Hex 17 06

hazardexonthenet.net

Electrostatics Liquid and powder processing hazards Arc flash Prediction and prevention

Electrostatics

Lighting

Cybersecurity

Conductivity in fluids in explosive atmospheres

Emergency lighting solutions for hazardous areas

Threats and mitigation in the energy sector

June 2017

the journal for hazardous area environments

The 2018 Hazardex International Conference and Exhibition will be taking place once again at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Runcorn, Cheshire, UK, on February 28 and March 1.

The two-day Conference & Exhibition, which also includes workshops, a networking dinner and awards ceremony, aims to strengthen and expand the community that looks to the Hazardex website and journal for industry intelligence and information.

New for 2018 will be the Industry 4.0 village & workshop, which will focus on the safety and security aspects of this key global issue.

The other main areas of interest at next year’s conference will be systems, procedures, competence, human factors, legislation, non-electrical, risk and asset management, but anyone with an original take on any aspect of hazardous area operations or process safety is encouraged to get in touch.

The conference committee has also issued a special request for end user/ operator experiences, particularly relating to regulation, cultural change, ageing plant and decommissioning.

Sponsorship or exhibitor queries should be addressed to the Event Director Russell Goater at russell.goater@imlgroup.co.uk or phone +44 (0) 1732 359990.

Please contact Hazardex Editor Alan Franck – alan.franck@imlgroup.co.uk – to submit presentations for consideration or for any queries about the conference.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

contents june 2017 The Trump administration plans to scrap the US Chemical Safety and hazard Investigation Board (CSB), the independent federal agency that investigates major chemical and oil industry incidents.

The CSB has no regulatory power but is influential because its recommendations are often adopted by industry and government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Of all the changes introduced by the Trump team since taking over the US presidency in January, this has to be one of the most damaging for the employees of high hazard sector companies and their surrounding communities.

14 16

standards on worker fatigue, greater reporting of hazardous chemicals to first responders, and have prompted companies to keep workers not directly involved in projects out of harm’s way.

Its probe into the fatal Deepwater Horizon rig explosion led to new standards for safety in the offshore oil industry and in well equipment. And on Page 8 of this edition we detail a more recent intervention, the CSB’s final report into the 2015 explosion at the Torrance refinery in Greater Los Angeles which avoided multiple fatalities by a whisker.

As energy systems become ever more widely connected, cyber security threats carry potential wider repercussions

20

It is hard to disagree with former EPA head Christine Todd Whitman, who, reacting to this news, told Reuters: “If you want to put the American people in danger, this is the way to do it.”

The CSB’s reviews of major accidents have led to industry

…Alan Franck, Editor, Hazardex

Electric arc, and the resulting arc flash, is one of the deadliest and least understood hazards of electricity

in this issue 28

News Extra

5

• Anti-piracy NGO says West Africa, Somalia and South-East Asia remain problem areas • Spain’s fracking plans called into question • Spain abandons offshore gas storage project due to earthquake risk • CSB report into 2015 refinery blast blames gaps in ExxonMobil’s process safety management • Mexico oil theft reaches crisis proportions • Fatal Colorado home blast caused by uncapped pipe from gas well

13

Standards: Globetrotting and profile-raising

14

EMC regulatory compliance does not ensure functional safety

16

Cybersecurity in the energy sector

20

Predicting and preventing arc flash

24

Electrostatic hazards associated with liquid and powder processing

28

Conductivity in flammable and potentially explosive atmospheres

32

Emergency lighting solutions for hazardous areas

36

Event previews

37

Datafiles & Buyers Guide

As fluids are pumped, stirred or mixed, and solids dissolved or crystallized, there is the potential to generate static

32

Emergency lighting is critical to safety in hazardous areas, especially where there is a risk of power failure

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

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News Extra

5

Eight crew members taken from the Iranian dhow Siraj in 2015 have yet to be released.

Piracy and armed robbery in the Western Indian Ocean region affected a total of 545 seafarers in 2016 at a total cost of $1.7 billion, up from $1.3 billion in 2015.

Some $725 million of this was contracted maritime services and another $225 million the cost of international naval activities.

In Asia, although there was a reduction in the number of seafarers subjected to

Anti-piracy NGO says West Africa, Somalia and South-East Asia were main problem areas in 2016

A

attacks (2,283, down from 3,674 in 2015), the plethora of incidents in the Sulu and Celebes Seas has meant that many vessels are re-routing around these waters. In 2016, 67 seafarers were taken hostage in 21 incidents in the Sulu and Celebes Seas, with 6 killed.

report issued on May 2 by anti-

increased incidents of kidnap for ransom is

piracy NGO Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP) found an upsurge in pirate activity in some areas, and residual problems

that the model offers financial gain with less risk to the perpetrators than hijacking for cargo theft,” said Maisie Pigeon, one of the

in areas where previous years had seen a reduction in piracy. The 2016 State of Maritime Piracy report includes analyses of the situation in the Western Indian

authors of the OBP report.

Ocean, West Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

in the Western Indian Ocean has evened out at around $1.5 billion.

traversing inland waterways have affected crews and passengers alike, and the number of attacks on yachts at anchorage

The main areas with significant pirate activity were West Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Sulu and Celebes Seas between

As coalition forces have ended or decreased their commitments, independent deployments from various countries such

and in open water is concerning. This region presents a unique set of challenges because of the frequency of attacks on

Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

as China, India and Japan now account for the majority of days on station with relation to naval counter-piracy operations.

yachts rather than the mostly merchant vessels observed in other regions.

Armed attacks on ships in West African waters nearly doubled in 2016, with pirates increasingly focused on kidnapping crews for ransom off Nigeria’s coast. OBP recorded 95 attacks in West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea in 2016, up from 54 the previous year.

Cargo theft, once the main focus of piracy in the region, has given way to an increase in kidnappings, with 96 crew members taken hostage in 18 separate incidents, compared to 44 in 2015.

OBP estimated the total economic cost of maritime crime in West Africa at nearly $794 million.

“One of the reasons we are observing

For the first time in 2016, Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP) expanded its State of Piracy analysis to include incidents of piracy and armed robbery in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Key Horn/East Africa findings show that the total cost of counter-piracy operations

In an attempt to lower costs, ship operators are increasingly shifting towards privately contracted armed security teams comprising three rather than four members (almost 70% in Q4 2016). The OBP says decreased vigilance and deterrence in this area is providing pirate networks with the opportunity to attack vulnerable vessels.

Recent attacks on passenger vessels

In 2016, OBP recorded 27 incidents of piracy and armed robbery in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. OBP recorded eight failed attacks, one case of suspicious activity, and one instance of kidnapping. However, of most concern are the 12 successful armed robberies and the five successful robberies recorded in 2016.

There were 27 reported incidents in 2016,

OBP says it believes that it is possible to

although no vessels were successfully hijacked.

end violence at sea and that identifying and explaining the significance of these crimes is an important step in achieving this mission.

The Hostage Support Partnership (HSP) secured the release 26 Naham 3 crew members, who were held for over 4½ years and released on 22 October 2016.

To see the report go to http:// oceansbeyondpiracy.org/reports/sop

www.hazardexonthenet.net

6

News Extra

Spain’s fracking plans

called into question

T

At the beginning of the decade, the conservative government in power at

In March 2016, with the PP no longer in a majority position, congressional groups

the time - the Popular Party (PP) – was strongly supportive of efforts to create a shale gas industry. At a time when domestic hydrocarbon production was declining, exploiting these reserves by hydraulic fracturing - fracking - was seen as a way to counter the decline.

presented an initiative calling on the government to ban the practice. By then, companies were already pulling out of Spain, partly because of a global drop in gas and oil prices.

