Alarm button (Van Halen and brown M&M’s)
Where is your brown M&M in relation to compliance of hazardous area industries?
#exprofessional
Compliance to Explosion Protection: A Must-Have for Hazardous Industry Site Owners
Imagine this scenario: It’s a typical workday at your facility. Machines are
possible Ex areas
Hazardous area industries are classified based on the presence of potentially explosive
5th ATEX Guideline
Recently published – April 2024 – link: https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/59156 Always very useful to
Ex shall be regulated?
In some countries, regions and the facility itself there are directives, laws,
normal operation vs Ex
Normal operation refers to the standard, expected, and safe functioning of machinery,
PSSR vs Ex
The Pre-Startup Safety Review (PSSR) is a critical component in the management of process safety. And shall be trated the same for explosion protection as well.
#exprofessional
Product or assembly
product-or-assembly
an important topic for all operational teams of possible hazardous industries.
#exprofessional
ADR vs Ex
ADR clearly defines:
It means a lorry shall be prepared for the delivery of dangerous goods, and in that case no Ex zone shall (can) be defined.
For all other operations such as loading, unloading, maintainence, repair…
YES…
Ex zone shall be defined!
Ex coordinator
The understanding and continuous support of management is essential, and shall be present and available from the 1st day of Ex issues related to site compliance.
So it shall start with design, and follow up.
Ex compliance shall be verified to the design stage. the design stage of product, site, and operation.
#exprofessional
The use of Ethylene in warehouses and cold stores
Ethylene’s Impact: – Ethylene (C2H4) is a naturally occurring gas that plays
Have to, must and should for obligation and advice
We all speak English. It is the international language for many. Standards
Ex responsibilities
Responsibility for training and competence The engineering profession is responsible for determining
How ChatGPT may have an effect on Ex compliance engineering?
ChatGPT and AI models like it could have several potential effects on
simplExcity
An industrial facility and a city itself there is not much difference.
Short Ex vocabulary
Explosion Protection: This refers to measures taken to prevent explosions in hazardous
H2
Indeed H2 = Ex. As I see this fact surprises many in many ways. Current understanding of H2 by many simply says it is flammable. Not only, amoung others it is Ex as well.
#exprofessional
Ex design chapter vs EPD
The Explosion Protection Documentation (EPD – ATEX 153) can be considered as
A possible comparison between Verification Dossier and EPD?!
The verification dossier according to IEC 60079-14 and the Explosion Protection Documentation
Questioning Ex type of discipline and competency?!
By cultivating discipline and competency, individuals and organizations can create a culture of safety, minimize accidents and injuries, and ensure a secure working environment in hazardous settings.
#exprofessional
Hot work in Ex area
“Hot work” in an Ex (Explosive Atmosphere) hazardous environment involves operations that
Ex installations in the airplane tank
check out Guidance on “EASA Fuel Tank Safety letter” it says (cut
mowing the lawn in possible Ex environment
how does it work? a decade ago we had sheeps around to
a lorry in Ex areas
can a lorry be considered as a possible ignition source in a
H2 into gas piping
Today’s challenge: H2 mixing into normal / daily gas piping network… 2-5-1o%?
is an EPD part of design?
EPD is about “It is a document that demonstrates the implementation of safety measures and procedures to protect workers in potentially explosive atmospheres during the operation of a facility. The EPD is based on the design of the facility and its equipment, but its primary focus is on ensuring the safe operation and maintenance of the facility.”
#exprofessional
Ex design stage
what is more important in terms of hazardous area compliance than a good Ex design?!
what makes a good Ex design? why is it important? how to keep it up? who can do it?
#exprofessional
ISO behind Ex
All has its sources of origin and informations. Product Ex certification: ISO
Let us learn from our history of Ex industries
Sewers explode in Guadalajara, Mexico, killing hundreds Dozens of sewer explosions in
Prevention
Primary – Secondary – Tertiary explosion protection So far we can say
risk assessment for Ex areas (what about drones?)
