Concepteur de solutions ATEX et industrielles
Contact : +33 (0)4 88 78 21 81

Understanding Installations

Understanding Installations

In operation it is the responsibility of the operator to ensure that the conditions to cause an explosion do not arise. However, due to the fact that there is a risk of these events occurring measures need to be taken in respect of electrical and non-electrical products to prevent ignition.

So what does the operator need to think about when providing a safe environment?

  1. In the principle design of any plant all hazards and risks should be reduced to a minimum.
  2. When installing electrical plant equipment it should be installed, where possible, in non hazardous areas. If this is
    not an option, the least hazardous area possible should be selected (See Zones for further details).
  3. All electrical equipment and wiring connections need to be designed, installed, operated and maintained so that they
    do not become an ignition source.

There are three further requirements that electrical equipment has to follow:

  1. Construction and installation has to comply with the regulations and requirements for use in a hazardous areas
    (This may be country specific).
  2. All electrical products have to be installed to the manufacturers instructions, and follow any constraints/
    limitations that any certifi cation requires. (For example if the product is certified as a component then the piece of
    equipment that it is attached to may need to be tested and certified with this component in-situ).
  3. On completion of an installation, an inspection should be carried out by a competent body.

Zones / Class

Hazardous Zones/Class are defined in order to assess their risk, instigating the relevant measures to prevent ignition of flammable gases and dusts. The classifications of zones and divisions are laid down in the relevant standards. The classification of zone or division can comprise the following:

  1. Area classification drawings.
  2. Information on ventilation/air conditioning that may effect a hazardous area.
  3. Details on the sources of release of gases and dusts.
  4. Details of the flammable substances stored or being handled.




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