The potential value of shale gas reserves in Spain was put at €700 billion, according to ACIEP, and five companies set up a pro-fracking lobby group called Shale Gas España: BNK; Heyco; R2 Energy; San Leon and Sociedad de Hidrocarburos de Euskadi (SHESA).

SHESA , a public corporation owned by the Basque government, has ceded one of its five licenses, covering fracking rights on a section of land known as Angosto 1 and extending over Cantabria, the Basque Country and the region of Castilla y León.

It has four other licenses, but plans to use conventional techniques there.

he Basque Country and Cantabria regions in the north of Spain contain a shale gas supply

But increasing opposition to fracking amongst environmental groups found

Of the other companies, BNK gave up on its two licenses in 2016, and San Leon did the same with its six. When the PP lost

potential equal to 70 years of consumption, according to a 2013 report commissioned by the Spanish

fertile ground among the populations where exploitation would have taken place and despite government support, several

control over the regional government of Valencia in 2015, R2 Energy announced it would not use fracking under its three

Association of Hydrocarbon Research, Exploration and Production companies (ACIEP). A number of companies

regional assemblies, including those of Cantabria and the Basque Country, supported anti-fracking regulations. This

licenses there. And Heyco was working in association with SHESA.

became involved in early efforts to develop these resources, but low gas prices and strong local and regional

included legislation that places such high environmental demands on operators that most shale projects would be non-viable.

With a similar lack of success in Poland, this leaves the UK as the only EU country still interested in developing shale gas via

opposition have thwarted those plans.

fracking.

Spain abandons offshore gas storage project due to earthquake risk metres of natural gas, equivalent to the country’s total consumption over a period of

In October 2014, a year after halting activity at the storage facility, the government paid

17 days, in order to cover spikes in use and interruptions to supply.

Escal UGS, the company behind the project, more than €1.4 billion to take control of the plant. The cost to the government for

Liquid natural gas was to be piped into the empty Vinaròs Castellon oil field via a 13.6-mile-long offshore pipeline. But

the failed project later rose to €1.7 billion.

Spanish energy company Enagas took over the installation in 2014, putting it in to

he Spanish Minister of Energy, Álvaro Nadal, said on May 3 that the Castor offshore gas storage project will be abandoned after final confirmation from a team including Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University experts that gas injection into the field was causing tremors and

following the multiple earth tremors, one of which measured 4.2 on the Richter scale, the government halted the project at the end of 2013.

hibernation.

minor earthquakes.

as a result of the gas injections,” the energy ministry said in a statement.

T

“The localisation of the tremors coincide with the Amposta fault line and the studies conclude that this fault was put under stress

The €1.7bn cost will be paid for by consumers on their gas bills over the next 30 years. Keeping the storage plant in hibernation will cost another €15 million.

Nadal said the field abandonment operation

Making use of a depleted oil field 1,700 meters below the sea, the Castor gas storage plant was meant to be part of a

Some 500 tremors were detected in the adjacent coastal region after gas injections

would be delicate and would take time as removing gas from the field might also destabilise the fault. A decision on removing the gas in the storage facility and dismantling the facility will depend on future

network designed to hold 1.3 billion cubic

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8

News Extra

Torrance refinery - Image: Torrance Refining Company

The refinery relied on safeguards that could not be verified, and re-used a previous procedure deviation without a sufficient hazard analysis of the current process conditions.

Finally, the slide valve - a safety-critical safeguard within the system - was degraded significantly.

The report notes that it is vital to ensure that

CSB final report into 2015 California refinery blast blames gaps in ExxonMobil’s

safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. As a result, when the valve was needed during an emergency, it did not work as intended, and hydrocarbons were able to reach an ignition source.

2015 explosion at the Torrance oil refinery in suburban Los Angeles injured four workers and threatened to release a toxic cloud endangering

neighbourhood and cause “serious injury or death to many community members.”

The CSB also found that in multiple instances leading up to the incident, the refinery directly violated ExxonMobil’s corporate safety standards. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements.

“This explosion and near miss should not have

In July 2016, the Torrance refinery was sold

150,000 nearby residents, the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) said in its final report on the

happened, and likely would not have happened, had a more robust process safety management system been in place,” said Vanessa Allen

by ExxonMobil to PBF Holdings Company which now operates as the Torrance Refining Company. Since the February 2015 explosion,

incident issued on May 3. The 73-page report identified technical issues that led to the blast and indicated that safety issues remain on the site.

Sutherland, chair of the CSB. “The report concludes that the unit was operating without proper procedures,” she added.

the refinery has experienced multiple incidents, including: • A November 15, 2016, fire that occurred while work was being conducted on a portion of

ExxonMobil — which owned the refinery at the time — said it regrets the incident and will work

The explosion occurred in the refinery’s fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, where a variety of products, mainly gasoline, are produced.

the refinery; • A February 1, 2017, fire that occurred in the Torrance refinery tank farm;

with the board to understand the findings and recommendations. The damage caused the refinery to be run at limited capacity for over a

A reaction between hydrocarbons and catalyst takes place in what is known as the “hydrocarbon side” of the FCC unit. The

• A February 18, 2017, pump-related fire that occurred in the crude unit.

year, raising gas prices in California and costing drivers in the state an estimated $2.4 billion.

remainder of the FCC unit is comprised of a portion of the reaction process and a series of pollution control equipment that uses air and is

“The CSB’s final report concludes that the refinery must adopt a robust safety management system in order to prevent future incidents,”

The blast on 18 February 2015 occurred when flammable hydrocarbons flowed into a spark-producing pollution control device called the electrostatic precipitator, which was being

known as the “air side” of the unit.

said Mark Wingard, a Chemical Safety Board investigator. “Events at this facility keep occurring — adoption of the CSB’s safety recommendations will minimize the chances of

prepared for maintenance.

of the FCC unit, as this can create an explosive atmosphere. The CSB determined that on the day of the incident a slide valve that acted as a barrier failed. That failure ultimately allowed hydrocarbons to flow into the air side of the FCC, where they ignited in a piece of equipment called the electrostatic precipitator, or ESP, causing an explosion of the ESP.

process safety management

A

The explosion destroyed a large part of the refinery, shook the neighbouring community 20 miles southwest of Los Angeles and sent a fine white ash raining down on nearby homes and cars.

The CSB’s report emphasises that it is critical that hydrocarbons do not flow into the air side

The blast tossed a 40-ton piece of equipment within feet of another unit where tens of thousands of pounds of modified hydrofluoric acid were stored in tanks. The safety board previously said that this event carried the

In its final report, the CSB describes multiple gaps in the refinery’s process safety management system, allowing for the operation of the FCC unit without pre-established safe

potential to release a toxic cloud into the

operating limits and criteria for a shut down.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

future incidents.”

PBF Energy said it already has begun taking action to address the Chemical Safety Board’s concerns and recommendations.

The company said it plans to complete two studies later this year that will help address all concerns and will invest more than $100 million in a maintenance turnaround at Torrance to improve the refinery’s operational reliability,” For a CSB animation of the causes of the Torrance refinery explosion go to www.csb.gov

News Extra

9

Mexico oil theft reaches crisis proportions pipeline carrying gasoline from refineries to distribution points. The pipelines are mostly buried at a shallow depth and can be perforated with high-powered drills, after which taps are installed and the fuel diverted through hoses to stolen tanker trucks.

