Hex 17 02

hazardexonthenet.net

Seismic hazards Earthquake protection for electrical infrastructure Hazardous areas Workplace vehicles and transport equipment Nuclear decom & remediation

Chemical reaction hazards

Recycling & waste sites

Hanford Nuclear Reservation, USA

Thermally unstable substances

Controlling collision risk

February 2017

the journal for hazardous area environments

2017

March 2nd & 3rd, Runcorn, Cheshire, UK

Protecting Plant, Process & Personnel Hazardex 2017 Awards – VOTE NOW deadline 20/02/17 Voting is now open for this year’s Hazardex Awards, these provide much sought after recognition of a company’s contribution to the high hazard & process safety industry globally.

The Hazardex International Conference and Exhibition in Runcorn, Cheshire, UK, on 2 & 3 March 2017, will feature a hazardous area and process safety awards programme to highlight examples of excellence across the sector.

Nominated products, systems or services must have made a significant contribution in the relevant area within process industry or hazardous area operations over the last year. Winners will be announced during the gala dinner at the event, tickets are available for the gala dinner or delegate/awards evening packages.

The shortlist of nominees are as follows and a description of their nomination is available on our website:

Contribution to Safety Sponsored by CSA Group BPE-DS

BS&B

OnGrade

Sasol

Technical Innovation Sponsored by Banelec Abtech

CorDEX

Elfab

Extronics

IonScience

Rheintacho

Best User Application Sponsored by CSA Group CCG

Crouse-Hinds

Forth Valley College

Pepperl&Fuchs

Best Customer Service Sponsored by Banelec CSA Sira

ExVeritas

LGM

PhusionIM

Synatel

VOTE NOW deadline 20/02/17 Tel: +44 (0)1732 359990 or Email: hazardex@imlgroup.co.uk For more information go to:

www.hazardexonthenet.net

contents february 2017

14 16

With news in the media of Russian hacking having allegedly affected the result of the US presidential election, the integrity and security of computer networks has never had more prominence.

increase awareness in critical national infrastructure industries.

Because of this, a not unreasonable forecast is that cybersecurity will be an even bigger priority across industry and government in 2017. Companies are likely to make even greater efforts towards prevention, detection and remediation. In parallel, insurance companies will start looking at best practices and make those who do not implement them pay higher premiums or even deny insurance altogether.

Those wishing to learn the HSE’s latest thinking in this area would be well advised to join us at the Hazardex 2017 Conference in Runcorn on March 2, where senior figures from the HSE and UKPIA will bring delegates up to date on future cybersecurity requirements for UK-based companies.

In the EU, the Network Information Security (NIS) directive was published last year, and the UK Government has been active in this area with the establishment of a national cybersecurity centre, and publication of a range of guidance to

The Health & Safety Executive will also be publishing its operational guidance on cybersecurity, against which it will begin to inspect in 2017-18.

Earthquake-resistant electrical equipment and systems are a necessity in seismically-active zones

22

Other presentations will include one looking at the risks of cyber-attack on automation systems and integrated control and safety systems, an area of increasing concern.

I look forward to seeing many of you in Runcorn.

Runaway exothermic chemical reactions can be devastating, making early identification of risks vital

…Alan Franck, Editor, Hazardex

in this issue

26

News Extra

5

• Azerbaijan oil company SOCAR lambasted over safety record • Native American protests against oil pipelines snowball across USA • 2013 North Dakota oil spill still being remediated three years later • Hanford nuclear site in US still poses threat despite cleanup efforts • Trains in Netherlands now all powered by wind energy

15

Standards: IECEx Certified Equipment Scheme

16

Earthquake protection for electrical infrastructure

22

Chemical reaction hazards and thermally unstable substances

26

The risks of ignition from workplace transport and plant equipment

31

Taking control of collision risk on waste sites

35

News Extra

A forklift truck or other workplace transport needs careful conversion to achieve Zone 2 ATEX compliance

• MEOS 2017 - 6-9 March 2017 - Manama, Bahrain • Process Safety in Oil and Gas Conference - 7-8 March 2017 - Houston, TX, USA

Collision risk on waste and recycling sites can be mitigated by the latest RFID solutions and the ‘safety bubble’ concept

• Global Congress on Process Safety - 26-29 March 2017 - San Antonio, TX, USA

36

31

Datafiles & Buyers Guide Hazardex is a controlled circulation journal published monthly.

Completed print or online registration forms will be considered for free supply of printed issues, web site access and online services. Annual subscription for non-qualifying readers is UK £84.00, EU €113.00, Airmail £178.00 and single copy price is £17.00 plus P&P.

Hazardex content is the property of the publishers or relevant content providers. The publishers and sponsors of this magazine are not responsible for the results of any actions or omissions taken on the basis of information in this publication. In particular, no liability can be accepted in respect of any claim based on or in relation to material provided for inclusion.

Editor Alan Franck alan.franck@imlgroup.co.uk

Group Publisher Russell Goater russell.goater@imlgroup.co.uk

Sales Executive Kathryn Startin kathryn.startin@imlgroup.co.uk

Circulation subscriptions@imlgroup.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)1732 359990

Production and Events Sara Clover sara.clover@imlgroup.co.uk

Design Graham Rich Design www.grahamrichdesign.co.uk

IML Group plc Blair House, High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1BQ, UK Tel: +44 1732 359990 Fax: +44 1732 770049 Email: events@imlgroup.co.uk ISSN 1476-7376

Register for weekly email newsletter & up-to-the-minute news at www.hazardexonthenet.net

S S S

Display instrumentation for use in hazardous and safe areas

Explosion Proof Fire/Gas/Pressure Control

Licence to Manufacture

CAPACITY

< 64 addressable gas detectors < 16 4-20mA inputs < 12 4-20mA inputs + 4 fire detection inputs

Hitchin, SG5 2DA UK Tel +44 (0) 1462 438301

beka_general_86x124_latest.indd 1

• Perimeter gas detection • Fire/gas/pressure control DNV GL 2.7-2 2016 • Fire & gas detection

WE ALSO MANUFACTURE

www.beka.co.uk

sales@beka.co.uk

APPLICATIONS

SIL 2 gas transmitter

Beacons stainless steel

Wireless gas transmitter (IoT)

Sounders

www.segullsafety.com enquiries: sales@segullsafety.com

1/4/2017 3:10:10 PM

Tel : +044 0192 581 12 90 Fax : +044 0192 581 03 86

sales@tempapano.co.uk export@tempapano.com www.tempapano.com

your reliable solution partner Ex e Increased Safety & Ex ia Intrinsically Safe Terminal Boxes and Accessories

sira

News Extra

Image: Shutterstock

5

Azerbaijan oil company SOCAR

lambasted over safety record U

It pointed to the fact that in the recent incident, workers were lost when working

did not draw conclusions from the tragedy that occurred a year ago, and the group

People has penned a very critical article on Azerbaijan state-owned oil company SOCAR for its safety record over the

outside in 90 mph winds, a practice that would not be acceptable in other oil basins.

Also, the company’s reports on these

continues to suffer from poor management,” the Coalition said in a statement.

last few years. The website says the company has seen an average of 18 worker deaths each year since 2013,

incidents giving the cause as “high winds” or “adverse weather” seem to imply that offshore installations are not designed to

It said both the December 2015 and December 2016 incidents were the result of bureaucratic arbitrariness, criminal

a figure which has “disgraced” the company and “left its safety reputation

withstand such conditions.

negligence, lack of professionalism and corruption. Safety regulations were not

in tatters”.

“The figures are damning and the timeline shows a repeat of similar incidents that can only question the integrity of previous investigations and whether any lessons

complied with on SOCAR platforms, it added, with oil workers not provided with the necessary quality and protective clothing, lifejackets or boats.

K-based oil and gas news and recruitment website Oil and Gas

SOCAR recorded 14 deaths in 2014, 34 in 2015 and 11 so far in 2016, the website says. The biggest fatality events for the company were in December 2015 when 30 were killed in a fire and lifeboat sinking on the Gunlashi No 10 platform in the Caspian Sea, with a further 10 presumed dead after a walkway on an offshore platform collapsed into the sea during storms on December 2016.

learned have been deployed throughout he organisation to prevent further fatalities.

Oil and Gas People contrasted SOCAR, which employed over 61,000 employees in 2014 (and only a fraction of this figure offshore), with the UK Oil Industry, which employed around 260,000 people in 2014 and has seen 2 worker deaths from 2014 to 2016.

organisation”, the website says.

“With oil and gas industry workers giving first hand reports of poor safety standards, inadequate maintenance and substandard conditions aboard SOCAR installations it’s no surprise that incidents like those listed above are a frequent occurrence to the

According to Azerbaijani media source Contact, the country’s NGO Coalition for Transparency in the Extractive Industries laid responsibility for the December 2016 deaths squarely at the door of SOCAR directors.

“This event shows once again that directors

Also, many of the company’s platforms were life-expired and were no longer safe, the Coalition said. “Despite the expenditure of large sums on questionable projects, SOCAR has not repaired platforms or walkways built in the 1960s and 70s, even though their operational life has come to an end.”

The Coalition contrasted the large amounts spent by the company on a new Baku headquarters building, on the European Cup and other football team sponsorship with its poor record in paying workers on time and providing them with adequate levels of security.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

New Hazardous Area Equipment Market report â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 3 Jan 2017

Log Reference Pressure and Device Under Test with a Single Button On-screen prompts for test points Instant Tolerance Feedback Digital Traceability Custom Test Modes ATEX and IECEx Zone 0 Approved

IHS Markit is pleased to announce it has commenced a new edition of its world-wide Hazardous Area Equipment Market report. As with previous editions, the new edition will be conducted in co-operation with HazardEx and is scheduled for publication Spring 2017.

The report covers a wide range of products in terms of revenues, unit shipments and average selling prices. The company collects data and opinions from many sources including interviews with leading suppliers, enabling the general health of the market and trends to be assessed. A five year forecast and estimated market share of leading suppliers is also provided.

IHS Markit works in association with Hazardex on this report which has become an important source of information for all companies that manufacture or are associated with the supply products approved for use in explosive atmospheres.

