vapors, or dust are present. The purpose of this housing is to contain any sparks, heat, or internal malfunctions from the camera, preventing them from igniting the potentially explosive atmosphere around it.
What makes a custom explosion proof camera truly custom is the housing that is tailored to fit any camera you choose. This means you’re not limited to a small selection of camera models. You can pick any camera and we’ll built an explosion-proof housing around it. This gives you the flexibility to use the exact camera model and features your operations require without compromising safety or compliance.
With 2M Technology, you get more than just an explosion proof camera. You get a surveillance system that’s customized to your operational goals, environmental challenges, and safety requirements, using high-performance cameras protected by rugged, certified enclosures.
What Is the Best Custom Explosion Proof Camera?
So, which custom explosion proof camera is the best? The best custom explosion proof camera is one that is made specifically for your hazardous location. Instead of picking a pre-packaged model, the ideal solution combines the camera features you need with a housing designed to withstand your site’s risks. Here’s what to consider when choosing the best custom explosion proof camera for your operations:
1. Site Classification and Certifications
Not all hazardous areas are the same. Some are filled with flammable gases, others with combustible dust, and the frequency and intensity of these risks vary by location. Because of this, strict regulations determine what type of equipment can be installed in each classified zone. Failure to comply with these standards not only puts you at legal risk, it also endangers your facility, operations, and personnel. That’s why it’s critical to make sure your custom explosion proof camera is properly rated for your specific area, whether that’s Class I Division 1, Zone 1, or Zone 2.
2. Camera Model and Features
When choosing a camera, start by evaluating your imaging needs and what you need to monitor. The lens type determines both the coverage area and the level of detail in your footage. Wide-angle lenses are perfect for monitoring large open spaces like tank farms, while zoom lenses are ideal for close-up views of machinery in high-risk areas. If your site has poor visibility due to smoke, dust, or darkness, thermal or dual-spectrum imaging can detect heat signatures to help spot overheating machinery, gas leaks, or intruders. A custom explosion proof camera housing preserves the camera’s full functionality while protecting it from hazardous conditions. This means the camera performs exactly as intended, but without compromising safety.
3. Housing Material and Durability
The material of your camera housing affects how well your camera will be protected from harsh environments and potential ignition sources. At 2M, we offer two options: 304 stainless steel and 316L stainless steel. For general industrial settings with minimal to moderate exposure to corrosive elements, 304 stainless steel is usually durable enough. But in harsher environments, like offshore rigs or chemical plants, 316L stainless steel offers stronger resistance to corrosion from salt, chemicals, and extreme weather. Choosing the right housing material not only extends the life of your custom explosion proof camera but also ensures it won’t fail even in the toughest environments.
4. Power and Connectivity Considerations
Power and networking setups vary from site to site. Some operations run on PoE (Power over Ethernet), while others rely on fiber, coaxial, or custom cabling. Your custom explosion proof camera housing should include properly sized and sealed cable glands or conduit fittings that match the connection types your site uses. These openings are essential for maintaining the enclosure’s explosion-proof integrity and ensuring your system operates safely and reliably, all without limiting installation flexibility.
Why Choose 2M Technology?
The “best” explosion proof camera is one that works perfectly for your site’s specific conditions and compliance needs. At 2M Technology, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Every industrial site is unique, so we work closely with you to design a custom explosion proof camera that fulfills your camera preferences, complies with your site classification, and holds up in your operating conditions.
You’re free to choose any camera model, and we’ll create a housing that makes it safe, compliant, and durable enough to handle your location’s demands. The result is a fully functional surveillance solution with certified protection, customized just for your site.
Hazardous-Area Certification: NEC, ATEX and IECEx Compared
Before any explosion proof camera can be specified, the area it will watch has to be classified. Three frameworks govern that classification worldwide, and a housing certified under one is not automatically acceptable under another. North American sites are classified under the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), Articles 500–506, and enforced through OSHA 29 CFR 1910.307. European and most international sites use the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU, while the IECEx Scheme certifies against the IEC 60079 series for everywhere else.
The practical consequence for a camera project is simple: the enclosure, not the camera, carries the certification. A standard commercial camera placed inside a certified flameproof housing (protection concept Ex d) is compliant, because any internal spark or arc is contained and cooled before it can reach the surrounding atmosphere. That is the entire basis of the custom explosion proof camera approach described below.
Area Classification Crosswalk
| Hazard present | NEC (North America) | ATEX / IECEx Zone | ATEX Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continuously, or for long periods | Class I, Division 1 | Zone 0 | Category 1G |
| Likely during normal operation | Class I, Division 1 | Zone 1 | Category 2G |
| Only under abnormal conditions | Class I, Division 2 | Zone 2 | Category 3G |
Note the asymmetry that catches most specifiers out: NEC Class I, Division 1 spans both Zone 0 and Zone 1. A housing certified for Zone 1 is not sufficient for a Zone 0 location, even though both map back to Division 1 on a North American drawing. If your site carries a dual-standard requirement, that distinction has to be settled at design time, not at commissioning.