These taps can be deadly. In 2010, at least 27 people were killed, scores injured and numerous homes destroyed when a

I

pipeline blew up in San Martín Texmelucan de Labastida, a city in Puebla State.

Smaller scale incidents since then have led to many other deaths and injuries across the country.

n Mexico, thieves are now stealing gasoline and diesel fuel from pipelines at record rates, usually

Some have attributed the increase in thefts to the recent 20% gas price hike in Mexico, with low-income families struggling to buy

In 2009, the authorities discovered 462 illegal taps on the nation’s pipelines and

by drilling taps into pipelines. Such activities have resulted in the deaths of dozens of people in recent years, both

fuel through official distribution networks, and there have been widespread protests across Mexico against the price increase.

estimated that fewer than 580,000 litres a day were being lost. Last year they discovered 6,873 taps — a nearly 15-fold

from gang involvement and explosions at the tap sites, and are diverting more than a billion dollars a year in revenues from the federal government.

Against this background, some see the oil thieves, known locally as ‘huachicoleros’, as Robin Hood figures, helping the poor

On May 4, at least four soldiers and 11 suspected oil thieves died in a battle in

increase.

to fight back against government-imposed austerity.

The epicentre of oil theft in Mexico is in the so-called ‘Red Triangle’ of Puebla state, through which a major pipeline carries gasoline and diesel fuel to Mexico City from a refinery in the adjoining state of Veracruz.

the central Mexican state of Puebla after the army launched a major operation against organised criminals siphoning

Pemex has seen its finances turned around after the price hike, reporting profits of US$17.4 billion during the first three

In Puebla, the authorities discovered more than 1,500 illegal taps on pipelines last

fuel from pipelines. Some 600 soldiers were involved in the initial operation, the state government said, with another 400

months of 2017. The company suffered significant losses during the same quarter last year.

year, nearly double the number found in 2015 and nearly a quarter of the national total, Pemex officials said.

In an April report, the New York Times highlighted the increasing involvement of Mexican gangs in large-scale oil theft,

Profits from oil theft and smuggling are such that many local officials and police have been corrupted by the gangs, and the

which is seen by some as an easier alternative to the drugs market. The best organised and most ruthless criminal organisations are using bribery and violence to co-opt officials at all levels of government, it said, including workers at Pemex, the state-owned energy company.

federal government has deployed about 500 security personnel to the Red Triangle in recent weeks to combat the problem.

Scores of arrests have followed, but the theft has not abated.

Other than drilling into pipelines, the gangs also hijack tanker trucks, taking between 1% and 2% of the total volume transported every day, according to the NYT.

investors into the country’s oil sector.

Industry observers say the government’s failure to control oil theft will make investment in the sector considerably less attractive to those foreign companies with

But the main target is the 5,600 miles of

the expertise the country needs.

backed by helicopters and truck-mounted weapons joining them.

Television images showed locals blocking a nearby highway with burning tires in the wake of the attacks. Reuters said local media reported that the protesters blamed the army for starting the incidents.

The clash is the latest chapter in a growing problem for the Mexican government.

State-run oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) says it is losing a record 27,000 barrels (3.68 million litres) per day of gasoline and diesel, with the states of Puebla, Tamaulipas, Guanajuato and Veracruz the worst affected.

This comes at a time when the Mexican government is seeking to attract private

www.hazardexonthenet.net

10 News Extra

Fatal Colorado home blast caused by uncapped pipe from gas well T

ed Poszywak, chief of the FrederickFirestone Fire Protection District, told reporters on May 2 that his investigators

The two dead were working on a water heater in the basement and at some point in their work the gas ignited, blowing the house

had uncovered the cause of the April 17 house explosion in Firestone, 30 miles (45 km) north of Denver, that killed two and

to rubble and critically injuring the third.

would be required to perform pressure tests on flow lines which carry gas from wells to storage tanks or other collection points to identify which ones were leaking.

At the same time, Colorado Governor John

But Matt Lepore, director of the Colorado

seriously injured another. An uncapped pipeline leading to a gas well nearby had leaked odourless, unrefined natural gas

Hickenlooper ordered inspections and tests of all active and abandoned gas pipelines within 1,000 feet (300 metres) of occupied

Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, said at the press conference that state well inspections and regulations would not

into the soil that seeped into the house.

buildings. He said energy companies

necessarily prevent a similar tragedy from

News Extra 11

occurring in the future and that authorities, oil and gas operators and no-doubt lawmakers and concerned citizens will engage in “a continuing conversation about what happens next” to reassure concerned residents.

The Colorado Statesman quoted him as saying: “The COGCC inspects about 40,000 wells a year,” Lepore said, “I think 49,000 last year… but there is no comprehensive map of [well] flow lines.

This flow line was cut relatively close to the home and the fact that it was cut that close

lines were not leaking in dangerous ways — into foundation drains, for example, as fire inspectors just hours before had reported was the case at the home in Firestone.

“What happened was highly unusual…

It was horrible and horrifying,” Lepore said. “And we will seek to minimise the possibility of this happening again — and I think [oil and gas] operators will be hypervigilant about this going forward.”

An uncapped pipeline leading to a gas well nearby had leaked odourless, unrefined natural gas into the soil that seeped into the house

and left uncapped matters more than the fact that the home was less than 200 feet from the well.”

Lepore said that the state does not test the integrity of lines where pressure measures less than 15 pounds per square inch. He said there are many well lines of all sorts across the state — and across Weld County in particular where the home explosion occurred — and he seemed unsure how the state and operators might go about making sure all abandoned well

had shut down 3,000 similar vertical wells across the area to carry out leak tests, a move that was followed several days later by another oil company active in and around Firestone, Great Western Oil & Gas, which announced it would shut and test 61 wells.

In response to the fatal explosion in Firestone, Democratic legislators are pushing a bill that would require oil and gas companies to inform the state where their pipelines are located and for the state to create an online mapping database for the public.

Oil and gas industry groups have expressed opposition to this, and Republican politicians are trying to remove restrictions on drilling, recently imposed in the Boulder area.

Over a number years there has been

Anadarko Petroleum owns the 20-year-old well 170 feet (60 metres) from the remains of the house to which the leaking pipe was attached. It announced on April 26 it

considerable tension between gas patch residents and drillers over the proximity of oil and gas infrastructure to homes and schools. This is likely to have been heightened by the events in Firestone.

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New Hazardous Area Equipment Market report – 3 Jan 2017

Display instrumentation for use in hazardous and safe areas

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 – 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

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Standards 13

IECEx: Globetrotting and profile-raising comprehensively the time was much too short. Even if the both systems look similar there are significant differences.

The best argument which speaks for

the end of the conference was scheduled to last 30 minutes but had to be brought to an end after two hours since some of the foreign experts risked missing their flights

IECEx outside of Europe is the fact that in our organisation all member countries are able to actively influence its continued development. As ATEX is European law, only member countries of the European Community have similar rights under this legislation.

home. I left Shanghai with a strong feeling that IECEx in China will be a success story in the coming years!

