Preliminary observations

Technological knowledge, which can change rapidly, must be taken into account as far as possible and be utilised immediately.

The essential health and safety requirements shall apply only in so far as they are necessary for the safe and reliable functioning and operation of those devices with respect to the risks of explosion.

Common requirements for Equipment and protective systems General requirements

Principles of integrated explosion safety

Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres must be designed from the point of view of integrated explosion safety. In this connection, the manufacturer must take measures:

— above all, if possible, to prevent the formation of explosive atmospheres which may be produced or released by equipment and by protective systems themselves,

— to prevent the ignition of explosive atmospheres, taking into account the nature of every electrical and non- electrical source of ignition,

— should an explosion nevertheless occur which could directly or indirectly endanger persons and, as the case may be, domestic animals or property, to halt it immediately and/or to limit the range of explosion flames and explosion pressures to a sufficient level of safety.

Equipment and protective systems must be designed and manufactured after due analysis of possible operating faults in order as far as possible to preclude dangerous situations. Any misuse which can reasonably be anticipated must be taken into account.

Special checking and maintenance conditions

Equipment and protective systems subject to special checking and maintenance conditions must be designed and constructed with such conditions in mind.

Surrounding area conditions

Equipment and protective systems must be so designed and constructed as to be capable of coping with actual or foreseeable surrounding area conditions.

Marking

All equipment and protective systems must be marked legibly and indelibly with the following minimum particulars:

— name, registered trade name or registered trade mark, and address of the manufacturer,

— CE marking (see Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 765/2008),

— designation of series or type,

— batch or serial number, if any,

— year of construction,

— the specific marking of explosion protection category Ex followed by the symbol of the equipment-group and category,

— for equipment-group II, the letter ‘G’ (concerning explosive atmospheres caused by gases, vapours or mists), and/or

— the letter ‘D’ (concerning explosive atmospheres caused by dust). Furthermore, where necessary, they must also be marked with all information essential to their safe use.

Instructions

All equipment and protective systems must be accompanied by instructions, including at least the following particulars:

— a recapitulation of the information with which the equipment or protective system is marked, except for the batch or serial number, together with any appropriate additional information to facilitate maintenance (e.g. address of the repairer, etc.);

— instructions for safe:

— putting into service,

— use,

— assembling and dismantling,

— maintenance (servicing and emergency repair),

— installation,

— adjustment;

— where necessary, an indication of the danger areas in front of pressure-relief devices;

— where necessary, training instructions;

— details which allow a decision to be taken beyond any doubt as to whether an item of equipment in a specific category or a protective system can be used safely in the intended area under the expected operating conditions;

— electrical and pressure parameters, maximum surface temperatures and other limit values;

— where necessary, special conditions of use, including particulars of possible misuse which experience has shown might occur;

— where necessary, the essential characteristics of tools which may be fitted to the equipment or protective system.

The instructions must contain the drawings and diagrams necessary for the putting into service, maintenance, inspection, checking of correct operation and, where appropriate, repair of the equipment or protective system, together with all useful instructions, in particular with regard to safety.

Literature describing the equipment or protective system must not contradict the instructions with regard to safety aspects.

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Keep up good work!

Arpad

exprofessional.com

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