John Morse â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Snr Market Analyst IHS Markit 3-5 Huxley Close Wellingborough NN8 2UL UK t: +44 1933 408077 e: John.morse@ihsmarkit.com w: http://technology.ihs.com

Visit ralstoninst.com/fieldlab/hx for more information

Your Global Automation Partner

IMX Interface Series Widest Approval

Narrowest Housing

. Global approval for every device. UL, FM, ATEX, Nepsi, Kosha, Imetro & IEC-EX . Minimum space requirement 6.25mm per signal channel . Maximum accuracy, best overall performance of any 12.5mm Interface device . Widest supply range, 10-30Vdc . Cabinet Condition Monitoring, Temperature, Humidity, Ambient Light & Door Opening.

Turck Banner Ltd.

Blenheim House, Blenheim Court, Wickford, Essex. SS11 8YT

01268 578888 - pa@turckbanner.co.uk - www.turckbanner.co.uk

Image: Shutterstock

News Extra

7

The resolution also calls for decommissioning the pipeline and removing it from the tribe’s reservation along the shores of Lake Superior in far northern Wisconsin. The resolution directs tribal staff to prepare recycling, disposal and surface restoration work that would come with removal.

Calgary-based Enbridge said in a statement that the resolution was a surprise, as the company had been negotiating renewal of easements for the last three years. The easements for the majority of the remaining parcels on Bad River tribal land extend until 2043 or rest in perpetuity.

The company added that it was too soon to speculate what authority the tribe may have over this matter.

Enbridge said there had never been a spill on the Bad River reservation, but a tribal spokesman said the tribe believed it was only a matter of time until the ageing pipeline ruptures.

No amount of compensation or negotiation would change this position, he said.

“As many other communities have experienced, even a minor spill could prove to be disastrous for our people,” Bad River Tribal Chairman Robert Blanchard said in a news release, adding the band would reach out to federal, state and local officials to evaluate how to remove Line 5.

Native American protests against oil pipeline projects snowball across USA L

eaders of a Native American tribe in Wisconsin are calling for 12 miles of

On January 4, the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa’s tribal council approved

This comes after protests in North Dakota over Energy Transfer Partners’ plans to build a section of the Dakota Access oil pipeline (DAPL) under a Missouri River reservoir. The Standing Rock Sioux and the Cheyenne River Sioux are challenging the pipeline’s permits at numerous water crossings and secured a stay of execution when in December the Army Corps of Engineers denied an easement needed to drill under Lake Oahe.

But the fight against DAPL is not over. Donald Trump is an investor in the company and a supporter of the project, and has expressed support for other new oil pipeline projects.

pipeline to be removed from their reservation after 64 years of operation, saying they want to protect their land and water from oil spills. This is one of an increasing number of protests against pipelines by native

a resolution refusing to renew easements for 11 parcels of land along a section of Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline crossing the tribe’s reservation. Line 5 carries 540,000 barrels per day of light crude and natural gas liquids

Nevertheless, DAPL has galvanised Native American opposition in other parts of the country. According to The Guardian, a protest camp has sprung up at Two Rivers near Marfa, Texas, in opposition to the Trans-Pecos pipeline,

groups and seems likely to be an increasing headache for US and Canadian pipeline operators in 2017 and beyond.

645 miles between Superior, Wisconsin, and Sarnia, Ontario.

a 148-mile project designed to transport fracked natural gas through the Big Bend region to Mexico.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

8

News Extra

“We’re going to follow the same model as Standing Rock,” said Frankie Orona,

Image: oneida-nsn.gov

executive director of the Society of Native Nations and an organiser at the Two Rivers camp. “This is a huge historical moment for environmental issues, for protecting our water, protecting our land, protecting sacred sites and protecting treaties.”

Indigenous activists involved with Standing Rock have also recently turned their attention to environmental battles in a number of other states, including Minnesota, Florida, Hawaii, Washington and Wyoming.

Other protests include one by the Ramapough Lenape tribe in Mahwah, New Jersey, which set up a camp in early January to stop Pilgrim Pipeline Holdings installing two parallel 170-mile pipelines between Albany, New York, and Linden,

Michigan and Lake Huron, could rupture and cause catastrophic damage to the Great Lakes.

The action against Line 5 underlines how environmental and Native American resistance to energy infrastructure is evolving. Up until now, protests have centred

New Jersey.

Enbridge said it had maintained and operated Line 5 safely for more than 60

on new pipelines or extensions to existing ones, such as at Standing Rock or Kinder

Enbridge’s Line 5 has also been a focus of protest in Michigan. Environmentalists fear a portion of pipeline that runs beneath

years, with five yearly checks for corrosion and other problems. The company also checks the section that runs beneath the

Morgan’s Trans Mountain project. The action at the Bad River reservation is thought to be the first time a tribal group has called for the

the Straits of Mackinac, which link Lake

Straits of Mackinac every two years.

removal of an existing pipeline.

GROUP

ATEX JUNCTION BOXES •

Suitable for zones 1, 2 GAS, 21 and 22 DUST

•

ATEX Directive 94/9/EC and 2014/34/EU Compliant

•

Available in antistatic Thermosetting GRP (IP66) and Aluminum Alloy ( IP55 – IP66 )

Tel : +44(0)1376 336 200 - Fax : +44(0)1376 322 161

Now available as unique bespoke solutions tailored to your needs sales@lewden.co.uk - www.lewden.com

News Extra

9

related treatment of all the affected soil.

The incident has had widespread impact on the industry and led to new guidelines from both the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) Oil/Gas Division and the Department of Health.

The state initially issued a notice of violation

Large 2013 North Dakota oil spill still being remediated three years later

A

ccording to NGI Shale Daily, the

clean-up of a 20,600 barrel leak from a Tesoro Logistics oil pipeline which polluted a site in the heart of the Bakken Shale in 2013, about 10 miles northeast of Tioga, ND, is still ongoing. The news source quoted North Dakota Department of Health

and the US Department of Transportationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a safety order to the Tesoro High Plains Pipeline in response to the leak.

is excavated, treated and backfilled, Suess said.

Tesoro has spent nearly $50 million to date for a clean-up effort originally estimated at about $61 million, he said.

The 20-year-old six-inch diameter pipeline involved carries crude oil north of Tioga to Columbus, ND, where it is loaded on railcars for shipment to various refineries.

An eventual fine for Tesoro would be determined after the remediation work is completed.

Last month the PHMSA issued a corrective

The September 2013 leak was the biggest in

action order to Belle Fourche, part of True Companies of Wyoming, following an

There will be several years of monitoring the site

the USA that year and was not fully contained for several weeks, according to state and company officials. The work involves a 45-foot

investigation into a 4,200 barrel oil spill discovered on December 5 by a landowner northwest of Belfield, North Dakota, about a

by the company and the state after everything

deep excavation spread over 13 acres and the

hundred miles to the south of Tioga.

spill investigation program manager Bill Suess as saying that remediation would likely continue up until the fall of 2017.

10 News Extra Image: Wikipedia

for nine nuclear reactors. Five huge plants in the centre of the Hanford Site processed 110,000 tons of fuel from the reactors, discharging an estimated 450 billion gallons of liquids to soil disposal sites and 56 million gallons of radioactive waste to 177 large underground tanks. Plutonium production ended in the late 1980s.

The site sits astride the Columbia River, upstream from Portland, the capital of Oregon, and with much of the population of the Pacific Northwest at risk if there were to be a major radioactive leak.

Hanford nuclear site in United States still poses

threat despite cleanup efforts I

n late November, the US Department of Energy (DOE) published an update on the remediation work being carried out at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in southeastern Washington State, heavily irradiated after five decades

The Hanford cleanup started in 1989, when a landmark agreement was reached between DOE, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and Washington State.

Known as the Tri-Party Agreement, the accord established hundreds of milestones for bringing the Hanford site into compliance with federal and state environmental regulations.

After more than 25 years of cleanup, the

of nuclear weapons production and considered to be the most polluted nuclear site in the USA.

DOE says considerable progress has been made at Hanford, reducing the risk the site poses to the health and safety of workers, the public, and the environment.

According to the DOE, Hanford made more than 20 million pieces of uranium metal fuel

The Hanford site cleanup so far Before the cleanup programme began in 1989: 1. There was a 586-square-mile footprint of active cleanup 2. Some 2,300 tons of spent nuclear fuel were stored near the Columbia River 3. Some 20 tons of leftover plutonium were stored in the Plutonium Finishing Plant 4. 1,012 waste sites, 522 facilities and 9 plutonium production reactors were situated next to the Columbia River 5. More than 100 square miles of groundwater were contaminated 6. There were 56 million gallons of waste in 177 underground tanks, with up to 67 tanks presumed to have leaked 7. Only one tank waste retrieval technology was available 8. There was no treatment capability for underground tank waste 9. Some 15,000 cubic metres of plutonium-

Hanford Nuclear Reservation map - Image: DOE

www.hazardexonthenet.net

contaminated waste were buried or stored on site

News Extra 11

By 2016, the following has been achieved: 1. Only an 82-square-mile footprint of active cleanup now remains 2. COMPLETED: All spent fuel moved to dry storage 3. COMPLETED: All plutonium stabilised and shipped off-site 4. 977 waste sites have been remediated, 428 facilities demolished, 18 million tons of soil/debris removed, 6 reactors cocooned (associated facilities demolished) and 1 preserved 5. 15.6 billion gallons have been treated and 306 tons of contamination removed 6. Pumpable liquids and 2 million gallons of solids have been transferred to newer, double-shell tanks, 16 tanks retrieved and 2 more underway 7. Now, 10 retrieval technologies are available 8. A Waste Treatment Plant is under

radioactive material will be packaged and

But in October 2012, the energy

construction and is 60% complete 9. A total of 12,417 cubic metres of waste

held at Hanford until it can be shipped to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New

department announced one of the doubleshell tanks was leaking into the space

Mexico, which is currently closed after a fire in one of its underground waste disposal storage tunnels.

between the two shells. Waste in that tank has not entered the environment.

have been retrieved and 649 shipments of waste have been made off-site On September 30, 2016, the total of federal employees, employees of Hanford prime contractors and pre-selected subcontractors came to 9,175.

