Pelco EXP2230-67 2MP 30x Explosion-Proof PTZ Camera
The Pelco EXP2230-67 is an explosion-proof PTZ camera designed for monitored surveillance in Class I Division 1 and ATEX Zone 1/21 hazardous environments. It combines 2MP imaging at 60 fps with 30x optical zoom and continuous 360° pan capability, delivering remote coverage of petrochemical facilities, refineries, pharmaceutical plants, and grain elevators without sacrificing detail or responsiveness. Built entirely from 316L stainless steel with ATEX, IECEx, and UL certification, it operates across a -40°C to +60°C temperature range — from arctic cold storage to high-temperature process areas. The camera is powered by 120VAC mains supply, eliminating the complexity of PoE infrastructure in hazardous-rated installations.
Key Features
- 30x Optical Zoom: 4.3–129 mm focal length, 77° wide to 2.6° tele HFOV. Enables identification at 300+ meters on a single pan-tilt platform, reducing camera count in large perimeter deployments.
- 360° Continuous Pan with 256 Presets: Full horizontal coverage with programmable guard-tour patterns and alarm-triggered jump-to-preset functionality. No dead zones in facility monitoring.
- 2MP Resolution at 60 fps: 1920 × 1080 CMOS sensor captures motion smoothly across high-speed vehicle tracking and conveyor-line inspection scenarios.
- 0.035 Lux Monochrome Sensitivity: Near-darkness operation with 0.1 lux color fallback. Paired with 130 dB SureVision WDR, handles backlit dock areas and interior plant floors with extreme contrast.
- Triple Video Codec Support: H.265 (40–60% bitrate reduction vs. H.264), H.264, and Motion JPEG dual-stream. Integrates with any standards-based VMS without transcoding overhead.
- ATEX / IECEx / UL Explosion-Proof Certification: T6 temperature class. Meets North American (UL/cUL) and European (ATEX, IECEx) safety standards. No re-certification required when crossing markets.
- IP66 / IP67 / IP68 / IP69 Ingress Protection: Sealed against dust, rain, high-pressure wash-down, and submersion. Installed in corrosive chemical storage or washdown-intensive food processing without protective enclosures.
- ONVIF Multi-Profile Compliance: Profiles S, T, G, and M. Full interoperability with Genetec, Milestone, Avigilon, and proprietary Pelco integration stacks. Metadata-rich streaming for edge analytics and VMS event filtering.
- On-Camera Smart Analytics: Built-in event detection (loitering, line-crossing, object removal) reduces false alarms and NVR processing load in 24/7 monitoring scenarios.
- 120VAC Mains Power with 5-Year Warranty: Hardwired 120VAC supply simplifies electrical work in hazardous-rated installations. Factory warranty covers manufacturing defects across all certified markets.
The EXP2230-67's 1/2.8-inch CMOS sensor and SureVision 130 dB WDR create a robust foundation for both day and night operation. Extreme low-light performance (0.035 lux monochrome) is essential in facilities where artificial lighting cannot be installed due to explosion-proof restrictions — operators can monitor dark storage tanks, covered material piles, and equipment bays without supplementary illumination. The continuous 360° pan eliminates mechanical limit switches, allowing smooth coverage of sprawling perimeters without operator intervention. Built-in heater and wiper keep the optics clear in rain, snow, and chemical mist, critical where maintenance access is restricted by hazardous-area work permits.
Integration is straightforward on any ONVIF-compliant platform (Milestone, Genetec, Avigilon). Dual-stream H.265 + H.264 transmission means recording storage footprint stays manageable even at 24/7 frame rates. The camera's on-board Smart Analytics module can be configured to filter events (e.g., loitering near confined spaces, unauthorized entry to explosive material storage) and trigger alarms only on genuine threats — reducing operator alert fatigue and false-positive noise. If your facility already runs a Pelco VideoXpert or Endura NVR, native integration includes preset recall, guard-tour automation, and direct alarm linkage; third-party VMS installations use ONVIF event metadata instead.
Deployment in hazardous locations carries unique constraints: electrical installation must follow NEC Article 500 (Class I locations) or ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU standards, typically requiring certified contractors. The EXP2230-67's UL and ATEX marks eliminate costly re-engineering or parallel installations of non-certified alternatives. 120VAC mains supply (rather than PoE) means you'll run heavier gauge electrical conduit, but the tradeoff is elimination of PoE+ power limitations and simplification of hazardous-area certification audits — inspectors see a single hardwired camera rather than a PoE injector/switch stack that may require re-rating. IP68/IP69 housing and stainless steel construction ensure 10+ year asset life in corrosive chemical environments (petroleum, ammonia, chlorine storage) where standard aluminum cameras degrade within 3–5 years. Total cost of ownership is driven by longevity, not incremental maintenance or emergency replacements in high-risk settings.
The EXP2230-67 is ATEX Category 3G and IECEx Group II Category 3G certified, meeting the legal baseline for permanent installation in Class I Division 1 and ATEX Zone 1 environments across North America and EU jurisdictions. It ships with factory Manufacturer Warranty and is sourced direct from the manufacturer. This camera is purpose-built for integrators and end-user security teams whose primary concern is legal compliance and uninterrupted monitoring in restricted facilities — choose it when explosion-proof certification and low-light sensitivity outweigh cost, and when the operational environment explicitly forbids non-rated equipment. For non-hazardous applications requiring only high-zoom PTZ performance, a standard outdoor camera offers better economics; for hazardous locations, this is the baseline choice. Learn more in the Pelco catalog.
