A system for selectively isolating a communication channel (110, 112, 210, 212) of configurable or programmable IO modules (122, 126) from a field device located in a hazardous area, the system including: configurable or programmable IO modules (122, 126) adapted to be coupled to the field device and supporting respective communication channels (110, 112, 210, 212), wherein each of the IO modules (122, 126) comprises, or is connected to an intrinsic barrier device (124, 128) for isolating a communication channel (110, 112, 210, 212) from the field device, each of the intrinsic barrier devices (124, 128) comprising: a front end including a programming input terminal being adapted to receive an IO type configuration signal for an analog input, an analog output, a digital input or a digital output; a processor to process said received IO type configuration signal and having an associated memory device storing an intrinsic barrier IO type configuration program, said processor when programmed with said program, responsive to said IO type configuration signal configures said intrinsic barrier device (124, 128) to operate as one of analog input, analog output, digital input, or digital output for supporting communications through said intrinsic barrier device over the respective communication channel (110, 112, 210, 212) between said IO module (122, 126) and said field device; in response to the IO type configuration signal containing redundant channel data, configures said intrinsic barrier device (124, 128) as a redundant intrinsic barrier device (124, 128). configurable or programmable IO modules (122, 126) adapted to be coupled to the field device and supporting respective communication channels (110, 112, 210, 212), wherein each of the IO modules (122, 126) comprises, or is connected to an intrinsic barrier device (124, 128) for isolating a communication channel (110, 112, 210, 212) from the field device, each of the intrinsic barrier devices (124, 128) comprising: a front end including a programming input terminal being adapted to receive an IO type configuration signal for an analog input, an analog output, a digital input or a digital output; a processor to process said received IO type configuration signal and having an associated memory device storing an intrinsic barrier IO type configuration program, said processor when programmed with said program, responsive to said IO type configuration signal configures said intrinsic barrier device (124, 128) to operate as one of analog input, analog output, digital input, or digital output for supporting communications through said intrinsic barrier device over the respective communication channel (110, 112, 210, 212) between said IO module (122, 126) and said field device; in response to the IO type configuration signal containing redundant channel data, configures said intrinsic barrier device (124, 128) as a redundant intrinsic barrier device (124, 128). a front end including a programming input terminal being adapted to receive an IO type configuration signal for an analog input, an analog output, a digital input or a digital output; a processor to process said received IO type configuration signal and having an associated memory device storing an intrinsic barrier IO type configuration program, said processor when programmed with said program, responsive to said IO type configuration signal configures said intrinsic barrier device (124, 128) to operate as one of analog input, analog output, digital input, or digital output for supporting communications through said intrinsic barrier device over the respective communication channel (110, 112, 210, 212) between said IO module (122, 126) and said field device; in response to the IO type configuration signal containing redundant channel data, configures said intrinsic barrier device (124, 128) as a redundant intrinsic barrier device (124, 128).