In 2014, the BBC said the Hanford cleanup had cost $40bn and high levels of expenditure were expected to continue for decades. The total cost of the project was likely to be $110 billion, according to a report in Newsweek, making it the most expensive environmental remediation project in the world.

In November 2016, work began on the demolition of the main plutoniumprocessing facility on the site, the Plutonium Finishing Plant (PFP), after 20 years of remediation and cleanup. The PFP was considered one of Hanford’s most hazardous buildings.

The Hanford site contained the world’s first nuclear reactor - Image: Shutterstock

Despite the progress, there remain serious problems at Hanford. Safety managers,

Wyden released an engineering review that said six other double-shells had similar construction flaws. He accused the agency

engineers and technicians at the site have gone public with their concerns over leaks of radioactive material, cover-ups and waste treatment programme delays.

of hiding what they knew, as the report had been made months after the initial leak announcement, but no other warnings from the DOE had followed.

The site’s most complicated and potentially dangerous issue is the 56 million gallons of high-level radioactive waste sitting inside tanks at the centre of the site.

Then, in late March 2014, two dozen workers fell ill because of chemical vapours near the tanks. Workers again noticed vapours around the tanks in May.

In February 2014, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden accused the DOE of a “neverending pattern of failing to disclose what it actually knows about conditions at Hanford”.

The double-shell tanks must do their job for several more decades until the waste treatment plant - currently under construction but much delayed immobilises in glass all 56 million gallons of waste in the tanks.

Wyden’s main concerns are the tanks, which hold by-products of plutonium production, buried just below the surface.

The building, which had a footprint of over 220,000 square feet with sections up to six stories high, produced almost two-thirds of the nation’s weapons plutonium during the Cold War.

The original containers, single-shell tanks built in the 1940s and 1950s, had already leaked at least one million gallons of liquid waste into the ground. Hanford officials built

Most of the building debris will be sent to a lined landfill in central Hanford, but highly

double-shell tanks in the 1970s and 1980s and began transferring the radioactive waste into the newer vessels.

Once the treatment plant goes into operation, parts of it must be run entirely by robotics because of the high radioactivity of the waste.

The treatment plant was scheduled to become operational by 2019, but construction has been slowed or entirely halted on key sections of the plant for additional testing.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

12 News Extra Image: Shutterstock

launched by NS two years ago and the two firms signed a 10-year deal setting January 2018 as the date by which all NS trains should run on wind energy.

An increase in the number of onshore and offshore wind farms across the country and off the coast helped NS achieve its aim a year earlier than planned.

Dutch trains now all powered by wind energy A

ll trains in the Netherlands are now 100% powered by electricity generated by wind energy, the national

railway company NS said on January 10, calling it a world first. Dutch electricity company Eneco won a tender

Eneco and NS said on a joint website that some 600,000 passengers daily are “the first in the world” to travel thanks to wind energy. NS operates about 5,500 train voyages a day.

One wind generator running for an hour can power one train across some 200 kilometres, the companies said. They now hope to reduce the energy used per passenger by 35% by 2020 compared with 2005.

UK university trialling track-side solar panels to power trains I

mperial College London has said it is investigating the potential of trackside solar panels to power trains.

brings a lot of benefits.”

Researchers will explore the potential of connecting solar cells next to the track directly to the lines, bypassing the

Power, isn’t without its challenges. The third rail system is only used on around a third of the UK’s tracks and as it is also used

innovative thinking.

electricity grid, in what is claimed to be a world first.

for signalling, injecting power could lead to communications problems. There are also potential issues around the safety of integrating a secondary power source and managing the distribution of electricity.

than a train line. A rural train line even more so, the project would open up some many investment opportunities across the country and further afield.”

The team will look to convert ‘third rail’ systems which supply electricity to the locomotive through a power line running close to the ground and have the advantage of being 750V DC – a close match to solar panels.

The project, coined Renewable Traction

Technical aspects will be a collaboration between Imperial College researchers and Turbo Power Systems, which brings expertise in managing power in the railway sector.

Professor Tim Green, director of Energy Futures Lab at Imperial College London said:

Climate charity 10:10 and Community Energy

“Many railway lines run through areas with great potential for solar power but where existing electricity networks are hard to access.

South have also been brought onto the project to assess the market for connecting renewables directly to transport systems through power purchase agreements (PPAs).

“I think that focusing on the basics of integrating distributed energy generators into a railway’s system with the third-rail network

Leo Murray, director of strategy at 10:10, said: “What is particularly galling is that peak generation from solar and peak demand

www.hazardexonthenet.net

from the trains more or less match but we can’t connect the two. I actually believe this represents a real opportunity for some

“I don’t think you get a better fit for a PPA

The project is being funded through Innovate UK’s Energy Game Changers programme, which looks to stimulate disruptive technologies in the energy sector.

An Innovate UK spokesperson said: “The aim of this competition is to find innovative solutions to long-standing challenges faced by the energy sector. We believe that game changing technologies can solve these problems, either by the development of completely new ideas or through technology transfer from other sectors. We hope the Renewable Traction Power project will be a huge success.”

Standards 13

IECEx Certified Equipment Scheme air and creepage distances are only some examples of such potential faults.

In his bi-monthly column, IECEx Chairman Prof. Dr. Thorsten Arnhold looks at developments within the IECEx System

O

ne of the most important benefits of the IECEx Certified Equipment Scheme is the global availability of

To solve this conflict, in summer 2013 IECEx established a working group consisting of

• The process used to ensure that the assembler is issued with all appropriate assembly instructions • The process used to transfer identified components of the permitted assemblies

experts from manufacturers and certification bodies which produced an operational document dealing with that issue. After the endorsement by IECEx MC, the OD 203 was published in April 2014. It consists of two parts:

to the assembler, including evidence that the assembler has correctly received undamaged components and retains any necessary identification of the components prior to assembly • The processes used to ensure that the

• Part 1 deals with the issue of IECEx Certificates of Conformity covering a distributor or agent who does not actually manufacture the equipment.

This is not relevant to the issue mentioned above.

• Part 2 however deals with the use of a local assembler for final assembly

assembler applies correct final marking and of the final inspection to be employed by the assembler and the transmission of appropriate records to the manufacturer.

The CB shall monitor the operation of the procedure along with all other relevant aspects as part of routine surveillance and

and despatch of a product made from fully defined parts supplied by the manufacturer. All parts of the final product must be fully defined by the manufacturer

assessment of the manufacturer, at which time evidence of correct operation of the agreed procedure shall be obtained. Where a manufacturer uses more than one LA,

and have to be listed in the certification documentation of the product.

the CB assessment shall confirm that the interval audit process of the manufacturers audits the operation of procedures with every

safety products for hazardous areas, with a certificate issued by a recognised competent certification body. This

Furthermore, there are some very important requirements in this document concerning the role of the manufacturer,

assembler.

creates a certain amount of flexibility, which is very important both for internationally acting manufacturers

the Certification Body (CB) and the local assembler (LA). In all cases where the LA is envisaged, the manufacturer shall make an

requirements and limitations and their deep consideration would go too far for this article. My recommendation as an IECEx

and end customers.

application to the ExCB that is responsible for the issue and maintenance of the Quality Assessment Report (QAR). This means that a general permission for any independent company to carry out the final assembly steps is not permitted!

representative is that every manufacturer and every candidate assembly partner should study this document very carefully.

As a conclusion we have to accept that the manufacturer remains responsible for the final product regardless if he is delegating the final modification of the product to

at a remote location it is not easy, if not impossible, to establish such flexibility.

A possible solution is to perform the final assembly steps by an accredited agent of the certified manufacturer. What about the

The CB shall process the application as an extension of scope of the QAE, seeking sufficient information that the proposed procedure can be correctly implemented.

an assembly partner or not, and every delegation of assembly activities to an independent partner needs the permission of the responsible CB.

manufacturer’s general responsibility for the final product in this case? Among explosion protection experts it is common sense that even simple final assembling steps can be critical for the final protection level of the product. Wrong selection or mounting of cables, cable glands or terminals, too much built-in power dissipation and too small

The manufacturer shall set up a written procedure which includes at least the following: • A statement of how the contract is drawn up between the manufacturer and the assembler to ensure that the assembler accepts responsibility for its part in the process

The OD has been valid now for almost two years and it enables us, step by step, to improve the quality of the final assembly processes in the IECEx world. Other certification systems such as ATEX are increasingly recognising the relevance of clear rules for that issue and are preparing similar documents.

For certain products like terminal boxes or control stations, the markets need an even greater flexibility. Typically, such products are customised at a very late stage of the supply chain. If the manufacturer is situated

The OD203 contains a lot more

www.hazardexonthenet.net

NEW

LMm

Portable Methane Detector

Tel: +44 (0)1736 851050

Email: sales@sts-trolleys.co.uk

Keeping operators at a safe distance from potential methane leaks. ATEX approved, LMm keeps you safe.

Stay Safe.

Detecting Detecting Gas Gas Saving Saving Lives Lives www.crowcon.com www.crowcon.com

CSA Group is a world leader in conformity assessment and product testing solutions.

LEADING STANDARDS IN COMPLIANCE & SAFETY

Advanced laboratory capabilities combined with ATEX, IECEx and North American approvals from one location in the UK underpin the investment we continuously make to lead the way in conformity services for our clients around the globe.

ATEX • IECEx • CSA Approval • QA Audit • Training • Personnel Competence • MCERTS Certification • PSM & DSEAR Tel: +44 (0)1244 670 900 | Email: ukinfo@csagroup.org | www.csagroupuk.org

Earthquake hazards 15

Shutterstock

Earthquake protection for electrical infrastructure N

However, technical infrastructure installations such as electrical switchgear systems and

frequency spectrum, both horizontally and vertically. This is described in terms of the

cause casualties and extensive damage. Whilst extreme meteorological occurrences, such as floods and heat waves, can be forecast relatively

data centres also require effective protection against earthquakes. This not only applies to critical systems, such as those in power plants or production facilities in the chemical

relating amplitudes and frequencies on the Earth’s surface. Because the energy released by an earthquake cannot be measured directly, we use various scales to

accurately these days, earthquakes remain relatively difficult to predict.

industry, but may also be important for other users.