Gas Groups
Gas group determines how easily the surrounding atmosphere ignites, and therefore how tight the flame paths in the housing must be. The more reactive the gas, the more demanding the enclosure.
| Representative gas | NEC Group | IEC / ATEX Group | Typical industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetylene | Group A | IIC | Welding, chemical synthesis |
| Hydrogen | Group B | IIC | Refining, battery rooms, electrolysis |
| Ethylene | Group C | IIB | Petrochemical, plastics |
| Propane, methane | Group D | IIA | Oil and gas, LPG, wastewater |
Temperature Classes
The T-rating caps the maximum surface temperature the equipment may reach, and it must sit below the auto-ignition temperature of the gas present. T-ratings are identical under NEC and IEC, which makes them the one part of the specification that transfers cleanly between standards. A camera housing is an active electrical device with a heater, a sensor and sometimes a PTZ motor inside it, so the T-rating is a real engineering constraint rather than a formality.
| Class | Max surface temperature | Commonly specified for |
|---|---|---|
| T1 | 450 °C | Methane, ammonia |
| T2 | 300 °C | Ethylene, butane |
| T3 | 200 °C | Gasoline, hexane, diesel vapor |
| T4 | 135 °C | Acetaldehyde, many solvents |
| T5 | 100 °C | Specialist applications |
| T6 | 85 °C | Carbon disulfide; most conservative sites |
A specification that stops at the words “explosion proof” is incomplete. A usable one reads like the refinery project below: Class I, Division 1, Groups A/B, T6, plus a material grade and an ingress rating.
Cameras 2M Technology Has Made Explosion Proof
Most vendors offer a fixed catalogue of explosion proof cameras and ask the site to accept whichever sensor and VMS comes attached. 2M Technology works the other way around: the end user keeps the camera platform their security team already runs, and we engineer a certified housing around that specific camera body. Every row below is a delivered project, not a capability claim.
| Camera platform | Model integrated | Classification achieved | Construction | Project |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verkada | CF83-E fisheye and CB52-E bullet | Class I, Div 1, Groups A/B, T6 | 304 stainless, IP68 | Specialty oil refinery |
| Verkada | CD62-E outdoor dome | Explosion-rated hazardous area | 304 stainless, tested to IP64/66/68 | Electrical engineering firm |
| Cisco Meraki | MV53X | Hazardous-location rated | Stainless steel, custom optic path | Cisco Meraki deployment |
| Photron (high-speed imaging) | FASTCAM NOVA S16 | Class I, Division 1 | 304 stainless | Spaceflight technology facility |
The Photron project is the clearest illustration of why the housing-first approach matters. A FASTCAM NOVA S16 is a scientific high-speed camera, not a security product, and no manufacturer sells an explosion proof version of it. The client needed that exact instrument inside a Class I, Division 1 area. Because the certification lives in the enclosure, the instrument did not have to change.
Project Example: Verkada Cameras in a Class I, Division 1 Refinery
A specialty oil refinery running roughly 26,500 barrels per day of highly hydrotreated products needed continuous visual oversight of process areas classified Class I, Division 1. Its security team had already standardised on Verkada for cloud management and AI analytics through the Verkada Command platform, and did not want a separate, isolated camera system for the hazardous zones — which is precisely what a catalogue explosion proof camera would have forced.
2M Technology designed and manufactured custom housings for the Verkada CF83-E fisheye and CB52-E bullet cameras, certified to Class I, Division 1, Groups A and B, T6. The Groups A/B requirement reflects hydrogen present in the hydrotreating process, and T6 caps surface temperature at 85 °C. Housings were built from corrosion-resistant 304 stainless steel and rated IP68 for total dust exclusion and prolonged water immersion. The engineering problem was not the enclosure shell but the combination: containing any internal ignition, holding the T6 surface limit with powered electronics inside, and preserving the optical and network performance the Verkada analytics depend on.
The outcome was a single unified surveillance estate. Hazardous-area cameras appear in the same Verkada Command interface as the rest of the site, under full explosion-rated compliance, with no second VMS to license, train on or maintain. Full detail is in the refinery case study.
Specifying a Custom Explosion Proof Camera: What We Need From You
An accurate design starts from site conditions rather than a product list. These are the inputs our engineers work from, and gathering them before a conversation shortens the design cycle considerably.
- Area classification — Class and Division, or Zone, with the gas group and required T-rating. If a classification drawing exists, that is the single most useful document you can send.
- Camera platform already in use — Verkada, Cisco Meraki, Axis, Ubiquiti UniFi, Hanwha, Uniview or another. Keeping one VMS across hazardous and non-hazardous areas is usually the largest operational saving available.
- Corrosion environment — coastal salt, hydrogen sulphide, chlorides or washdown chemicals decide between 304 and 316L stainless steel.
- Ingress and washdown regime — IP66 suits driven rain and hose-down; IP68 is required where immersion or heavy pressure washing occurs.
- Temperature range and solar load — ambient extremes and direct sun drive sunshade design, and in some cases vortex or water cooling.
- Power and network — PoE availability, cable gland type, conduit seals, and whether fibre is needed for distance or isolation.
- Field of view and mounting — pole, wall or structure, working distance, and whether PTZ coverage or fixed multi-sensor coverage fits the task.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the camera or the housing what carries the explosion-proof certification?