EN 1127-1 shall be the lead (relevant globally). it defines 13 possible
gray – blue – green – H2
H2 is a trendy topic today. Many countries and companies around do focus on it.
Ex compliance shall be covered, specially when it comes to delegation of responsibility.
How to make it Ex?
ECOsystem – Ex Controlled Organization
#exprofessional
Whose best interest is identification of Ex assets?
I am interested, because: I am a hazardous area site owner, operator,
Place of Ex
Where it belongs to? Fire protection… Worksafety… Electrical, mechanical discipline…? Interesting topic
Findings
Ex compliance is about prevention and not any real protection against recent
Ex goes LED
Short summary at the beginning of my blogpost: no more fluroscent light
Odorization of any combustible gas
A combustible gas in a distribution line must contain a natural odorant
Car repair stations are Ex?
Definetely Ex with some pre-cautions. Risk assessment and hazardous area classification shall be first in place.
#exprofessional
SAFETY PLANNING FOR HYDROGEN AND FUEL CELL PROJECTS
H2 units shall be considered as per assembly. All electrical and non.electrical Ex topics shall be taken into account.
#exprofessional
So just how dangerous is hydrogen fuel?
This article was written back in 2017. When I tell people I
IEC 60079-31:2022 RLV Redline version
Explosive atmospheres – Part 31: Equipment dust ignition protection by enclosure “t”
is it manufacturing?
Situation is the following. You are requested to assemble and install: 1)
Algeria goes Ex
💥 ATEX REGULATION ALERT💥🇩🇿 The inspection of ATEX equipment has become mandatory⚖️
Ex asset’s identification
IEC 60079-14 in chapter of Verification Dossier speaks about the ‘ID’ topic
Masterpiece…
…on the other side a good example of iec 60079-26: Examples of
Colours
So what about light blue – the recommended colour of Ex i?
Responsibility of the contractor
After the signature of the construction contract, the contractor bears the legal
Explosion protection documentation
According ATEX 137 employer of hazardous area industries shall define the Ex
H2
Sparks or certain radiations can cause a mixture of hydrogen and chlorine
Which Ex personnel competency certificate is good?
Silly question! All shall be (if not otherwise). Most important what entity
Selection of equipment
In order to select the appropriate electrical (and non.electrical) Ex equipment for
Led in a mobile / tablet supporting camera function?
Is your smartphone or a tablet containing a LED to support a
Identification and Marking of Ex Equipment that includes Ex auxiliary equipment and Ex component
Some types of Ex Equipment, such as large electric motors, are provided
CONFORMITY TO TYPE BASED ON QUALITY ASSURANCE OF THE PRODUCTION PROCESS
Under ATEX Directive this is the modul D. On the other hand
Illegalities or non compliance (all related to Ex)
What you do when you experience failures / non compliance /… related
Ex assembly or invidually sourced items?
You are on site, and you do Ex detailed inspection. There are:
Ex type of breathing and draining devices
Breathing and draining devices shall incorporate permeable elements which can withstand the
why mobile phones are banned inside refinery plants (ie petroleum plants?)
Interesting comments have been published back in 2011 – see link It
Hydrogen fuelling station safety recommendations
Mitigations which reduce the potential for the formation of a flammable mixture:
Risks arising from software
Reference should be made to the various implementations of EN 61508-3 Functional
Riddle of Ex
1. You have an Ex h certified pump. Level of Ex safety
II 2G Ex ia IIC T6 Gb
“ia” way of Ex protection enables the installation to be installed as
Non electrical Ex refers to…
ISO 80079-36 and -37 stand for non electrical explosion protection and list
Manual
It is mandatory. It shall be with the product. It shall be
New Year’s resolution – welcome to 2021
What is your word for hazardous area compliance – explosion protection with
Research Team Releases Detailed Investigation of Beirut Explosion
The Beirut— capital of Lebanon — explosion, which killed more than two hundred people,
#beirutblast vs Ex
I have tried a little to get a look at what happened
ExMediator
Ex compliance for hazardous area Ex sites is essential… is a must