Earthquakes cause more fatalities

Intensities, magnitudes and earthquake zones

describe the strength of an earthquake. This includes differentiating between scales of intensity and scales of magnitude.

atural forces have always posed a threat to humans and repeatedly

than other natural disasters, as well as structural damage to buildings and transportation infrastructure. They can also cause serious damage to buildings’ internal systems.

Subjective intensity scales

In terms of physics, an earthquake is a

Intensity scales are based on the

shock wave that emanates from an epicentre below ground. This shock wave causes the Earth’s crust to vibrate with a complex

macroscopic effects of an earthquake – such as the severity of damage to buildings – and the subjective impressions of the

In areas known to be prone to earthquakes, buildings and technical infrastructure need to be earthquakeresistant. This also applies to electrical equipment within those buildings. In this article, Hartmut Paul of Rittal looks at the concept of earthquake-resistance in relation to electrical infrastructure and describes his company’s approach to designing and testing earthquakeresistant equipment and systems.

When it comes to earthquake protection, building safety is often the primary concern.

This is certainly understandable, as primary earthquake damage to buildings generally causes the most fatalities, and the majority of damage to property also occurs this way.

Table 1: Mercalli Scale compared to the Japanese JMA Scale

www.hazardexonthenet.net

16 Earthquake hazards people who feel or hear the earthquake.

A frequently used scale to indicate the intensity is the Mercalli scale, which was developed in 1902 and is still in use today (See Table 1). Scales of intensity can only be used to a limited extent in sparsely populated areas where there are few buildings where damage might occur and not many people to report their experiences.

Measuring technology for earthquakes Scales of magnitude are based on measurements taken by seismometers, which measure the local vibrations in

Table 2: Soil acceleration in Europe and in the USA as the appropriate measures â&#x20AC;&#x201C; incurring

Malfunction or structural damage

the Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surface in terms of speed, acceleration and displacements. Calculations using these measurements can indicate the strength of the earthquake. The best-known scale of magnitude is the Richter scale, which was developed in the 1930s and is still

additional costs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; need only be taken in high-risk areas.

In order to evaluate the relevance of

It is particularly important that the installations of critical, safety-relevant infrastructures, such as in nuclear installations, remain operational even after high-magnitude earthquakes. This calls for a very extensive range of measures, which

used today for this purpose.

earthquake protection for electrical installations, an overview must first be

are beyond the scope of this article. A high level of systems availability, and thus robust

The probability of an earthquake is important for risk assessment Besides categorising earthquakes according

established of the damage that can potentially occur in an earthquake, including any consequential damage that might arise

protection against earthquakes, is also particularly vital for telecommunications and IT. At the same time, the ability of

to strength, i.e. their intensity or magnitude, another important aspect is the probability that an earthquake of a given strength will

if an electrical system fails. Damage to buildings is usually the focus of attention following an earthquake. Depending on the

installations to remain operational for a given time or to resume service quickly are also important issues following an earthquake.

occur. Earthquake risk zones are defined in order to facilitate a reasonable risk assessment. For instance, there are five earthquake zones in the United States.

kind of building involved, the values for the systems installed in it are often higher than for the structural elements themselves. It makes sense, therefore, to look beyond

The frequency of the vibrations that occur during an earthquake generally ranges between 0.3 Hz and 50 Hz. The stresses

Zone 0 is where strong earthquakes can be practically ruled out, whereas earthquakes of quite a large magnitude are relatively probable in zone 4. Parts of California are typical examples of earthquake zone 4.

The requirements relating to earthquake

the earthquake-resistance of the building alone and to also consider the potential requirements regarding its systems in the case of an earthquake.

these vibrations exert on a switchgear system can cause both malfunctions and structural damage to the entire system.

Malfunctions can be remedied with little

protection for IT and telecommunications installations, and for electrical infrastructure installations, are often based on these earthquake zones.

However, zoning varies from country to country. In most countries in Europe (including Germany), the zones range from 0 to 3; but up to five zones might be categorised. This is further complicated by the lack of uniformity between the national standards that define the zones (See Table 2). Thus it is not possible to draw a simple comparison between national standards at face value. However, classifying earthquake zones is important when it comes to delivering earthquake-resistant systems,

www.hazardexonthenet.net

Earthquake damage to electrical infrastructure

Earthquake hazards 17

delay, so a switchgear system can be put back into service relatively quickly following

Some of the standards that apply to electrical engineering, IT and telecommunications

requirements originally developed by Bellcore – now Telcordia – for telecommunications

an earthquake. This might typically involve a loose contact or temporary short-circuit that is interrupted by the installation’s safety systems.

have their origin in a building standard but transfer into specific requirements for related equipment. For instance, buildings can actually amplify the effect of an earthquake, potentially further increasing the amplitude and accelerations that are exerted on an electrical system.

are not a formal standard as such, they form a very commonly stipulated requirement in contracts, especially in the United States.

The basic premise is that systems – such as data centres – need to offer a high level of structural resilience to various influences such as moisture, fire, pollutants and

More disruptive damage might include the dislocation of components from an enclosure’s support rail or mounting plate.

Serious damage to the switchgear system generally causes a protracted interruption to the energy supply – say, if the earthquake were to move an enclosure, perhaps dislodging it from its anchoring or even tipping it over.

Relevant standards for equipment Three specific sets of standards are particularly relevant to switchgear systems and other electrical engineering and information technology infrastructures – DIN EN/IEC

earthquakes. The document refers to the designated zones in the United States (zones 0 to 4), where zone 0 represents a very low risk and zone 4 a high risk of earthquakes (See Table 2). In order to ensure high system availability, the requirements in zone 4 are

This category also includes any structural damage to the enclosure. Enclosures play an extremely important role because if they cannot withstand the earthquake, the entire system is going to fail. This makes

60068-3-3, IEEE 693 and Telcordia GR-63CORE. Other standards, for example from the construction industry, are generally not relevant to switchgear production - it can be assumed that structural engineers will comply with these standards. Only the interface between

earthquake protection for enclosures a key factor in all the relevant standards.

construction and electrical engineering – where the building and enclosure meet – plays

Typical test methods

However, this aspect can never be considered in isolation, but rather the surrounding building and all the installed

a certain role. This means that references to the respective building standards also appear in various standards.

testing systems for earthquake-prone areas.

The first is to test the complete switchgear system with the desired configuration -

components must also comply with the relevant requirements as well. Thus a suitable enclosure alone will not suffice if the system

DIN EN/IEC 60068-3-3 IEC 60068-3-3, identical to DIN EN 60068-

including all components installed in the enclosures- in a suitable laboratory. This option is quite costly and time-consuming

needs to remain operational after, or even during, an earthquake. In addition, the installed components must also meet the requirements of the appropriate standard and

3-3 [Beu93] in Germany and Europe, is primarily a guideline for checking electrical devices for seismic resistance. The standard distinguishes between a general and a

and, according to Rittal’s experience, is only usually required by a small number of users.

the functioning of the entire system must be proved under test conditions.

specific seismic class. The specific seismic class should be used where knowledge of the seismic movement exists based on the local geographical situation or the building in which the device is to be installed.

switchgear manufacturer testing components (including enclosures) for earthquake-prone areas. For this proof, Rittal tested its TS 8 type enclosures in approved laboratories according to a defined test method.

various points of view. Correspondingly, different standards are applied depending on the technical discipline concerned.

These standards can be roughly divided into the categories of civil engineering, IT and telecommunications, and electrical engineering. Furthermore, the applicable standards also differ according to the geographical location of the market. Building

IEEE 693 The 693 [IEE05] standard issued by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) specifies the parameters for earthquake-resistant switchgear. It defines the test methods for complete switchgear systems and for individual components such as power circuit-breakers. Besides test methods, the standard also contains

The following paragraphs describe a typical testing method to determine earthquake resistance of enclosures.

standards play a role in the construction of earthquake-resistant electrical switchgear systems but they are not described in great detail here. However, as electrical systems are for the most part installed in

guidelines for designing earthquakeresistant switchgear in relation to buildings, foundations and fixing enclosures to the floor. Thus reference is also made to building standards in this document.

laboratory. The test piece is mounted onto the vibrating table, where it is subjected to a pre-defined test program. The test piece must not incur any structural damage as a result, meaning that no load-bearing parts

buildings, these standards also play a certain role, particularly the floor mounting of the enclosure.

Telcordia GR-63-CORE Although the GR-63-CORE [Tel02] generic

may be damaged, warped, broken, etc. In addition, no important connections should separate. The same also generally applies

Overview of current standards

correspondingly higher than in zone 0. These requirements are very high and can therefore also be found in other standards (e.g. IEC 60068-3-3, DIN EN 61587-5 (RRS for uniaxial acceleration), ETSI EN 300019-1-3).

In general, there are two possibilities when

The second option involves the control or

Earthquake protection is important from

All the applicable standards prescribe tests on a vibrating table to demonstrate an enclosure’s earthquake resistance. The aim is to simulate the effects of an earthquake – i.e. vibrations and shock stresses – in the

www.hazardexonthenet.net

18 Earthquake hazards prescribed in GR-63-CORE lasts 31 seconds in each dimension. The loads exerted on

constructions. Another approach, which is particularly prevalent in high-rise buildings,

the enclosure during these tests correspond approximately with those experienced during an earthquake with a strength of 8.3 on the moment-magnitude scale.

is to use a pendulum as an active element.

An earthquake’s movements make the pendulum swing, which absorbs almost all of the energy so that no damage occurs to the building’s structures. A third possibility decouples the object to be protected from the earth (and earthquake) by means of a

Very similar test spectra In order to compare the requirements of the vibration table tests in all three relevant standards, the required RRS can be plotted in an acceleration-frequency diagram (See below).

This reveals that the spectra applied in the Enclosure testing is carried out on a vibration table. for enclosure doors, hinges and locks.

Functional tests are then performed – to ensure that the system still functions as required post-stress.

individual standards are quite similar but have different acceleration values in the relevant areas. It also becomes apparent that zone-4 certification according to GR63-CORE almost completely meets the requirements of the other two standards.