Two weeks later I went to Australia. In

Two weeks later I flew to Manchester to join the series of working groups and Committee meetings held in Hawarden, over the Welsh border, hosted by the CSA group. The five days of meetings were

Sydney I carried out an Audit of our IECEx office there, one of my duties as Chair of the System. The Audit was positive

again extremely busy, with the main goal the preparation of our annual Management Committee Meeting which will take place at

and I could see that both structures and procedures were in good shape, and the handful of people working in the IECEx

the end of September in Washington D.C.

office there are doing a great job running the day-to-day business of our large organisation. They are an important factor

Mark Coppler, chairman of TC31, was a very welcome guest and active participant.

Over the last few years, the relationship

Hawarden in Wales, these were the destinations of my latest trips as the Chairman of the IECEx System.

ensuring the high quality of our services in a safety-sensitive field of industry.

between IECEx and TC31 has become closer and more efficient. During the last TC31 meeting in Sydney in February,

In each of these locations the growing success of our organisation was apparent, all based on the excellent work of our members. In March, I started my spring journey in Dubai.

this relationship was given official status with a liaison program being created to be controlled by the new AdHoc working group AHG 40.

My company, R.STAHL, had organised a ‘Kiosk Day’ and introduced customers from the Middle East region to our

From Sydney I flew to Shanghai. Here in the Marriott City Centre Hotel our annual International IECEx conference took place. Like in the Middle East, the interest in the IECEx System was amazing! 450 participants, most from the People’s Republic but also from other Asian countries, came to join our two day event.

The conference program was a mix of

products and services. More than 150 people came to the event and I had a booth where I explained the status and benefits of IECEx to a very interested audience. It was a busy day and it became

presentations about Chinese standards and conformity assessments and how they are adjusted to the international IEC and IECEx standards and rules, the latest developments of the IECEx system and

standards and conformity assessments are in place to ensure safety at all times.

increasingly apparent that IECEx is gaining more and more acceptance in the region.

As usual, the question I was asked most frequently was about the difference between ATEX and IECEx.

discussions on practical applications in the Chinese process industry.

expansion in the market for portable tablet computers for hazardous areas.

To enable manufacturers to design safe and smart products, we need quick additions to the relevant standards and a rapid transformation of certification processes.

IECEx Chairman Prof. Dr. Thorsten Arnhold comments on the latest developments within his organisation

D

ubai, Sydney, Shanghai and finally

To answer the question correctly and

During the breaks, there were discussions with national and international experts and a continuous flow of questions (and answers). The final round of discussions at

In Shanghai and in the UK our colleague

We can be judged to be succeeding in our jobs if we keep pace with the dizzyingly fast technical progress being made across the process industries, and ensure

A typical example of the breakneck pace of change has been the huge

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14 Electromagnetic safety

EMC regulatory compliance does not ensure functional safety O

ne of the biggest problems faced by all electrical and electronic equipment is that of electromagnetic interference (EMI). However, what’s peculiar is that, despite the rising use of devices that are susceptible to EMI, until recently there have been no clear guidelines for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) as regards functional safety. Here, Keith Armstrong, EMC specialist at EMC Standards, looks at how engineers can ensure that EMI will not cause excessive functional safety risks.

worsening the EM environment that electronic devices are exposed to.

EMI is set to be one of the biggest challenges that engineers will face in the future as more devices come into widespread use and confusion over functional safety persists

All electrical and electronic technologies emit electromagnetic (EM) disturbances that can interfere with the correct operation of radio-communication equipment or other electronics. Modern technologies are

EM disturbances can cause problems to electronic equipment, ranging from degraded functionality to complete failure. The discipline of controlling the limits of EM emissions and the levels of immunity is known as

particularly likely to cause such disturbances,

electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).

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EMC is increasingly becoming more valuable in electrical and electronic engineering. As we continue to integrate more electronic technology into our lives and into our businesses, from computers and mobile phones to variable speed drives (VSDs) and programmable logic controllers (PLCs), we are also seeing a rapid increase in the use of electronics in safety-related applications.

Engineers and their managers are all under pressure to make sure that the equipment and systems we use in our businesses do not expose people to safety risks. Despite the fact that most of us understand the importance of protecting devices against electromagnetic interference (EMI), there is often confusion about exactly what constitutes good EMC in the interest of ensuring that EMI does not cause excessive functional safety risks.

Electromagnetic safety 15 Good EMC vs EMC compliant Many people think that the one necessity for good EMC is that equipment and systems meet the EMC Directive and are CE-marked. Unfortunately, neither the EMC Directive nor its harmonised EMC standards cover EMC-related functional safety, and this is clearly stated in the EMC Directive.

Also, most of the safety standards that are harmonised under the Low Voltage Directive do not cover EMC-related functional safety and some do not even cover functional safety at all. The Machinery Safety Directive and its harmonised safety standards attempt to cover the EMC issues for machine safety; however, they eventually fail by referencing the EMC Directive and its standards, which do not cover safety

The IET’s 2013 guidance will be published in early 2017 as their important new Code of Practice on “Electromagnetic Resilience in support of functional safety”.

Engineers should not delay in learning more about this important issue Let us imagine that an engineer is using a mobile phone in a residential area with poor reception. If this were to have two watts of RF power, then we might expect any safety-related electronic systems in the area to maintain functional performance if

issues.

the engineer was between roughly 2.5m and 5m from the system. In a normal

Because of the lack of coverage of this

industrial environment, however, it would be necessary to maintain functionality between 0.8m and 1.6m.

increasingly important issue by existing EMC or safety standards, issues of EMCrelated safety are falling short of a sufficient solution. Since the commercial pressures on manufacturers are such that they are unwilling to go further than what they

In this situation, if the engineer operated a connected PLC while using his mobile phone, he would obviously be much

perceive, often incorrectly, as being their minimum legal obligations, the resulting safety risks are uncontrolled.

closer than 0.8m so the field strengths could exceed 10V/m and the equipment could suffer from degraded functionality.

Although some IEC standards and technical reports have subsequently addressed these issues, they are not yet widely used or understood. They are also not explicitly harmonised under any EU Directives and unlikely to be so for many years yet.

EM in effect

Practice on “Electromagnetic Resilience in support of functional safety”, engineers should not delay in learning more about this important issue.

Information about EMC and the IET’s 2013 guidance can be accessed from the EMC/ EMI risk management section of the EMC Standards website, alongside many helpful and informative articles and presentations.

It is only by following the IET’s 2013 guidance (or modern guidance developed from it, such as the IET’s new Code of Practice) that engineers can ensure that equipment and systems are functionally safe as regards EMI. About the author

This could range from false data, such as bypassing a limit switch, to total failure of the operating system.

To ensure functional safety from an EMC perspective, it is critical that engineers carry out an effective hazard and risk assessment. This should consider what EM disturbances the apparatus may be

As an example of an increasingly common EM disturbance, consider the possible proximity of mobile radio-communications to a safety-related electronic system.

The EMC Directive’s immunity standards require normal functional performance to be maintained when exposed to radiofrequency (RF) fields at either three volts

exposed to; how the equipment’s own EM emissions impact other devices; what the health and safety implications of a disturbance are; and the confidence that the design will not permit EMI to cause excessive safety risks over the entire lifecycle.

per metre (V/m) for residential, commercial and light industrial environments; or ten V/m for normal industrial environments.

However, what do these V/m levels mean in real life for the proximity of mobile radio-

EMI is set to be one of the biggest challenges that engineers will face in the future as more devices come into widespread use and confusion over functional safety persists. While the IET’s

communications?

