When temperatures climb inside a confined tank, ship’s hold, or offshore module, an Ex air conditioner is the only safe way to cool the space. Standard air conditioning units carry electrical parts that can spark, and near flammable gas, vapour, or dust that spark is enough to trigger a serious incident. This guide covers how the Ex air conditioner works, what makes it safe, and where teams across the UAE and GCC put it to use.
What Is an Ex Air Conditioner?
An Ex air conditioner is a portable cooling unit built specifically for classified hazardous areas — Zone 1 and Zone 2 gas atmospheres, and Zone 21 and Zone 22 dust atmospheres. The SA Cyclone Ex air conditioner from SAE Equip, available through Daly Middle East, is fully ATEX, IECEx, and UKEX certified as a complete system, not just on individual parts. That means it can be wheeled straight into a classified zone without extra risk-assessment headaches.
Ordinary portable air conditioners are built for offices, not explosive atmospheres. They lack spark-proof motors, sealed electrical enclosures, and certified overpressure and leak-detection systems. Bringing uncertified cooling equipment into a classified zone is a genuine safety hazard, which is exactly why a unit exists as its own certified product category.
Key Features of the Ex Air Conditioner
- 11kW cooling output at 400V, with a cooled airflow of 690m³ per hour
- Rated for ambient temperatures up to 50°C, well suited to Gulf and Middle East climates
- IP65 rated protection against dust and water ingress
- Marine-grade construction, built to resist offshore and coastal corrosion
- Typical cooled area of 240m³, enough for tanks, vessels, and confined workspaces
- Multiple ducting configurations (20cm, 30cm, and 40cm) for flexible deployment
- Patent-protected design, engineered and manufactured in the UK
Certifications and Built-In Safety Protection
Every unit in the SA Cyclone range ships with layered protection: refrigerant overpressure protection, refrigerant leak detection, coil frost protection, tipping protection, vibration dampening, motor overcurrent protection, and phase rotation protection. These features are what let the unit earn full EX certification as a complete system rather than relying on individually certified parts bolted together afterwards. You can review the manufacturer’s full certification data on the official SAE Equip Ex air conditioner product page.
Ex Air Conditioner Technical Specifications
| Cooling Power | 11kW |
| Operating Temperature Range | -20°C to +50°C |
| Cooled Airflow | 690m³/h @ 50Hz |
| Dimensions | 800L x 700W x 1290H mm |
| Weight | 200kg (excl. cable) |
| Current Draw @ 440VAC | Start: 22A / Run: 15A |
| Noise Level | 83dBA @ 1m |
| Power Supply | 3Ph+E or 3Ph+N+E |
| Certification | ATEX, IECEx, UKEX — Zones 1, 2, 21 & 22 |
Where the Ex Air Conditioner Is Used
Teams reach for a unit whenever a classified space needs fast, certified cooling. Typical applications include:
- Offshore oil and gas platforms
- Refineries and petrochemical plants
- Confined space entry — tanks and vessels
- Shipbuilding and vessel repair
- Utilities and power generation facilities
- Aviation, rail, nuclear, defence, and pharmaceutical sites needing temporary cooling
Why Choose the Ex Air Conditioner from Daly Middle East
Daly Middle East supplies the SAE Equip Ex air conditioner across the UAE and wider GCC, backed by local stock, rental options, and technical support for hazardous area projects. If your site regularly hits ambient temperatures above 40°C, a standard cooling plan will not hold up — the unit is rated to keep working reliably up to 50°C. See the dedicated SAE Ex Air Conditioner & Dehumidifier page for GCC availability, or browse our wider portable ventilation systems range.
How to Choose the Right Ex Air Conditioner for Your Site
Not every hazardous area cooling job looks the same, so it pays to work through a few questions before you specify a unit. Start with the zone classification of the space you need to cool — confirm whether it is Zone 1 or Zone 2 gas, Zone 21 or Zone 22 dust, or a combination, since this determines which certified configuration you need. Next, look at the volume of the space: the SA Cyclone unit is rated for a typical cooled area of around 240m³, so a larger tank or module may need multiple units or a ducted configuration to distribute airflow evenly.
Ambient temperature matters just as much as the space itself. In much of the UAE and wider GCC, summer ambient temperatures regularly exceed 45°C, so it is worth confirming that any unit you specify is genuinely rated for continuous operation at those extremes rather than just short bursts. The SA Cyclone unit is rated to 50°C ambient, which gives a useful safety margin over a typical Gulf summer.
Power supply is the other practical constraint. Confirm what supply is available on site — 3Ph+E or 3Ph+N+E — and whether your generator or distribution board can handle the unit’s startup current. Finally, think about ducting: the 20cm, 30cm, and 40cm configuration options mean the same unit can be adapted to a tight tank entry point or a larger open module, so match the ducting to your access constraints before the unit arrives on site.
Renting vs Buying an Ex Air Conditioner in the UAE and GCC
For a single shutdown, turnaround, or short-term project, hiring a unit is usually the more efficient choice — it avoids tying up capital in equipment that may sit idle between projects, and Daly Middle East’s local stock means units can typically be on site quickly without the lead time of importing certified equipment from overseas. For contractors running cooling operations regularly across multiple sites, purchasing outright often makes more financial sense over a 12 to 24 month horizon, particularly when paired with a maintenance plan to keep the certification and safety systems in good order.
Whichever route you take, working with a local supplier who stocks genuine, fully certified units — rather than uncertified imports — protects both your safety case and your project schedule.
Ex Air Conditioner FAQs
What zones is the unit certified for?
The SA Cyclone unit is certified for Zone 1 and Zone 2 gas atmospheres and Zone 21 and Zone 22 dust atmospheres under ATEX, IECEx, and UKEX standards.
How large a space can a unit cool?
The unit is rated to cool a typical area of approximately 240m³, making it well suited to tanks, vessels, and enclosed workspaces.
Can the unit handle high ambient temperatures?
Yes. It is rated to operate reliably in ambient temperatures up to 50°C, which makes it a strong fit for hot climates such as the UAE and wider Gulf region.
Is the unit portable?
Yes. It is a plug-and-play, wheeled portable unit designed for rapid deployment and redeployment between sites and work areas.
Can I hire a unit instead of buying one?
Yes. Daly Middle East offers both hire and purchase options for the unit, which suits short-term shutdowns and turnarounds as well as longer-term site requirements.
How quickly can a unit be deployed on site?
Because it is a plug-and-play unit, a unit can typically be wheeled into position, connected to power, and running within minutes once ducting is fitted.
Ready to specify a unit for your site? Contact Daly Middle East for a tailored quote, or view the units on our SAE Ex Air Conditioner page.