Earthquake-resistant enclosures

system that absorbs the forces. When a building or piece of equipment is not firmly fixed to the ground but instead stands on dampers, it is shielded from most of an earthquake’s accelerations. In this case it is necessary that the weight to be dampened is exactly known and there must be sufficient spring/damping deflection available.

Earthquake kit – enclosure extensions Rittal uses the half-timber principle to make its TS 8 enclosure earthquake-resistant.

The unit is robust and exceptionally flexible

Different frequency spectra in the standards

One method of constructing stable mechanical buildings able to withstand

and optional extra earthquake accessories stiffen the construction of the enclosure frame to comply with even the strict zone-

The precise test requirements vary according to the standard in question, particularly regarding the exact frequency

tremors, in use since ancient times, is by using half-timbered methods. This uses poles that are bound together at the ends

4 requirements of GR-63-CORE. The earthquake kit consists of stays that are screwed into the sides of the enclosure’s

spectrum and related accelerations. The test method specified in Telcordia GR-63CORE is outlined here as an example. First, the enclosure is mounted on a vibrating

to form triangles. As a result, the forces exerted on the poles are almost exclusively compression or tensile forces, which make the entire construction extremely sturdy

frame to significantly increase its rigidity.

Gusset plates in the corners of the frame add extra stability. The mounting plate is also more rigid and screwed to the stays

table and fitted with acceleration and path recorders in its centre and on top.

and also reduce its weight. This principle has proved a successful way to construct houses, bridges and other load-bearing structures. These days, the norm is to provide buildings with as rigid a structure as possible, for example using solid concrete

(See image on next page).

During the test, the enclosure must be loaded to an extent that simulates a real installation.

The tests are then conducted by running a specified program that reaches the defined acceleration values at frequencies of between 1 Hz and 50 Hz (the so called Required Response Spectrum (RSS)).

The incoming spectrum, the so called Transmission Response Spectrum (TRS), on the test piece is the key. This depends on the way the test is set up and on the mass and geometry of the test piece. The displacements of the test piece, measured in its centre and at its top, must not be greater than 75 mm (3 inches) at any point during the test.

The vibration table tests described above are performed in all three dimensions. The RRS

www.hazardexonthenet.net

Acceleration-Frequency-Diagram

A more stable plinth is also available for fixing the enclosure to the floor for earthquake protection.

Earthquake hazards 19

to be made between structural integrity and maintaining the function of a system.

If the sole concern is structural integrity, then a certified enclosure, such as the TS 8 enclosure fitted with the appropriate earthquake accessories, as described in the previous section, will generally suffice.

Continuous functioning of a system, as is sometimes required, cannot be guaranteed by an enclosure, of course. Extensive tests are required to ascertain this aspect. Finiteelement method structural calculations also can be made in advance. It is important to test the systems with the contents that are

Three sizes of the TS 8 standard enclosure were tested for conformity with the zone 4

• Even weight distribution • Mounted weight of components equal or

actually going to be fitted. The distribution and weight of the installed components can influence the vibration behaviour of the enclosure. The way the enclosure is installed – whether on mounting plates, top hat rails or variable bus bar systems – can also affect its

requirements of GR-63-CORE by the independent body EQE International Ltd

less than the tested variants • Base area equal or bigger than the tested

behaviour. For this requirement it is therefore advisable to test earthquake-resistant

at the University of Bristol and IABG in Ottobrunn.

variants • Height w/o plinth not bigger than 2000mm (or rather the centre of mass higher than

enclosures for each specific scenario, in other words with the intended contents in place.

Earthquake extension accessories for TS 8 enclosure

When fitted with the special earthquake accessories (consisting of earthquake kit, earthquake plinth and comfort handle), the

1000mm)

Specific Approach

enclosure achieved zone-4 certification with contents weighing up to 500 kg on its mounting plate (See image above).

Even armed with this information about earthquakes, potential damage and the standards that exist, the question remains as to how to respond to a specific inquiry about

In addition, the TS 8 was certified to meet the requirements of zone-3 GR-63-CORE without any special accessories, up to a maximum weight of 152 kg.

earthquake-resistant switchgear. First, the geographical location needs to be clarified – for which country and which earthquake zone is the switchgear required? Then the relevant standard needs to be identified to suit this requirement. All requirements relating to the

The tests were performed on three sizes of TS 8 enclosures and the certification extends to all of these, but the engineering principle behind the frame structure is the same for other sizes, so earthquake resistance can be assumed as long as the following criteria are met: • The earthquake standard / the frequency spectrum is comparable

This article is adapted from the white paper ‘Earthquake protection for switchgear’ available at www.rittal.com/uk-en/content/ eng/unternehmen/presse/pressemeldungen/ pressemeldung _detail_51072.jsp About the author

building or anchoring of the switchgear within the building must be taken into consideration by the parties responsible for the construction and structural design.

Structural integrity or functionality In respect of the above-cited examples of application standards, a distinction has

Hartmut Paul has worked for Rittal since 1998 in various departments and is currently responsible for the pre-development of Rittal’s enclosure systems. After working on his thesis, he has had a keen interest in the dynamic loads placed on enclosures with a particular focus on earthquake resistance. He has a degree in mechanical engineering from the Duale Hochschule, Mannheim.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

20 Chemical reaction hazards

All images - Shutterstock

Chemical reaction hazards

and thermally unstable substances T

he consequences of runaway exothermic chemical reactions can be devastating. Catastrophes at Bhopal and Seveso are stark reminders that all

This is most prominent with issues such as machine guards, tripping or slippery floor hazards, etc. but there could also be the potential for flammable materials to be

international standard tests, their uses and limitations.

chemical processes require a thorough and rigorous assessment procedure to ensure that large scale manufacture can proceed without residual risk or threat of disaster. This article from

present or a chemical reaction that may go out of control. Flammable gases and vapours are, in most cases, readily identified, especially with materials such as methanol, ethanol, propane, butane or hydrogen.

and material reactivity is an equally critical element of safe processing. Can you think of an endothermic chemical process?

– probably not – there aren’t too many common ones! Exothermic chemical

DEKRA Insight looks at chemical reaction hazards and thermally unstable substances and links to guides that can help identify them.

Flammable dusts are less readily identified – and often no data will exist in published literature to identify potentially hazardous materials. The DEKRA Insight Guide to Dust Explosion Hazards and Thermally Unstable Solids(1) provides a strategy for the identification and assessment of such materials along with information on

processes on the other hand are much more abundant in manufacturing processes.

Often these reactions are inherent in the transformation we are undertaking (e.g. the conversion of styrene to polystyrene) – on other occasions these may be unintended reactions which are not part of our processing plan (e.g. decomposition of

When working with any manufacturing process it is always necessary to establish the hazards associated with its operation.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

The understanding of chemical reactions

Chemical reactionPipelines hazards 21

highlight the need to obtain process safety data to complete a compulsory risk assessment. The ultimate aim of such

or storage. Explosive properties in any material will require the adoption of extreme safety precautions to minimise any potential

studies is to specify and document a detailed basis of safety for the protection of personnel and plant from the consequences of a runaway reaction.

risk. In some cases, this may impact on the ability of the company to proceed with such chemistry (hence the need to identify this property as early as possible). Many contract manufacturers exist who are adept at processing and handling “highly energetic”

To help address these chemical reactions, Chemical Reaction Hazards and Thermally Unstable Substances: A Strategic Guide to Reaction Hazard Assessment (Chemical Guide)(2) was recently released and is intended to provide an overview of the strategy that should be employed to assess

substances and processes. Alternatively, conscious decisions can be made to prevent isolation of an energetic substance such that it is always processed in a phlegmatised (inerted) form.

reaction hazards (mainly associated with exothermic and / or gas generating reactions) and thermally unstable substances to most foreseeable plant situations.

When processing exothermic chemical reactions including thermally unstable

Having completed adequate thermal stability testing, and with the application of adequate safety margins where applicable, it should be possible to define the maximum allowable exposure temperature of the process at all stages. This data should be used to define heating media and set trigger levels for vessel/process over-temperature protection.

substances and mixtures, it should be remembered that the hazard comes from PRESSURE generation. Pressure can be generated in a closed vessel (or inadequately

Understanding the hazard potential of intended chemical reactions requires reaction calorimetry and associated gas evolution

vented vessel) from: • Permanent gas generation e.g. generation of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc. from the

measurement if appropriate to identify and quantify any permanent gases formed. The resulting heat flow profile, heat of reaction

desired process or an unexpected event.

• Vapour pressure effects caused by heating, possibly arising from an

and adiabatic temperature rise data can be used to assess the overall hazard potential of the reaction. If boiling or decomposition

What is the Hazard?

exothermic reaction or a process failure condition, thus raising a mixture above its boiling point.

a material due to contamination or overtemperature exposure).

These modes of pressure generation can arise from the desired reaction, a significant side reaction or a secondary decomposition reaction.

The identification, assessment and

Identification of how pressure generation

characterisation of both intended and, more importantly, unintended exothermic reactions, are critical for ensuring the safe scale-up and operation of a chemical process.

occurs is critically important for vent sizing, the most common basis of safety in the chemical industry, since the design calculations will require different data input.

Incidents such as those at Seveso and Bhopal serve as a grim reminder of the potential consequences of runaway reactions and decompositions. In order to address this issue and to ensure safe operating conditions for companies using or producing these materials, European Regulations such as the Chemical Agents Directive (CAD, 1998/24/EC)

Route Selection, Process Development and Optimisation

conditions are potentially initiated as a result of the temperature rise caused by the energy release, a review of safety systems and potential failure scenarios will be necessary to evaluate the probability of this happening

The determination of an explosive potential in a substance may place severe transport restrictions on movement of the material and may require the site to be registered and licensed for explosives manufacture, handling

www.hazardexonthenet.net

22 Chemical reaction hazards

in practice. Any significant reagent accumulation potential in the process should be addressed for safety â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and potentially productivity â&#x20AC;&#x201C; improvement. Any gas generation from the normal process should also be catered for by provision of adequate process venting facilities.