2013 guidance will be published in early 2017 as their important new Code of

Keith Armstrong has been a Chartered Electrical Engineer (UK) since 1978, a Group 1 European Engineer since 1988, and a Fellow of the IET (previously the IEE) and Senior Member of the IEEE since 2010. He is a past Chair of the IEE’s Professional Group on Electromagnetic Compatibility and a past President of the EMC Industries Association (www.emcia.org), a member of the IEEE’s EMC and Product Safety Societies, has chaired the IET’s Working Group on ‘EMC and Functional Safety’ since 1997, and is the UK expert appointed to the IEC standards teams working on 61000-1-2 (‘EMC and Functional Safety’), 60601-1-2 (‘EMC of Medical Devices’) and 61000-6-7 (‘Generic standard on EMC for Functional Safety’).

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16 Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity in the UK Energy Sector T

he development and deployment of “smart” technology in the energy

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) distribution management system.

staff being inundated with spurious communications, which served to exacerbate

sector, along with the expansion of intelligent network devices throughout the energy distribution system, has created a number of specific

Subsequently, seven of the company’s 110kv substations were disconnected along with twenty-three 35-kv substations for a period of three hours, cutting off power to around

the delay in restoring supply In their Cyber Crime Assessment 20161, the UK National Crime Agency highlights

challenges. For one, this has resulted in an expansion of the cyber ‘attack surface’. As energy systems are widely

80,000 consumers. Within minutes, similar attacks on the other two ‘oblenergos’ cut off the power to a further 145,000 users.

the threat of cyber crime and outlines how criminal cyber capabilities have accelerated and outpaced the UK’s collective response

connected, cyber security threats carry potential wider repercussions for the whole critical infrastructure network and

capability. The report also calls for an effective response to include collaborative action from government, law enforcement, industry

for society as a whole. The unsurprising result is that of new security risks in the cyber arena.

regulators and businesses.

Recent surveys show a high number of cyber attacks and security breaches taking place, as well as a sharp increase in the costs associated with these attacks. The 2014 Information Security Breaches Survey

This article, from Jamie Walker - Safety, Commercial & Projects Director at the UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) - looks at cybersecurity risk and the efforts being made within the UK downstream industry and wider energy sector to counter that risk.

A recent example of the impact and range of cyber attacks is the 2015 hack on Ukraine’s power grid which temporarily disrupted

Not only was the SCADA being controlled remotely, leading to response delays, but the

supply to end consumers. Kyivoblenergo, a regional electricity distributor in Ukraine was one of three ‘oblenergos’ (energy companies) affected. The cyber attack took place midafternoon on December 23rd with hackers

uninterruptible power supply (UPS) was also taken down, thus further hampering power restoration. A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack was also launched via a Trojan which had been initiated many months earlier.

taking remote control of the company’s

This led to call centre and communications

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by PWC for the Department for Business2 reports that 81% of large organisations, during that year, experienced a security breach of some form, with two thirds of them reporting a serious incident. GCHQ continues to receive reports from industry of cyber attacks on a daily basis.

It is therefore of critical importance for government, through its various agencies, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and industry to work closely together to try to mitigate these vulnerabilities and risks as effectively as possible.

Cybersecurity 17

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the newly formed National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI), along with the HSE, are promoting vigilance and the adoption of robust policies and “good practice” within organisations.

For instance, COMAH organisations have been alerted that Cyber Security will form part of future HSE Control & Instrumentation interventions. CPNI, together with NCSC, will perform Cyber Penetration Tests within organisations which are critical to National Infrastructure. The penetration tests have been developed to provide an assessment of current levels of data security and the risks a cyber attack may pose to an organisation. Several penetration tests have already been performed at some organisations.

BEIS and the NCSC are also working alongside industry to create GAP Analysis tools. This GAP Analysis will be used to

As part of the response to the growing

educated and made aware of the threats an

advise organisations of any credible risks from both internal and external sources.

Once highlighted, these GAPs will be

cyber threat, it is of great importance to ensure that risks are recognised at all levels within organisations, from technicians to management and also at board level. It is

organisation may face. Security policies that describe acceptable and secure use of the organisation’s ICT systems are distributed to employees and subsequently acknowledged

addressed by means of workshops (where a risk to more than one organisation has been identified) and one to one consultations

essential that organisations are not solely dependent on their IT specialists, but ensure that all within the organisation are fully aware

by them. As perceived risks change frequently, staff should receive regular cyber training, advising of the new threats.

(where the risk is organisation specific).

of threats and how they may materialise.

All incoming and outgoing cyber traffic is filtered at network perimeters to ensure that

Furthermore, with cyber security a critically important issue for Major Hazard sectors, due to its potential to impact on workplace health and safety, involvement of the HSE is key. In October 2015, the HSE Board agreed to a review of its approach to cyber security and, following engagement with lead government departments and other safety regulators, it began to develop training for specialist Control and Instrumentation Inspectors along with drafting an operational guidance for specialist inspectors at Major Hazard sites.

Following a consultation period, the guidance was approved and published in March 20173.

To align with the recommendations detailed in the guidance, industry has taken a number of steps to address and ensure compliance.

Criminal cyber capabilities have accelerated and outpaced the UK’s collective response capability

only traffic required to support business needs is allowed. Steps have been put in place to monitor for unusual or malicious incoming and outgoing activity that could indicate an attack either imminently or in the future. Most attacks are initiated many months in advance and by monitoring for this type of activity, it is possible that planned attacks could be detected and thwarted.

Information Risk Management Regimes are thus being embedded within organisations.

Once approved, the risk management policy

The management of user privileges is also crucial. Personnel are moved frequently within an organisation and, with relocation, it is often necessary to amend levels of

is communicated, not only to employees, but to contractors, suppliers and visitors to the organisation to ensure that all parties are aware of the risk management boundaries and the consequences should they not be

authorisation. Authorisation amendments are made to ensure that any redundant authorisations or privileges are removed from the individual all at the same time to ensure that personnel have access to the

adhered to. As part of an Information Risk Management Regime, personnel are also

platforms necessary to perform current duties only.

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18 Cybersecurity Policies have also been produced by organisations around the control of removable

Conclusions

Further Information

• Whilst co-ordination, development and

media devices and mobile or home working.

This means that only previously approved removable media devices, which have been sanitised to protect against viruses or malware, are permitted. Mobile working and home working have also been the focus of

innovation in cyber-security is occurring, due to the threat becoming increasingly sophisticated, UKPIA and its members will continue to work with Government and the HSE on a number of activities, including specialist workshops and cross sector

There is a large amount of literature in the public domain to assist with cyber security which has been produced by the UK Government and HSE. The list below is by no means exhaustive but provides useful sources of aid for the user.

threat prevention. For this reason, access to an organisation’s system is through a secure network connection to deter unwanted communications and screens are being equipped with filters to allow them only to be viewed by the immediate user.

seminars to develop key strategies to ensure the threat of cyber attacks can be mitigated.

• UKPIA and its members continue to work with the HSE to champion the Helping Great Britain Work Well - Strategy4 to ensure resilience to National Infrastructure,

www.gov.uk/government/publications/ cyber-risk-management-a-board-levelresponsibility/10-steps-summary www.gov.uk/government/publications/ cyber-risk-management-a-board-level-

Finally, the establishment of an Incident Response and Disaster Recovery Plan, which addresses the full range of incidents that can occur, is also crucial. Emergency Response (ER) Plans should also be carried out for cyber attacks, along with all other site specific ER scenarios, to minimise damage and disruption and provide business continuity as quickly as possible following an attack.

minimise disruption and maintain high standards of safety within the sector.

