Explosive Confined
Space Cleaning, Maintenance and Inspection Services
Under what
conditions can an explosion occur?
There is a risk of explosion when several
elements are present:
An oxidant: Oxygen over 23% in the air,
for example......
A fuel: Gas or vapors: hydrocarbons, solvents, varnishes, gas,
alcohol, chemical products, agents for manufacture of plastics, powders and
dust: magnesium, flour, aluminum, sulfur, cellulose, cereals, carbon, wood,
milk, resins, sugars, starch, polystyrenes, fertilizer, etc...... a hot spot or
a source of combustion
For example, when filling a grain silo, the
concentration of dust is very high. The environment then is dangerous: a rise
in temperature, or even a spark, can trigger an explosion.
If a risk of explosion is identified in an
environment (gas or dust), a safety requirement is imposed for the use of
equipment that is specifically designed to function without becoming a potential
source of combustion. ATEX equipment offers different types of protection
designed to diminish the risk of explosion.
What is the ATEX?
The ATEX regulation is a European directive which requires all heads of organizations to fully understand the risks related to certain explosive environments. To do this, an evaluation of the risk of explosion in a company is required in order to identify any locations where explosive environments could form, and then to put in place the means to avoid explosion.
How do you choose equipment that is adapted for an environment at risk of
explosion?
ATEX environments are subdivided into three zones:
- zones 0, 1 or 2 for gases
- zones 20, 21 or 22 for dust
Our equipment is rated to Ex ATEX zones 0, 1 &
2 and all IP zones 20, 21 and 22.
| Zone classification | ATEX classification required for equipment (for Group II, above-ground industry) |
|---|---|
| Zone 0 (gas) Zone 20 (dust) PERMANENT RISK |
Category 1 VERY HIGH LEVEL OF PROTECTION |
| The explosive mix is present constantly or for a long period of time | |
| Zone 1 (gas) Zone 21 (dust) FREQUENT RISK |
Category 2 HIGH LEVEL OF PROTECTION |
| An explosive mix may form under normal working conditions | |
| Zone 2 (gas) Zone 22 (dust) OCCASIONAL RISK |
Category 3 NORMAL LEVEL OF PROTECTION |
| An explosive mix has a small chance of forming and would exist only for a short period | |
We have over 8 years experience in working in Safe Working in Confined Spaces with Rescue