At the end of this stage of analysis, the operator should have a good understanding of the energetics of the normal process and thermal stability limits of process materials. Any potentially hazardous aspects of the process will be highlighted for further consideration on scale-up. Safety critical aspects of processing should be incorporated into the batch processing instructions such that operators are aware of critical phases and decisions to make under foreseeable circumstances.

This is the final stage where fundamental modifications can be made to the process with minimal cost implication. The process should be reviewed such that any obvious deviation scenarios which might create a hazard are identified and, if at all possible, either eliminated by changing the process conditions or understood so that appropriate protection measures can be incorporated into the process plant. This is the concept of prevention and protection, two concepts key to safe chemical manufacture. Typical prevention measures might involve increasing the solvent level, changing from batch to semi-batch operation or even

www.hazardexonthenet.net

Chemical reaction hazards 23

continuous processing, etc. Any intrinsic hazard remaining in the process will need special engineering provisions on scale-up

A strategic methodology must be employed in which the collection of safety data is intertwined with the development and

Assessment (2) outlines a cost-effective mechanism for assessing hazards present in the inherent exothermic reaction and

i.e. protection – this may prove much more expensive than eliminating the hazard at the previous stage.

scale-up of the process – rather than being an inconvenient add-on once the process is fully develop and optimized (and the hazards already inherently included).

uncontrolled gas evolution potential of chemical processes.

Summary

(1)

- http://dekra-insight.com/en/wp-guide-

to-dust-explosions-hazards

The inherent exothermic reaction and/or uncontrolled gas evolution potential of all

Chemical Reaction Hazards and Thermally Unstable Substances:

chemical processes require a thorough and rigorous assessment procedure in order to ensure that large scale manufacture

A Strategic Guide to Reaction Hazard

(2)

- http://dekra-insight.com/en/chemical-

guide

can proceed with an acceptable level of residual risk.

Most decisions which impact on the inherent hazard of the process are made at the very early stages of process development – as early as the route selection stage – and this is the area where Chemists play a fundamental part in developing safer processes. It is critical that reaction hazard evaluation is integrated seamlessly into the process development lifecycle.

Chemists should be trained not just to look at quality, yield and productivity issues but also to understanding the criticality of their decisions on the safety of the process. This more holistic approach to reaction hazard evaluation will take at least some of the onus from engineers who are normally left to design and implement safety systems for scenarios which could possibly have been eradicated with forethought.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

24 Hazardous Area Vehicles

The risks of ignition from workplace

transport and plant equipment A

lift truck, crane or other workplace transport will have multiple sources of ignition, whether from heat, static or arcing and sparking components. Rob Vesty of Pyroban looks at the latest standard EN1755:2015 and explains how the most complex mobile equipment can be converted to achieve ATEX

cranes, access platforms and other mobile equipment, there isn’t the volume for an EX manufacturer to build a complete ATEX unit.

compliance in Zone 2 areas.

lighting in a distillery). There are then three key areas that suppliers and users should be aware of.

For forklift trucks and warehouse equipment such as cleaning machines, counterbalance trucks, pallet trucks, VNA and reach trucks, the market typically chooses to convert existing models to gain maximum efficiency from the very latest technology. Similarly, for

www.hazardexonthenet.net

Users will therefore tend to request a conversion from their local equipment supplier. With the lift height, dimensions and all associated specifics defined to get the job done (i.e. moving pallets or maintaining

Compliance with ATEX 2014/34/EU is the most obvious, alongside European Standard EN1755 , which governs companies involved in the manufacture or

conversion of industrial trucks to enable safe and compliant use in hazardous areas.

A recent update took place to clarify and standardise the required safety measures.

EN1755:2015 The new EN1755:2015 standard for explosion protected forklifts is mandatory from November 2017. The update to “Safety of industrial trucks. Operation in potentially explosive atmospheres. Use in flammable gas, vapour, mist and dust”, brings together the latest market knowledge and solutions, and references the latest standards which were not available when first issued in May 2000.

Hazardous Area Vehicles 25

operation. Therefore, seats, arm rests, roll up cabin sides and other externally accessible plastics need to be antistatic as

ISO 3691-1:2011

a minimum. All tyres (where travel speeds are >6km/h) on 3G trucks should also be antistatic and there must be conductivity to earth either with two straps from the chassis to ground or by using conductive tyres. The location and quantity of

standard for safety requirements and verification of industrial trucks, such as forklifts. It guides best practice for modifying forklifts with safety in mind, including explosion protection conversions.

conductive tyres or earthing straps should also be marked on the chassis.

For Zone 2 applications, the new EN1755:2015 requirements have maintained the core principles of the current standard and brought them into line with relevant latest legislation. Gas detection is core to 3G protection, but performance requirements are strengthened to achieve Performance Level PLc (EN13849) or SIL 1. Testing has also been redefined for Ex nR restricted breathing enclosures which require stronger leak performance. Truck labelling has also been redefined and handbook requirements are more detailed.

Another standard affecting truck conversions is ISO 3691-1:2011, the international

To ensure that the operator is instantly informed when gas is detected, the control module for the system should be located within easy reach and view of the operator Under this standard, truck modification is not permitted without prior written approval

Changes that affect all categories of

of the original equipment manufacturer to ensure that all potential implications which may affect the overall truck safety have been considered. So, in the case of

equipment (2G, 3G, 2D and 3D) include more detailed assessment of nonelectrical components such as pumps and

explosion protection, even if a modified truck meets the requirements of the ATEX Directive, it may not comply with ISO

transmissions in line with EN13463. Safety control systems should also meet EN13849 or SIL 1.

3691-1:2011 unless written manufacturer consent has been obtained.

For load handling devices, such as forks or clamps, the areas requiring cladding are redefined and brass, not stainless steel, should be used where the flammable material is in the IIC gas group.

Selecting the Best System for Zone 2 Mobile Equipment Faced with operating a forklift truck, or other mobile equipment, within a potentially explosive environment, a company must select the right explosion proof

EN1755:2015 clarifies and standardises the level of safety required for products on the market. Requirements concerning static electricity will have a significant impact on trucks built or converted for Zone 2 operation (3G) from both an end user and maintenance perspective.

A spark from unprotected electrical equipment on a forklift, excess heat from the engine, motors, brakes and other components, or even a spark from static build up, can create enough energy to cause ignition.

In EN1755:2015, static electricity will be considered an ignition risk during â&#x20AC;&#x153;normalâ&#x20AC;?

www.hazardexonthenet.net

26 Hazardous Area Vehicles solution for their needs. If the wrong gas detection technology is used, it impacts the effectiveness of the complete safety

suited to an infrared detection system.

system and a truck user could be rendered â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;blindâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to the presence of a flammable atmosphere, jeopardising the safety of the site and putting themselves and their colleagues at risk.

should use explosion protection methods such as restricted breathing enclosures, stainless steel cladding of forks and surface temperature cooling to ensure the engine, motors, brakes, electrics and other components remain below the auto-ignition

Gas detection systems use Pellistor or infra-red technology.

temperatures of flammable materials.

Pellistor based systems: Those with a working area at risk due to handling a wide range of different potentially flammable products, such as companies handling chemicals or those in the paints/coatings industry, should usually select a pellistor based detection system, although they may not be suitable if silicones are present in the atmosphere.

Systems with infrared sensors: Operations with single or far fewer hazard types often find infrared technology is most suitable. Many distilleries, cosmetics producers and warehouses handling aerosols successfully use this option.

LPG cylinder filling operations or LPG distribution centres would also be better

www.hazardexonthenet.net

Alongside gas detection systems, vehicles

To ensure that the operator is instantly informed when gas is detected, the control module for the system should be located within easy reach and view of the operator.

Auto-calibration functions which remove the need for periodic and costly site visits by engineers having to recalibrate the gas detection are also useful.

Hazardous Area Vehicles 27

CASE STUDY: Explosion proof forklifts for ADPO chemical warehouses Pyroban and every three months the trucks are checked independently. Furthermore, every year specialist Pyroban engineers conduct a thorough safety audit known as the EX-ASA. “The EX-ASA ensures that the integrity and safety of the trucks is not compromised and gives us confidence that we are maintaining the equipment to the highest order,” says Karel.

Image: ADPO

C

hemical logistics business ADPO acquired a new generation of explosion proof forklift trucks for its Antwerp operations. Toyota forklift trucks were converted by Pyroban for use in Zone 2 hazardous areas.

flammable chemicals in sealed containers, so a flammable atmosphere is not expected unless by accident. However, each solvent or chemical liquid has a different characteristic so Pyroban made sure the protection covers all potential flashpoints and temperature classes.

“Safety is the number one priority across our three sites in Antwerp,” says Karel Stoop, responsible for Antwerp Distribution

The two new Toyota FDF30 forklift trucks were converted by Pyroban with full CE

and Products Operations (ADPO) mobile equipment. “With such significant volumes of flammable material being

approval in accordance with the ATEX Directive and EN 1755 standard. There is also written consent from Toyota in line with

stored and handled, we operate with the highest environmental, safety and health regulations without compromise.”

ISO 3691-1:2011.

ADPO’s main facility, on the left bank of the river Scheldt, is a 35ha integrated liquid bulk terminal where the company provides container logistics, tank storage, warehousing and drumming services.

At the terminal, ADPO operates 24,500m² of chemical warehousing in combination with five filling stations for drums and IBCs

the source of an ignition,” explains Karel.

The trucks are used to transport and store IBCs and palletised drums both inside and outside, load and unload containers, and load conveyor belts in Zone 2 areas.

The trucks are handling many different

About the author

The new trucks feature Pyroban’s system6000D, which prevents explosions by combining gas detection with various explosion protection methods. The pellistor based gas detection system detects the wide range of potential hazards found in the chemical warehouse at ADPO. It auto-calibrates and self-tests at start up to ensure it is working correctly and the whole solution is certified with gas groups IIA and IIB.

with a capacity of 400 tonnes per day.

“For more than ten years we have worked with Pyroban to ensure that the forklift trucks used in our Zone 2 areas cannot be

All safety critical components of Pyroban’s explosion protection system are inspected and recorded, including Exd enclosures, cables and glands, shutdown devices, conductivity and fork cladding. Irregularities are repaired immediately and a certificate issued.