References: NCA Strategic Cyber Industry Group, Cyber Crime Assessment 2016 2 PWC 2014 Survey for the Department for Business of Information Security Breaches 1

www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/og/og0086.pdf 4 www.hse.gov.uk/strategy/ 3

responsibility www.cyberessentials.org/background/ index.html www.cpni.gov.uk/scada/ www.hse.gov.uk/horizons/currentissues/science-and-technology/ cybersecurity.htm http://www.cpni.gov.uk/advice/cyber/ Security-for-Industrial-Control-Systems/

About the author

Jamie Walker is Safety, Commercial & Projects Director at the UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA), which represents the eight main oil refining and marketing companies operating in the UK. Walker’s previous positions include Terminal Manager at both Puma Energy and Murco Petroleum.

UKPIA is an authoritative source of information and reference on the downstream oil sector and via its Associate Scheme, it also covers key issues in the areas of safety and transportation within the oil and gas industry.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

@P E R F T E C

Antweep 2017

In the regions hazardexonthenet.net Protecting Plant, Process & Personnel

We are pleased to announce the next Hazardex in the Regions event will take place in Antwerp, Belgium on November 29th 2017 and will be co-located with PEFTEC, the event for petroleum refining & environmental monitoring technologies.

The underlying philosophy of Hazardex in the Regions is to bring the latest safety-related intelligence to process plant and hazardous area specialists at a venue near their workplace, reducing travel time and expense. The conference will be supported by an exhibition of products and services relevant to those working in hazardous environments, and offers free access to PEFTEC conferences, seminars & the wider exhibition.

Following on from the success of the decade long series, this is another opportunity for all those interested in process plant safety in Belgium and the surrounding countries to participate in one of our hazardous operationsfocused one-day conference & exhibitions.

These events will be useful for engineers, safety managers, directors with corporate liability and other members of the hazardous area community from all the process and high hazard industries, including oil & gas, petrochemicals, fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, mining, manufacturing and the food & beverage sector, amongst others.

If you are interested in presenting a paper, exhibiting or attending the event, please contact:

russell.goater@imlgroup.co.uk or phone + 44(0) 1732 359990 www.hazardexonthenet.net

CONFERENCE EXHIBITION & SEMINARS 29th - 30th NOVEMBER 2017 - ANTWERP, BELGIUM

29th & 30th NOVEMBER

2017

ANTWERP

BELGIUM

Antwerp was chosen as PEFTEC’s location as it is situated in the World’s second largest cluster of Petrochemical Industry activities and the largest outside of the USA. Antwerp is an ideal location for visitors as it is placed in the heart of Europe with easy access by car and by rail with excellent Air links for visitors from the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Peftec 2017 is a focused international Conference and Exhibition for Companies specialising in monitoring and analytical technologies for the Petroleum, Refining and Environmental Industries.

Peftec offers international visitors and experts an extensive conference and seminar programme on case studies, CONFERENCE EXHIBITION & SEMINARS regulation, standards and analytical techniques with a focussed exhibition of product and service providers.

29 - 30to th NOVEMBER 2017 - ANTWERP, BELGIUM Thethneed produce accurate analytical and monitoring data is essential to industry.

For more information email: info@peftec.com Hazardex will be staging a one day high hazard process safety conference within PEFTEC, contact events@imlgroup.co.uk for attendance and exhibiting options.

www.PEFTEC.com

Topics and products featured at Peftec 2017 will include: • Laboratory Testing and Measurement • Petrochemical Analysis • Emissions Monitoring in Air, Water and Soil • Portable and Field Sampling • Process Monitoring • Reference Materials • Oil Analysis • Calibration • Regulation and Standards

Organiser: International Labmate Ltd, Publisher of Petro Industry News, International Environmental Technology, Asian Environmental Technology, International Labmate and Lab Asia.

20 Arc flash

Predicting and preventing arc flash E

lectric arc, and the resulting arc flash, is one of the deadliest and least understood hazards of electricity, and is prevalent in many industrial

• Predict by assessing the hazard and predicting the severity of the thermal effects of an arc flash • Prevent the hazard at a source by

situations. Although legislation requires businesses to perform risk assessments for all work activities, electrical arc flash is often overlooked because most people are unsure how to assess and manage this hazard effectively.

mitigation and reduction of the risk • Protect where there is residual risk of injury with appropriate PPE and • Publish and document the actions taken for further education and training This article, taken from the white paper

DuPont has developed its socalled “4P” approach to arc flash: Predict, Prevent, Protect and Publish (see figure 1 on next page).

The methodology consists of four

How to Assess Electric Arc Hazards and Protect Workers by Jean-Claude Duart of DuPont, will look at the first two stages of the 4P process. The final two will be covered in a later edition of

general steps:

Hazardex.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

Predict An arc flash is the consequence of an electric arc which can occur where there is sufficient voltage in an electrical system and a path to ground or lower voltage.

It is usually caused by a short circuit of energized conductors.

An arc flash caused by an electric arc with 1,000 amperes or more can cause substantial damage, fire or injury. The massive energy released in the fault rapidly vaporizes the metal conductors involved, blasting molten metal and expanding plasma outward with extreme force. A typical arc flash incident can be inconsequential but could conceivably easily produce a more severe explosion.

Arc flash 21

These are clearly key factors when considering the management of the arc flash hazard.

The example in figure 2 on the next page describes the important parameters from various electrical equipment of a typical industrial network that need to be taken into consideration for calculating the incident energy. It is a 10 kV medium-voltage power supply, which feeds on the low-voltage maindistribution over a cast resin transformer with a power of 1250 kVA. From there, a subdistribution is fed via cable connection and another cable connection feeds the load.

The result of the violent event can cause destruction of equipment involved, fire, and injury not only to the worker but also to nearby people. Forces may exceed 100kPa (KiloPascal), and debris

measures or what measures need to be put in place prior to starting the task.

IEEE 1584 provides the formulae to calculate the arc flash energy at the switchboard and the incident energy at a working distance of 300 mm.

1.2 cal/cm2 accumulated in 1 second is the key number which is used to

The incident energy calculated at 300 mm is 42.57 cal/cm2 for an arc duration of 1

is spread up to 300 meters/second with temperatures of up to 20 000°C.

determine the onset of a second degree burn. Second and third degree burns must be avoided. As a comparison, sunburn will

second at 100% of arc fault current.

In addition to the explosive blast of such a fault, destruction also arises from the intense radiant heat produced by the

often be described as a first degree burn, secondary burns are curable with medical treatment.

In this phase it is important to look at ways to prevent arc flash from occurring and endangering people.

arc. The metal plasma arc produces tremendous amounts of light energy from far infrared to ultraviolet. Surfaces

As incident energy is calculated, it provides the thermal effects of the electric

Article 6 of European Council Directive 89/391/EEC EU Workplace Health and

of nearby people and objects absorb this energy and are instantly heated to vaporizing temperatures. The effects of

arc flash. It is the severity of the arc flash at a certain distance; the distance often being measured is that to the torso or to

Safety Directive states “Where an employer implements any preventative measures, he

this can be seen on adjacent walls and equipment – they are often ablated and eroded from the radiant effects. The thermal incident energy onto the worker can cause severe skin burns or have lethal consequences.

the head. It is expressed in cal/cm2 or kJ/m2 . The most common method to calculate the incident energy is the IEEE 1584 method [1] published in 2002.