Marty AllisonPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've seen the EXP2230-67 deployed across chemical processing plants, fuel terminals, and pharmaceutical manufacturing sites where standard PTZ cameras are simply not legal. The critical differentiator is the combination of explosion-proof certification (ATEX, IECEx, UL) and genuine low-light performance — most integrators assume 30x zoom and all-weather housing are the hard requirements, but in hazardous locations, certifications and 0.035 lux B/W sensitivity are non-negotiable. The camera's 130 dB SureVision WDR handles the real nightmare scenario: a dark tank farm lit only by sodium vapor lamps or moonlight, with high-contrast metal piping and reflective surfaces creating backlit zones that would blow out a standard sensor. We've also found that the continuous 360° pan without mechanical stops is a massive operational win — no need to reprogram limits or worry about impact damage at pan/tilt boundaries. The triple-codec support (H.265, H.264, MJPEG) keeps integration flexible; even older Milestone or Genetec systems without H.265 support fall back to H.264 without missing a beat. On the downside, 120VAC hardwired power means you can't daisy-chain power like you would with PoE — each camera requires its own electrical circuit, and hazardous-area contractors will charge premium rates for conduit runs. The 26.5 kg weight also demands robust pole or wall brackets; installation in corrosive salt-air or chemical-vapor environments accelerates bracket rust unless you specify 316L stainless hardware throughout. We typically recommend the EXP2230-67 for facility-scale perimeter deployments (refineries, tank farms, grain silos) where the cost premium for certification and installation is absorbed into the capital budget; for smaller sites or non-hazardous applications, ROI tilts toward standard PTZ cameras.
Technical Highlights:
- 0.035 Lux Monochrome + 130 dB SureVision WDR: This pairing is rare in certified explosion-proof hardware. In near-total darkness (tank interiors, covered conveyors), the camera still delivers usable monochrome frames; switch to color during twilight or artificial light, and SureVision crushes the dynamic range issues that plague standard sensors in backlit plant floors. Real-world consequence: a single camera covers a fuel tank perimeter 24/7 without supplementary lighting, lowering capex and eliminating maintenance.
- 30x Optical Zoom (4.3–129 mm) with 360° Continuous Pan: The 2.6° tele HFOV reads license plates and facial features at 300+ meters, yet the wide 77° angle captures the full entrance gate in one preset. Continuous pan (no mechanical end-stop) means the operator can rotate through a 360° guard-tour without manual intervention. Deployment impact: large perimeter facilities (petrochemical complexes, mining operations) reduce camera count by 40–60% versus fixed installations.
- H.265 Dual-Stream with H.264 Fallback: Bitrate savings of 40–60% vs. H.264 at the same quality. In a 24/7 facility-wide deployment, this cuts storage requirements and network bandwidth measurably. Fallback to H.264 ensures backward compatibility with older VMS platforms and PoE-constrained networks without transcoding overhead.
- ATEX / IECEx / UL Multi-Certification with T6 Temperature Class: The camera meets both North American (UL/cUL) and European (ATEX, IECEx) explosion-proof standards, eliminating re-engineering and parallel installations across markets. T6 rating permits operation in environments up to +60°C (equipment surface temperature 85°C), common in sun-baked outdoor tank farms and heated process areas.
- IP68 + 316L Stainless Steel Enclosure: Withstands washdown, submersion, and corrosive chemical vapors (petroleum, ammonia, chlorine). In coastal refineries or salt-spray zones, aluminum-housed cameras fail within 3–5 years; stainless IP68 housing lasts 10+ years with minimal maintenance.
- ONVIF Profile S, T, G, M Support: Full VMS interoperability — Genetec, Milestone, Avigilon, and Pelco VideoXpert/Endura all speak the same language. Metadata-rich ONVIF Profile T streaming enables on-camera Smart Analytics filtering, reducing false-alert noise from wind, vegetation, and reflective surfaces.
Deployment Considerations:
- 120VAC Hardwired Power, Not PoE: Each camera requires its own electrical branch circuit. In hazardous-area installations, this means certified conduit runs and electrician labor — not a plug-and-play daisy-chain. Budget 2–3 hours per camera for electrical rough-in in compliance with NEC Article 500 or ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU standards.
- 26.5 kg Weight and Mounting: Mount must be rated for the camera plus pan/tilt torque loads. Standard aluminum pole brackets corrode in chemical-vapor environments; specify 316L stainless steel or hot-dip galvanized hardware from day one, or plan bracket replacement every 3–5 years in aggressive sites.
- Hazardous-Area Contractor Requirement: Installation and certification work must be performed by electricians and integrators familiar with Class I Division 1 or ATEX Zone 1 compliance. Non-certified personnel cannot legally install the camera or sign off on the installation. Budget 15–20% premium labor cost versus standard outdoor PTZ installations.
- Low-Light Trade-Off at Color vs. Monochrome: At 0.035 lux, the camera operates in monochrome (B/W) mode. Color is possible down to ~0.1 lux, but forensic detail (license plate, clothing color) requires supplementary lighting or daytime operation. In perpetually dark tank interiors, expect monochrome output even with the low-light rating.
- ONVIF Profile G (Real-Time Media Streaming Capabilities): Ensures smooth, low-latency pan/tilt control and preset recall over WAN links. If your VMS is remote or integrators use third-party clients, verify ONVIF Profile G support in your control software — older systems may not fully leverage fast pan/tilt response.
The EXP2230-67 is the go-to PTZ for integrators and facility security teams tasked with hazardous-location monitoring in petrochemical, pharmaceutical, grain, and fuel-storage environments. It solves the certification + low-light + zoom equation in a single form factor, eliminating the need for expensive custom enclosures or parallel non-certified systems. Specify this camera when legal compliance and 24/7 operational visibility in harsh, low-light conditions are the primary drivers — and when your budget can absorb premium installation labor and hardwired electrical work. Explore the full Pelco catalog for additional hazardous-area and standard outdoor options.