ADPO operates a total forklift fleet of more than 60 machines across the three sites, many of which feature explosion protection from Pyroban. Shifts run from 6am to 5pm and each driver is assigned their own truck.

The trucks are regularly maintained by ADPO engineers at the well-equipped garage onsite with parts support from Toyota and Pyroban. The team of ADPO engineers is fully trained by Toyota and

Rob Vesty is UK Sales Manager for Pyroban and has worked for the company for 16 years. Working with various materials handling solution providers, his role includes end user support to ensure that the correct explosion protection specification is provided for equipment working in formally classified areas under the ATEX 2014/34/ EU Directive.

Past roles have included key account management with a responsibility for both service and service engineers, as well as sales and technical support to materials handling customers and end users in a wide range of different industries.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

2017

March 2nd & 3rd, Runcorn, Cheshire, UK

Protecting Plant, Process & Personnel HazardEx 2017 International Conference & Exhibition 2nd & 3rd March 2017 The two-day, biennial, International Conference and Exhibition for hazardous area specialists.

Conference delegate places and gala awards dinner seats still available, contact us for details • Dr Thorsten Arnhold, Chairman of IECEx, will speak on future developments within the IECEx system • Human Factors Consultant John Wilkinson and Simon Monnington of BP on knowledge and competence in high hazard industries • Rob Magraw of BakerRisk Europe on expanding risk assessment in the chemical and refining industries • Tony Ennis of Haztech Consultants on fire and explosion risk in biomass installations.

Other speakers will include the Principal Engineer, Process Instruments at Sellafield Ltd, senior figures within the HSE Hazardous Installations Directorate, Principal Process Safety Consultant at Lockheed Martin UK Information Systems, and Process Safety Manager Europe at NuStar Terminals Ltd, amongst many others.

Tel: +44 (0)1732 359990 or Email: hazardex@imlgroup.co.uk For more information go to:

www.hazardexonthenet.net

High risk site safety 29

Taking control of collision risk on waste sites O

n busy waste and recycling sites, the traffic in and out of a facility

they are in each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s danger zones.

Health (WISH) forum advises that operators undertake site traffic assessments as part

is at best, hectic. A third of all fatalities in the waste sector are due to workers being struck by vehicles. While the

This is where radio frequency identification (RFID) offers a new dimension in site safety by giving all site workers an extra level of

of their continual improvement programme, and implement physical measures and strict procedures to minimise risks to workers.

majority of these accidents take place on the road, waste management sites pose a particular risk because of the close proximity of pedestrian workers and heavy plant. Gary Escott, Director

control and protection. Able to see around corners, through dust and smoke and in poor light conditions, RFID is earning its place in the construction and waste management safety toolkit.

Physical measures that keep pedestrians and vehicles at a safe distance from each other include segregation using physical barriers, road design and signage, and reversing

of OnGrade, discusses how RFID technology can help improve waste management site safety.

Keeping your safety bubble intact

Even familiar safety precautions can sometimes fail in their purpose. In poor visibility conditions, standard PPE and even

According to the HSE, between 2010 and 2015 there were 5,000 cases of workrelated injury in the UK waste sector alone, equivalent to 4.1% per 100,000 workers.

cameras have proven fallible. The use of reversing beepers and other sound alarms also have limited efficacy, since workers are often wearing ear protectors and may not be aware of oncoming plant.

It is therefore vital that both drivers and pedestrians know, without a doubt, when

This is double the industry rate of injury in the Water, Waste and Recycling sector as a whole.

Fourteen cases of work-related injury were fatal, due to contact with vehicles or being struck by machinery. To improve site safety, the Waste Industry Safety and

alarms and cameras on vehicles. Safetydriven site operators are now also employing a new generation of safety tools to provide greater protection for their workers.

This is where RFID makes such a difference to safety. There are no physical objects or atmospheric conditions that obstruct its ability to function and it provides targeted warning alarms to both drivers and pedestrians should they enter each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s working area. Where in use, it is already influencing change for the better with collision avoidance and behavioural culture change.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

30 High risk site safety Having the use of technology is a good thing, however, reinforcing the message about using it is another. OnGrade started

The bubble system has proved effective with a number of clients and workplaces.

Apart from being a real time alert, the best RFID systems are an excellent benchmarking tool because they log all

an awareness campaign – ‘Don’t Burst The Bubble’. It works on the premise that each vehicle has a danger zone or ‘bubble’ around it, which for safety’s sake should not be breached.

Benchmarking, training and improving standards

Vehicles are fitted with RFID detectors, while pedestrians have RFID transponders fitted to their hard hat or sleeve. When a pedestrian enters the ‘bubble’ of a vehicle (which can be adjusted to suit each vehicle and site-specific conditions), both the

also largely dependent on the level of training that workers are given. This is particularly relevant for new recruits and trainees, young people who are particularly vulnerable to accidents, people changing jobs, or taking on new responsibilities; and

on site. Data recall informs targeted safety training, monitoring, saves on cost, time and improves efficiency.

pedestrian and driver receive a proximity warning.

workers who do not speak English as a first language.

The RFID tag vibrates, making the pedestrian aware of the vehicle, while the driver is alerted by sound and flashing lights.

This two-way alarm feature is fundamental to site safety, since responsibility for

Suppliers of mobile plant have reported that more customers are enquiring about intelligent site safety systems to reduce the risk of plant-personnel collisions. It is important to listen to plant operators - they

movements and trends can be compared in relation to safety standards. By using accurate data feedback, safety managers can develop a unified site-safety standard across the company and inform the direction of continued improvement.

avoiding accidents is shared by both parties.

are the ones on the front-line of site safety.

While RFID warning systems provide additional protection for site workers and strengthen the site safety toolbox, the efficacy of any safety measure is

OnGrade SiteZone bubble with base station, display unit, transponders and alarms

www.hazardexonthenet.net

near-miss incidents. Access to such data means that site managers can identify any repeat offenders who are at the highest risk of injury from potential collisions – whether from lack of awareness or not having permission to be in a certain area

Because the data is easily retrievable, it can be shared across multiple sites. Site

As highlighted by WISH, this combination of physical measures and procedural

High risk site safety 31

improvements leads to sites that are safer

identify how effective such a system could

to work on. Both pedestrian and in-vehicle workers have ownership of their personal safety and managers can do their job â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

be under particular circumstances.

through additional signage, for example, or targeted training.

a luxury for large companies, but are increasingly used by SMEs and sole traders as RFID systems can be hired, allowing maximum flexibility.

Commitment to site safety development

These safety systems are no longer mainly

With safety continuing to be a key challenge in the waste sector, RFID warning and data

This state-of-the-art technology has the potential to vastly improve on-site safety

logging systems are fast becoming a crucial part of the site safety toolbox. The number of companies and local authorities adopting such systems is constantly growing as managers realise the clear benefits that an

for those working in the waste sector. The data logging element can be used by health and safety managers to influence company culture, ownership and control via the head office. In turn, senior management can

intelligent safety system provides.

then influence training and supervision in order to encourage more competence, communications and compliance.

RFID systems are usually highly effective on waste management sites because they do not rely on line-of-sight in the same way that CCTV cameras do. For managers considering introducing a RFID safety system, an on-site consultation will help

About the author

With a holistic approach to training and awareness using the right tools, site-based collision risk in the waste sector could become a thing of the past.

Gary Escott co-founded OnGrade Ltd in 2010 with the goal of bringing innovation to the world of positioning and machine control on construction and waste sites, and is currently a directly of the company. He previously worked as Sales & Marketing Director of Prolec, Vice President Sales & Marketing at Monox and Business Development Manager at SF Detection.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

32 Event preview

MEOS 2017 Dates: 6-9 March 2017 Location: Manama, Bahrain The 20th Society of Petroleum Engineers Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference (MEOS 2017) will give unique insights into the region’s mega projects and new technologies, and offers case studies and topical discussions led by international industry leaders.

Of paramount importance to the continuing success of MEOS is its Middle East focused conference programme. Organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) in

collaboration with a committee of regional and international oil company representatives, over the years it has evolved into the largest and best attended technical event of its kind in the region.

The conference typically features over 300 high quality technical presentations, a series of panel sessions led by presidents, vice presidents, CEOs, deputy managing directors, and chairmen of key players and a high ranking collection of keynote speakers.

The MEOS exhibition is the most established showcase of oil and gas products and services

in the Middle East, attracting NOCs, IOCs and major operating companies. Inaugurated in 1979, the profile covers all areas of the upstream oil and gas industry and this three day event consistently attracts over 8,000 high quality attendees. http://meos17.com

Process Safety in Oil and Gas Conference Dates: 7-8 March 2017 Location: Houston, TX, USA

process engineering, HSE or plant management and operations, you will take away valuable

Spread over two days in the energy capital of the

insight on how to mitigate risks and improve safety practices.

world, the 2nd Annual Process Safety in Oil and Gas conference will bring together senior specialists within Process Safety Management and HSE. This valuable forum will facilitate collaboration, topical discussion, interactive roundtable sessions, and 15 thought-provoking presentations on the industry’s

• Share ideas and grow your network with leaders in oil and gas exploration and production, drilling, refining, and pipelines

key challenges and solutions.

• Resolve issues within the sphere of compliance maintenance – stay on top of new regulation updates and what they mean for

The Process Safety in Oil and Gas conference is a relevant and timely opportunity for you to benchmark against industry best practice and establish a proactive strategy. Whether you’re responsible for process safety management,

your organisation • Navigate the increasingly difficult challenges in corporate management buy-in and safety accountability across your organisation • Stay abreast of effective process safety management tools and technology that

support a proactive strategy • Discover new approaches to safety culture and cross-departmental collaboration for increased safety performance and continuous improvement https://energyconferencenetwork.com/ process-safety-oil-gas-2017

Global Congress on Process Safety Dates: 26-29 March 2017 Location: San Antonio, TX, USA Each year the Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) and the AIChE Safety & Health Division present the Global Congress on Process Safety (GCPS). From its initial meeting in 2005, GCPS has grown into the world’s largest gathering practitioners from industry, regulatory bodies and academia.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

Highlights • AGILE Award Keynote Address • AGILE Award winner John Y. Televantos, Partner, Arsenal Capital Partners will deliver the 2017 Keynote Address.