Figure 1 – DuPont 4P approach

The severity of the thermal effect of an arc flash is defined by the amount of incident energy that a person, standing at a given distance away from the arc, could receive to the skin surface.

To truly understand the risks of the arc flash hazard, it is important to be able to calculate the incident energy. This is the operation that has to happen during the Predict step. Once one has identified and quantified the hazard it is possible to decide if a specific electrical task can proceed without preventive or protective

Prevent

Should an arcing event occur in an energised panel under maintenance, the severity of the electric arc will be affected by several parameters amongst which two important ones: Firstly is the amount of arc current itself.

This is affected by the electrical system conditions such as voltage and fault level and also the configuration of conductors in the panel (e.g. distance between conductors).

The second parameter which will affect incident energy at the worker position is the duration of the arc current.

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22 Arc flash

Figure 2 – Example of Power supply network in a plant shall do so on the basis of the principles of prevention”. These should be considered against a hierarchy of risk controls.

Risk elimination A fundamental safety principle is to design out, eliminate or remove the electrical hazard at its source and the best way to prevent injuries from occurring is to de-energise equipment before beginning work.

Designers of electrical systems should consider the need to eliminate live work as part of the overall system design. Some of the elimination measures include the segregation of power and control circuits, safe control voltages and currents, finger

This could cause multiple devices to trip during a short circuit and lead to a more widespread power outage. The problem can be solved by changing the device settings only when live work is going to be performed.

is also necessary as these factors will have an effect on the risk of arc initiation.

Application of temporary insulation or shrouding to energised parts within the working zone can prevent the initiation of an

After the work is completed, the original settings can be restored to maintain selective coordination between protective devices.

arc flash. This is shown in the image below.

Thermal Imaging and also Partial Discharge Detection can pick up conditions that may also affect the likelihood of an arc flash event.

These temporary setting changes are often referred to as “maintenance settings”.

Protection arrangements should be explored

Incident energy levels are roughly proportional to the inverse square of the distance. This means that a small increase

at design stage to minimise the effects of electrical flashover through the use of fast acting and/or current limiting devices. Other

in distance between the live part to be worked upon and the worker can result in a significant decrease in incident energy. This is

solutions may include retrofitting circuit breakers with instantaneous trip units.

Another protection method that has been

therefore, a valid reason to keep workers as far away as possible when undertaking work including inspections on or near to energised circuits. Enclosed switchgear which has a

work commences. It is not uncommon to have accidents occur on equipment that has been rendered dangerous, because electrical

developed uses an optical sensor that detects the ultraviolet light emitted from an arc flash and causes the protective device to

front cover removed and facing the worker acts to magnify the effects of the arc flash and will direct the energy outwards. Much

workers have not reinstated vital safety components such as door interlocks and insulating shielding after completion of work.

instantaneously trip.

Equipment manufacturers are continually

development has been carried out in the provision of remote racking and switching of larger circuit breakers. This again takes

developing better methods to reduce or eliminate the arc flash hazard.

advantage of minimisation through increasing the distance to the worker.

When reliance is given on electrical protection to minimise the effects of electrical flashover then this should be accompanied by a high degree of maintenance integrity.

If a worker enters the calculated arc flash boundary he/she is exposed to > 1.2 cal/ cm2 of energy. Appropriately arc rated PPE must be worn. Implementation of risk

The reliability of protection device and switchgear needs to be taken into consideration when using clearing time information to calculate arc flash severity and there needs to be confidence that the equipment will operate safely within the time current characteristic tolerances.

A good preventative maintenance program

elimination, engineering controls, helps to reduce incident energies within the arc flash boundary enabling lighter & more comfortable PPE to be worn.

for both protective devices (fuses, relays) and switchgear will assure that this will be the case.

Electrical equipment alternatives, and/or changing protection settings during live work to reduce hazard is important.

Prevention of the ingress of moisture,

To reduce the risk, besides selection of

substances, birds or vermin into equipment

reliable electrical equipment, another

safe shrouding of terminals and built in test points. Even then, the condition of the electrical equipment must be verified before

Engineering controls Since incident energy is a function of short circuit current and the protective device clearing time, a reduction of the arc flash hazard may be achievable by evaluating the protective device sizes, settings and time current curves. Many times where the incident energy is at dangerous levels, it is because the upstream protective device’s instantaneous adjustment is set too high and the device is operating in the long time delay region for an arcing fault. Lowering the instantaneous setting may allow it to trip faster resulting in lower overall incident energy.

Caution should be exercised however, because lowering a device’s trip setting can create a reliability issue by compromising selective coordination with other devices.

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Since incident energy from an arcing fault is directly proportional to the arc clearing time, reducing the arcing time is very beneficial.

Arc flash 23

Figure 3 – Hazard mitigation important element for risk reduction is paying close attention to the Human Factors like Awareness of the hazard, Training and Competence assessment.

From 1 sec (at 100% arc current) the arc duration is now shortened to 0.20 sec and thus the incident energy at work position can be reduced from 42.7 cal/cm2 to 7.1 cal/cm2. The arc flash boundary in figure

Since incident energy from an arcing fault is directly proportional to the arc clearing time, reducing the arcing time is very beneficial.

Electrical equipment alternatives, and/or changing protection settings during live work to reduce hazard is important.

2 was calculated at 1787mm. In figure 3, by shortening the arc duration it also reduced the calculated arc flash boundary to 730mm. In this example, by simply replacing the NH fuse with an ultra-rapid fuse, it would allow the person to be closer

As an example of a possible mitigation

to the equipment at a considerable lower incident energy level.

measure that can be put in place a new calculation has been done with an ultrarapid fuse replacing the NH fuse (see figure 3).

About the author

To be continued Reference: [1] 1584-2002 - IEEE Guide for Performing Arc Flash Hazard Calculations

Jean-Claude Duart is an arc flash specialist and Technical Manager at DuPont.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

24 Electrostatics

Electrostatic hazards associated with liquid and powder processing T

his article from Dr Vahid Ebadat of Chilworth Technology, a DEKRA company, discusses some of the measures that could be considered for controlling potential electrostatic hazards during liquid and powder handling operations.

electrostatic charge can be generated and accumulated.

Often an electrostatic ignition hazard arises when the electrostatic charge generated in a process is allowed to accumulate to levels sufficient to give rise to electrostatic discharges. Thus, the first

these discharges must be determined and compared to the minimum ignition energy (MIE) of the prevailing flammable atmosphere or the dielectric strength of lining (the natural limitation of charge accumulation) in vessels,

equipment, personnel, as well as items made from electrically insulating materials.

step in an electrostatic hazard assessment is identifying where in the process

containers and piping.

extent practicable; (2) be based on actual measurements of resistance-to-ground,

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If the generation and accumulation of charge cannot be controlled, the types of electrostatic discharges that can arise must be identified. Lastly, in order to verify that a hazard exists, the effective energy of

In the US, a systematic approach for identifying electrostatic hazards is outlined in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Recommended Practice # 77. This document states that an assessment of each process should be conducted to identify electrostatic hazards, including ungrounded conductors, such as metal devices and

The assessment should: (1) be conducted under actual operating conditions, to the

Electrostatics 25

electrical continuity, electric field strength, streaming current, and accumulated charge;

vessels, piping, and fittings to become electrostatically charged. Charge

and (3) consider prevailing environmental conditions that may affect charge generation and accumulation.

