Overview
In the high-stakes world of industrial electrical contracting, safety is the primary concern. The client, a leading electrical and data communications firm based in Michigan, specializes in residential, commercial, and industrial electrical installations. One of their recent projects involved the deployment of a surveillance system within a hazardous zone, where standard electronics pose a significant ignition risk.
2M Technology was tasked with the design and manufacture of a custom explosion-proof Verkada housing, allowing the firm to safely integrate a Verkada CD62-E camera into a hazardous-rated environment.
The Challenge
Visibility in Volatile Environments
The electrical firm’s end-user requested the Verkada ecosystem for its intuitive cloud management and AI-powered analytics, specifically choosing the CD62-E outdoor dome camera for its high-resolution intelligence. However, there was a major obstacle: standard commercial cameras cannot be installed in classified areas due to the risk of igniting flammable vapors or dust. Since Verkada does not natively offer an explosion-proof version of the CD62-E, the project needed a custom solution to transform the standard camera into an explosion-proof camera.
Verkada CD62-E Dome Camera Key Specifications
- Video Resolution: 4K
- Lens: Varifocal, motorized zoom
- Focal Length: 2.8-8 mm
- Optical Zoom: 2.86×
- Field of View:
- H: 116°-41° (100°-40°)
- V: 62°-23° (57°-23°)
- D: 136°-47° (106°-45°)
- IR Range: 30 m / 98 ft
- Weather Rating: IP67
- Impact Rating: IK10
- Audio: One-way, Built-in microphone
- Alerts: Camera status, motion detection, people detection, vehicle detection, Person of Interest detection, crowd detection, line-crossing detection, loitering detection, AI-powered alerts
- People Analytics: People search, attribute search, face search, Occupancy Trends, motion search, trajectory analysis, selective face blurring, AI-powered search
- Vehicle Analytics: Vehicle search, attribute search, motion search, trajectory analysis, Occupancy Trends, AI-powered search
Integrating Intelligence with Explosion-Proof Safety
The electrical contractor needed a custom housing that would allow their client to utilize their preferred software while adhering to strict site safety regulations. To ensure a safe and successful deployment for this installation, the project demanded an explosion-proof Verkada housing that could:
- Ensure Stringent Certification: Meet strict NEC safety standards to prevent internal electrical sparks from igniting the surrounding hazardous atmosphere.
- Maintain Optical & Audio Integrity: Protect the lens with a curved, explosion-proof glass interface that preserves 4K imaging clarity, motorized zoom, and audio recording without distorting the wide-angle view or causing IR glare.
- Support AI Functionality: Provide a thermally stable environment so the camera’s internal processors can run heavy analytics without overheating.
- Guarantee an Absolute Seal: Survive Michigan’s extreme weather, temperature fluctuations, construction dust, and heavy moisture through a fail-safe, airtight seal.
Why 2M Technology
The client chose 2M Technology for our extensive experience in designing and manufacturing custom explosion-proof Verkada housings. This specialized service gives our clients the freedom to deploy and adapt any security technology safely for high-stakes industrial use.
Unlike generic off-the-shelf enclosures, 2M Technology can manufacture custom housings for specific camera models that lack explosion-proof equivalents. We were entrusted with this project because of our proven track record in delivering bespoke enclosures that maintain the full functionality of a camera’s onboard sensors and AI processors within a ruggedized, certified shell.
The Solution
2M Technology designed and manufactured a custom explosion-proof Verkada housing tailored specifically for the CD62-E Outdoor Dome Camera. This solution transformed a standard enterprise camera into an industrial powerhouse, perfectly accommodating the device’s dimensions while preserving every original feature.
Precision Internal Mounting
Since the Verkada CD62-E includes its own mounting base, our team developed a custom internal mounting plate to lock the camera securely inside the housing. This dedicated plate enhances stability, holding the camera firmly in place and ensuring perfect optical alignment even in high-vibration industrial settings.
Premium Material Construction
The explosion-proof Verkada housing is made from heavy-duty Stainless Steel 304, offering superior structural durability and impact resistance. This high-grade material also provides maximum protection against corrosion from aggressive industrial chemicals, salt air, and water exposure, making it an ideal choice for long-term deployment in the harshest environments.
Multi-Certified Hazardous Protection
Designed for safety in the most volatile conditions, the housing is certified for hazardous-rated locations with IIC Gb, Exeb IIC Gb, and Exta IIIC Da Ex-Proof markings. These ratings confirm that the enclosure meets “increased safety” (Ex e) and dust-ignition-proof standards, making it fully compliant for environments containing both explosive gases and combustible dust.
Triple Ingress Protection Rating
To guarantee absolute protection against the elements, the explosion-proof Verkada housing was rigorously tested to IP64, IP66, and IP68 standards. It is officially rated for continuous submersion at 2 meters for 48 hours, providing a fail-safe seal that ensures the internal 4K optics remain bone-dry and free of dust particles.
Extreme Temperature Resilience
The enclosure features internal temperature regulation designed to perform reliably across a massive thermal range, from -60°C to +100°C. This extreme resilience allows the camera to function reliably in any setting, from the freezing conditions of cryogenic storage facilities to the intense, radiating heat of industrial smelting and processing plants.
Preserving the “Smart” in Surveillance
Unlike generic housings that can obstruct sensors or degrade signals, the 2M design ensures the end-user retains full, unhindered access to the camera’s native intelligence. By maintaining a clear field of view and signal transparency, the enclosure supports cloud connectivity to Verkada’s Command platform and its full suite of AI-powered analytics. Additionally, the design includes integrated support for the camera’s built-in microphone to capture high-fidelity audio for comprehensive incident documentation and situational awareness.
Results
The deployment of the custom explosion-proof Verkada housing helped the electrical contracting firm to deliver a “best of both worlds” scenario for their client: the ability to utilize their preferred industry-leading cloud surveillance platform inside a hazardous-rated zone without violating any safety protocols.
Key outcomes for the end-user include:
- Zero Intelligence Compromise: The end-user maintained the advanced AI, people counting, and cloud-archiving capabilities of the Verkada system while adhering to industry safety mandates for hazardous locations.
- Enhanced Worker Safety: AI-powered alerts and remote visibility allow management to oversee safety protocols in volatile environments, providing critical situational awareness without requiring personnel to physically enter high-risk zones.
- Compliance Success: By meeting all safety requirements for hazardous locations, the explosion-proof Verkada housing granted the electrical firm the necessary approval to fulfill the project requirements on time and within all safety guidelines.
- Operational Accountability: High-resolution 4K imaging provides the end-user with a clear record of work performed on high-value energized equipment, reducing liability and improving long-term project documentation.
- Proven Field Reliability: Despite constant exposure to extreme Michigan weather and intense industrial vibrations, the camera has not needed any maintenance or resealing, thanks to the protection of the explosion-proof Verkada housing.
Through this partnership, the end-user now maintains full explosion-rated compliance while leveraging the most advanced surveillance technology available, ensuring their facility remains as safe as it is secure.