• 13th GCPS Short Courses • The 13th GCPS will offer 8 short courses ranging from Human Factors to Dust Explosions. Short courses will take place on Sunday, March 26, 2017 from 9:00AM - 5:00PM

www.aiche.org/ccps/conferences/ global-congress-on-processsafety/2017

Product Datafiles 33

Safe and Sound with Peli Safety Torches Peli UK have a wide range of ATEX approved torches for professionals working in hazardous areaswhere special precautions are required when using electrical equipment in potentially explosiveatmospheres. Each torch in the Peli safety range is certified to current ATEX requirements for Zone 0 or Zone 1, ideal for industrial and offshore use. The range includes rugged, hand held torches from the pocket sized Peli 1900Z1 to the rechargeable Peli 9415Z0 LED hand lamp. For hands free use, there is a range of ATEX head torches which include straps for head or helmet use, directional beams and switches designed for use with gloved hands. The Peli 2785Z1 head torch features a rear battery compartment with a red tail light

as an additional safety feature. The clip-on torches also offerhands free use including the 3315Rz1, a rechargeable torch with a right angled head adapter.

With a comprehensive choice of size and light output, from the small clip-on Peli 2220Z1 torch to the rechargeable Peli 9415Z0, the Peli range offers high quality safety lighting for every need and budget. Our range of safety torches carry our legendary “You break it, we replace it” lifetime guarantee.

For more details telephone 01457 869999 or go to goo.gl/JHCSb6 to view the ATEX certified range.

One and two input Counters simplify applications in hazardous and safe areas

An Engineer’s 3 Step Guide to selecting a static grounding solution

BEKA associates new one and two input pulse Counters can economically perform industrial counting functions in hazardous and safe areas. All models have large easy to read displays with optional backlighting, isolated synchronous pulse and 4/20mA outputs, plus dual alarms. The two input Counters can display the sum or difference of the inputs in engineering units and when configured for use with a quadrature encoder, the position and speed of a shaft or cable can be shown.

Intrinsically safe models with ATEX, IECEx, US and Canadian certification may be installed in gas and dust hazardous areas. For applications in Zone 2 or 22, Ex nA and Ex tc approval of the stainless steel model permits installation without the need for Zener barriers or galvanic isolators, significantly reducing cost. http://www.beka.co.uk/panel_mounting_ counter s.html or phone the BEKA sales office on 01462 438301.

Hazop assessments, and the reports that follow on from them, are a great way of capturing and identifying processes and practices that could lead to the ignition of flammable atmospheres through discharges of static electricity.

What Hazop reports are not so great at doing is identifying what the grounding solution to eliminate the risk should look like.

This 3 Step Guide is about helping you get started on the right path and can be best described as a door opener to the subject of hazardous area static control.

For more information please contact Newson Gale. www.newson-gale.co.uk

Ex-rated LED Floodlight and Lowbay for hazardous areas Fully ATEX and IECEx certified for use in Zone 1 and Zone 2 hazardous locations, the Gamma range combines the energy saving benefits of a LED light source with rugged industrial construction for use in the harshest of environments.

Abtech’s Gamma LED luminaire range that features both a high output floodlight and a low glare version incorporating Abtech’s patented optical light guide technology. Compact and flexible, the Gamma can be used as either a floodlight or a lowbay The high output option provides up to 13,600 lumens, whilst the LG option is designed to combat the effects of disability glare. Both feature full marine grade stainless steel construction.

Configured for area lighting, the 96W Gamma provides an even and uniform distribution of light. It generates over 13,600 lumens of crisp white light and is rated for T3 hazardous areas at 55°C ambient.

The low glare Gamma LG is designed to minimise the effects usually associated with glare by utilising a patented optical array. The Gamma LG is ideal for use in height restricted or congested areas where there is a need for higher levels of white light, such as over pumps or rotating machinery, but without introducing the potentially debilitating effect of glare.

All Gamma variants incorporate harmonic and overvoltage protection and are supplied with a five-year complete system warranty.

T: +44 (0)114 2442424, E: sales@abtech.eu W: http://www.abtech.eu/latest/gamma/

Casella celebrates Intrinsically Safe approval for Apex2

STZ Functional Safety Dual Input Smart HART Temperature Transmitter from Moore Industries

Following a rigorous testing process, Casella has announced Intrinsically Safe approval for its Apex2 personal dust sampling pump range, with class leading performance and capability.

The range includes three separate models - the Apex 2, Apex 2 Plus and Apex 2 Pro, with different functionality to meet varying requirements.

Incorporating Bluetooth connectivity with Casella’s bespoke Airwave software, workers can be monitored remotely without being distracted, boosting productivity levels. Monitoring specialists can view the status of their pump on a worker and start, stop or even pause the tool from a smart device. This software is simple and easy to use, providing real-time status updates, allowing collected data to be emailed alongside photos and notes, adding context to the data.

The SIL-3 capable, exida-approved STZ Functional Safety Dual Input Smart HART Temperature Transmitter from Moore Industries is a dependable and accurate temperature transmitter for use in Safety Instrumented Systems where dangerous processes occur.

It is part of the FS FUNCTIONAL SAFETY SERIES of products that have received certification from exida after rigorous evaluation to ensure conformance with strict IEC 61508:2010 standards.

The STZ offers a dual sensor input that reduces process interruptions. Backup and Fail-Over Protection allows either of the sensors or inputs to be designated as the primary measurement, with the secondary input acting as the backup sensor. The dual sensor input allows for Average and Differential measurements and High-Select and Low-Select options.

www.casellasolutions.com

http://www.miinet.com/safetyseries

Tel: 01234 844100

info@casellasolutions.com

34 Buyers Guide

For a complete range of hazardous area solutions Intrinsic Safety Isolators • Zener Barriers • Zone 1&2 Remote I/O • Fieldbus Exe Enclosures • Exd Control Panels • Ex Lighting • Purge Solutions • Zone 1 & 2 HMI’s PC’s

www.pepperl-fuchs.co.uk Batteries

Tel.: 0161 6336431

Consultancy

sales@gb.pepperl-fuchs.com

Electrical

Electrical Distributor

®

Powerful New ATEX-Approved Batteries

RANDALL & DANIELS ELECTRICAL LTD n n n n n n

Your Source Onshore For Everything Electrical Offshore R&M is the UK’s largest independent electrical group serving the Oil and Gas industries.

023 80341 444

www.rm-electrical.com

Tel: +44 (0) 1792 813231 Fax: +44 (0) 1792 321816

Advanced batteries and protection whatever the environment

www.rd-electrical.com email: mail@rd-electrical.com

Call 0161 727 3860 for further details

SAFETY PLUGS PROTECT FROM ARC FLASH

Control Panels Cable Glands

Instrumentation Trace Heating Electrical Control Panels Leak Detection ATEX Inspections

Explosion protection

Total Explosion Protection ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

J.B. Systems Ltd EExd & EExe enclosures Custom built panels, terminal boxes & control stations

DECONTACTOR™ Switch Rated AC-23 Socket ATEX/IECEx rated up to 200 A Compliant to ISO OHSAS 18001

Tel: 01296 489967 Fax: 01296 393515 Email: sales@jbsystems.co.uk Website: www.jbsystems.co.uk

Tel: 03330 124 048 sales.uk@marechal.com

Explosion Proof Cranes

Conventional venting Flameless venting Explosion isolation Explosion suppression Testing services Expert advice

Contact us today!

Fike UK, 35 Earl Street Maidstone, Kent ME14 1PF, UK T: +44 (0) 1622 677081 E: info@fike.co.uk www.fike.co.uk

Hazardous Area Specialist

Control Panels

HazardEx_43x60_0117_v2.indd 1

09/01/2017 18:28

In Control

EXd & EXe Control Systems Design Using the Latest AutoCAD software, based on your specification

Manufacture Drawings approved, we then build the system in-house

Test

Your total solutions provider

t-s-e.co.uk Trant System Electrical Southampton SO40 9AH 023 8042 8700 HAZARDOUS AREA PRODUCTS info@t-s-e.co.uk

www.hazardexonthenet.net

Specialist in design and custom build of a wide range of high-quality, hazardous area enclosures, terminal boxes & control stations

We flash test as standard, we also offer injection testing & more

Delivery All around the world, Packaging to suit your Circumstances

Install & Commission Our engineers are fully qualified and we have carried out successful works in over 50 countries On & Offshore

Tel: +44 (0) 1384 48 48 05 Email: sales@banelec.co.uk Web: www.banelec.co.uk

BARTEC MCC

CONTROL PANELS

PLC

SCADA

APPROVED OEM INSTALLER FOR CORTEM EXD ENCLOSURES

Approved Partner

-perts in Hazardous Area Automation...

Consultancy Design Installation Commissioning Maintenance Atex Inspection

01482 898080 inspecsystems.co.uk

Explosion Proof Cranes

Heaters

Training

Training Courses & Consultancy for Industrial & Hazardous Areas

www.epitgroup.com

Hazardous Area Specialist Trace Heating

&

Raychem

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP n n n n n n

Design Supply Installation Maintenance Commissioning Thermal Insulation Tel: +44 (0) 1792 813231 Fax: +44 (0) 1792 321816

www.rdtraceheating.co.uk email: sales@rdtraceheating.co.uk

29350 Buyers Guide Ad V2.qxp 11/01/201

To advertise in the Product Datafiles or Buyers Guide contact

Regional Specialist for IOSH Training and Safety Passports

Kathryn Startin

01642 770310

on +44 (0)1732 359990 or kathryn.startin@imlgroup.co.uk

www.tte.co.uk

ATEX â&#x20AC;&#x201C; IECEx

MACHINES AND EQUIPMENT Zone 1 and Zone 2 DIESEL POWER PACKS Zone 2 GENSET Ex e Stainless Steel BATTERIES Ex d Stainless Steel and Light Alloys CONTROL PANELS MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT For All Zones Ex e BATTERIES excen_190x45.indd 4

sales@excen.it

www.excen.it

DIESEL POWER PACKS 14/07/15 15.02