The housing. Certification applies to the enclosure assembly, which is designed so that any spark, arc or explosion originating inside is contained and cooled as it escapes through engineered flame paths, never igniting the surrounding atmosphere. This is the Ex d flameproof concept. It is why a standard commercial camera can be deployed compliantly in a hazardous area, and why your choice of camera platform need not be dictated by whatever happens to exist in an explosion proof catalogue.
Can you make my existing Verkada, Meraki or UniFi cameras explosion proof?
In most cases yes, and it is the majority of what we do. We have delivered certified housings for Verkada CF83-E, CB52-E and CD62-E cameras, the Cisco Meraki MV53X, and a Photron FASTCAM NOVA S16 scientific high-speed camera. The deciding factors are the camera body dimensions, heat output, optical requirements and cable entry. Send us the model number and the area classification and we can confirm feasibility quickly.
What is the difference between Class I Division 1 and Division 2?
Division 1 means an explosive atmosphere is present during normal operation, either continuously or intermittently. Division 2 means it is present only under abnormal conditions, such as equipment failure or a containment breach. Division 1 is substantially more demanding and more expensive to satisfy. Because NEC Division 1 covers both Zone 0 and Zone 1 under the IEC system, a housing certified for Zone 1 does not automatically satisfy a Zone 0 location.
Do I need ATEX, IECEx or NEC certification?
It depends on where the equipment is installed and who inspects it. North American facilities are generally governed by NEC Articles 500–506 and enforced by OSHA. European sites require ATEX. IECEx is the international scheme, is widely accepted elsewhere, and is often specified by multinational operators who want one standard across their portfolio. Projects spanning several regions are best designed against the most demanding applicable requirement from the start.
What does a T-rating actually constrain?
It caps the maximum surface temperature the equipment may reach, and that cap must sit below the auto-ignition temperature of the gas in the area. T6, the most conservative class, limits surface temperature to 85 °C. For a camera housing this is a genuine design constraint rather than paperwork, because the camera, the heater and any PTZ motor all generate heat inside a sealed stainless enclosure that must shed it without exceeding the limit.
Should the housing be 304 or 316L stainless steel?
304 stainless is appropriate for most inland industrial environments and is what we used on the refinery, electrical and spaceflight projects above. 316L adds molybdenum, which substantially improves resistance to chlorides and to hydrogen sulphide. Specify 316L for coastal and offshore installations, sour gas service, and aggressive chemical washdown areas. The cost difference is small relative to the cost of replacing a corroded enclosure in a live hazardous area.
How long does a custom explosion proof camera project take?
Lead time depends on whether an existing housing design fits the chosen camera or a new design is required, and on the certification evidence the site demands. Projects reusing a proven design for a known camera model move considerably faster than a first-of-kind integration such as the Photron high-speed camera. We give a realistic schedule as part of the design proposal rather than a generic figure, because the certification step is the variable that matters most.
What does a custom explosion proof camera cost?
Pricing is quote-based because every unit is engineered to a specific classification, camera body, material and ingress requirement, so there is no meaningful list price. The main cost drivers are area classification (Division 1 costs more than Division 2), gas group, T-rating, stainless grade, whether active cooling is required, and unit quantity. For how hazardous-area ratings drive cost and specification generally, see our explosion proof ratings guide.
Can hazardous-area cameras run on the same VMS as the rest of my site?
Yes, and this is usually the strongest argument for the housing-first approach. Because the camera inside the enclosure is a standard model from your existing platform, it registers with your existing VMS like any other device. The refinery project put Class I, Division 1 cameras into the same Verkada Command interface the rest of the facility already used, avoiding a second system entirely.
Do you provide certification documentation for inspection?
Yes. Hazardous-area installations are inspected, and documentation is part of the deliverable rather than an afterthought. We supply the certification and construction evidence appropriate to the standard the site is held to, so the authority having jurisdiction can verify compliance. Clarifying which standard and which inspecting body applies at design time avoids rework later.
Which industries do you build explosion proof cameras for?
Oil and gas production and refining, petrochemical and chemical plants, wastewater treatment, grain and bulk material handling, paint and coating facilities, battery and hydrogen installations, mining, and research facilities handling volatile compounds. The common factor is a classified area, not an industry label. We work with industrial, commercial, government and institutional sites.
Speak With an Engineer About Your Hazardous Area
If you are specifying an explosion proof camera for a Class I, Division 1 or Division 2 area, the fastest route to an accurate answer is a conversation with the engineers who design the housings. Send your area classification and the camera platform you want to keep, and we will tell you what is feasible. 2M Technology is based in Grand Prairie, Texas, holds Texas Security License B15309, and serves industrial, commercial, government and institutional sites across the United States. Request a system design, or call (214) 988-4302.
Ready to Build Your Custom Explosion Proof Camera?
If you’re searching for the best custom explosion proof camera for your hazardous location, you can find it at 2M Technology. We’ll help you build a solution that not only protects your site but also meets all necessary certifications and standards. Get started today with a free quote by contacting us at sales@2mtechnology.net or +1 (214) 988-4302.
