Providing SAFETY is our MANTRA in Hazardous Areas.
experience
With a multitude of hazardous area projects behind us, we are experienced and well disciplined in all aspects of service, maintenance and installation of electrical equipment within various types of hazardous areas.
STrategies
All strategies in hazardous area electrical installations solely exist for SAFETY.
The simplest strategy is to minimize the amount of electrical equipment installed in a hazardous area, either by keeping the equipment out of the area altogether or by making the area less hazardous by process improvements or ventilation with clean air.
The simplest strategy is to minimize the amount of electrical equipment installed in a hazardous area, either by keeping the equipment out of the area altogether or by making the area less hazardous by process improvements or ventilation with clean air.
INTRINSIC SAFETY
Non-incendive equipment and wiring methods are practices whereby the apparatus is designed with low power levels and low stored energy. In this way, an arc produced during normal functioning of the equipment or as a result of equipment failure has insufficient energy to initiate ignition of the explosive mixture.
Verification and Compliance
As part of maintaining and ensuring the safety of hazardous areas, personnel in charge are required to keep a Verification Dossier. This is a legal document that not only shows evidence of compliance but also tracks maintenance and modifications. In the unlikely event of an explosion this document will provide the evidence that shows that all steps possible have been taken to prevent an unsafe environment.
In NSW the following is law:
- It is a requirement of all sites compile and maintains a verification dossier containing all the information relating to their hazardous areas and equipment stored within them.
- It is the responsibility of the person(s) in control of the installation to ensure the dossier is produced.
- Failure to produce the document when legally required to do so can result in severe consequences.
A Verification Dossier must contain:
- Zone classification drawings and associated documents outlining details of the gas group and temperature classes present. For dust installations
- this is included resistivity, layer and cloud ignition temperatures and type of dust present.
- Details of environmental external influences- such as ambient temperature and ventilation rates.
- Procedures for installation, connection and maintenance of electrical equipment in the hazardous area.
- Copies of the certificates of conformity for all the items of electrical equipment that have been installed in the hazardous area.
- Reference to any special conditons of use in the certification documents with suffix X.
- Details of calculations performed to demonstrate and verify compliance.
- Records of electrical tests performed on commissioning. Including evidence of mandatory tests.
- Inspection schedules for all equipment in hazardous area.
- Records of the selection of the cable entry systems.
- Records of past inspections including faults and defects and their subsequent rectification.
- Records of repairs and overhauls.
- Records of modifications made to equipment including justification. Please note under normal circumstances modification of certified equipment
- voids all certification until it is re-certified by an accredited manufacturer.
- Material characteristics for hazardous substances. MSDS etc.
It is important to keep this document up to date and available to all maintenance personnel.