Process Safety Services
Hazardous Area Classification
Hazardous area classification is required under the ATEX 137 regulations (covered by the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere regulations in the UK) and is covered by the recent European standards BS EN 60079-10-1:2009 for gases, vapours and mists and BS EN 60079-10-2:2009 for dusts. These have made the exercise both more complex and less clear and in the case of the gas standard require extensive calculation and leave a lot to the discretion of the user.
IPS has developed a simplified approach to hazardous area classification and the risk assessments required for the use of equipment in potential explosive atmospheres. Using this approach alongside our considerable experience allows us to provide a structure approach to hazardous area classification and risk assessments. We have paid particular attention to importance of the impact that non-electrical sources of ignition have upon the associated risks. Another area of expertise is the handling of powders and dusts. Many of the powders handled in the pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, fine chemicals and food industries are fine and easily dispersed and also surprisingly easy to ignite.
We have developed templates for the calculations required to ascertain the size of each gas zone and we have access to computation fluid dynamics software to validate these sizing calculations.
Find out more about IEC Standards and the Use of Equipment in Explosive Atmospheres. Download our pdf leaflet or get in touch...