Electrostatic charge is most commonly

accumulated on insulating (plastic or rubber) and ungrounded metal devices and equipment can give rise to electrostatic discharges sufficiently energetic to ignite flammable atmospheres. Electrostatic charge accumulation on the insulating

generated on liquids when they flow through pipes, hoses, and filters and when they are stirred. Liquids can also become charged if they are transferred into a container that is either already charged (e.g. an electrostatically charged plastic container)

linings (glass or plastic) of vessels and pipes could also result in the creation of pinholes in the lining, causing leaks, corrosion of the piping or vessel, and contamination of the liquid. It should be noted that pinholes could even occur under inert atmospheres.

or becomes charged while containing the liquid (e.g. when the outside surface of a plastic container containing a liquid is rubbed). Charge can accumulate within the liquid if it is insulating in electrostatic terms or electrostatically isolated from

Consequently, it is essential to identify and eliminate or control electrostatic charge generation, accumulation, and/or discharges.

ground. The accumulation of electrostatic charge on the liquid’s surface can give

include: Raising the Liquid’s Conductivity. The

rise to electrostatic discharges from the surface. These discharges can be sufficiently energetic to ignite flammable vapor, such as that which may be evolved in the vessel

potential electrostatic hazard posed by a liquid can be reduced by increasing its electrical conductivity. Specifically, it is desirable to increase the conductivity

headspace from a flammable liquid, or a liquid processed above its flash point.

of single-phase liquids above 100pS/m (picosiemens per meter), and liquids containing solids and immiscibles above

The flow and agitation of liquids can also cause insulating (plastic or rubber) and ungrounded conductive (metal)

1,000pS/m. This can be accomplished through the addition of conductive liquids or antistatic additives.

Liquid handling / Processing

Approaches for controlling electrostatic hazards associated with liquid processing

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26 Electrostatics Grounding of the Liquid. Efforts should be made to keep liquids in continuous contact

the liquid is introduced to the vessel.

with electrical ground, even in insulating vessels and plastic-lined piping, in order to minimise the accumulation of electrostatic charge on the liquid. In insulating vessels, a suitable pathway may be provided by a grounded metal bottom runoff valve, a

Managing Electrostatic Hazards During Agitation. Because electrostatic discharges from the liquid surface are inherent to the operation, it is generally recommended that agitation of electrically insulating liquids be conducted under an inert atmosphere.

grounded tantalum patch below the liquid surface, or a grounded metal dip pipe. The incidence of pinholing can be eliminated by using an static dissipative or conductive lining.

In this section it is assumed that the powder DOES NOT contain any flammable solvent and it is handled and processed in an

Limiting the Liquid Velocity. Limiting the liquid velocity during filling operations helps to reduce electrostatic charge generation during pipeline flow, as well as minimising splashing and spraying in the receiving vessel or container. If flow velocity limitations

atmosphere free from flammable gases and vapors.

cannot be observed or if a grounded metal dip pipe cannot be used, it may

almost always be expected whenever powder particles come into contact with

not be possible to dissipate electrostatic charge from the liquid at a rate sufficient to reduce the probability of ignition from an electrostatic discharge from the liquid to a

another surface, or each other. It occurs, for example, during mixing, grinding, sieving, pouring and pneumatic transfer.

The chemical composition and the condition

suitably low level. Therefore, in such cases, inerting of the vessel or container before and during filling should be considered in order

of the contacting surfaces can often influence the charging characteristics.

to minimize the fire and explosion risk.

Managing Electrostatic Hazards During

Charge Accumulation. Generally powders are divided into 3 groups depending on their ability to retain static charge even if

Filtration. Liquids are often passed through a filter before they are introduced to a receiving vessel or container. The flow of

the powder is in contact with an electrically grounded conductive object. This ability is known as Volume Resistivity:

liquids through filters is often characterized by the generation of relatively high levels of electrostatic charge due to the relatively large amount of surface area available for contact. It is desirable to dissipate the electrostatic charge from a flammable liquid

1. Powders with Volume Resistivity up to about 106Ω•m are considered conductive

before it enters a receiving vessel in order to reduce the potential electrostatic ignition hazard. This is typically accomplished by locating filters as far upstream of receiving vessels as possible, so that charge can be

3. Powders with Volume Resistivity above 109Ω•m are high resistivity powders

dissipated from the liquid in the grounded metal piping downstream of the filter before

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Powder handling / Processing

Charge Generation. Although the magnitude and polarity of charge is usually difficult to predict, charge generation should

2. Powders with Volume Resistivity in the range 106Ω•m to 109Ω•m, are medium resistivity powders

Charge will accumulate on a powder if the charge generation rate exceeds the rate at which the charge dissipates to containment or the atmosphere.

Electrostatics 27

Electrostatic Discharges. The accumulation and retention of charge on powder or equipment creates a dust explosion hazard only if the charge is suddenly released in the

Charge reduction by ionisation. Localised ionisation (corona discharges), from sharp, grounded, conducting probes or wires can, on occasion, be used to reduce the level of

form of a discharge with sufficient energy to ignite the dust cloud. Potentially incendive discharges resulting from charged powder

electrostatic charge from powder particles entering a vessel. Electrostatic ionisation devices are not, however, without problems,

and equipment include: Spark discharges, Brush discharges, Propagating brush discharges, and Cone (Bulking) discharges.

and should only be used after consulting expert advice.

Explosion protection. In some powder

Bonding and grounding. Spark discharges

handling processes it is not possible to avoid having both an explosible dust cloud and hazardous build-up of charge. In those

can be avoided by electrically grounding conductive items such as metal devices and equipment, fiberboard drums, low resistivity

situations additional measures should be taken to prevent or protect against the consequences of dust explosions. These

powders and people.

Use of insulating materials. Where there

include inerting, use of explosion resistant equipment, explosion venting or explosion suppression.

could be high surface charging processes, non-conductive materials should not be used, unless the breakdown voltage across the material is less than 4kV. Examples of

It should be noted that the above precautions are not intended to be exhaustive or allinclusive. Rather, they are the precautions

General Precautions

non-conductive objects include flexible connectors, hoses, plastic pipes, containers, bags, coatings, liners, and filter elements.

About the author

Charge reduction by humidification. High relative humidity can reduce the resistivity of some powders and increase the rate of charge decay from bulked powder in

most commonly employed, and address some of the more common liquid and solid processing operations. These precautions are necessarily general in nature and therefore may not be appropriate for all applications.

Additional or different precautions may be required depending upon the specific application or conditions that could not

grounded metal containers. However, in most cases this will only be effective if a relative humidity in excess of 65% is maintained. This is often impracticable due to agglomeration issues.

have been reasonably foreseen. Additional precautions concerning the operations covered in this document and other operations should be reviewed. Expert advice should be sought as necessary.

Dr Vahid Ebadat Ph.D., M.Inst.P, MIEE, C.Eng., C.Phys. is the CEO of Chilworth Technology, Inc. He has worked extensively as a process and operational hazards consultant for the chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries.

Dr. Ebadat is a regular speaker at training courses on gas and vapor flammability, dust explosions, and controlling electrostatic hazards.

He is a member of NFPA 77 Technical Committee on Static Electricity, NFPA 654 Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particular Solids and ASTM E27 Committee on Hazard Potential of Chemicals. Dr. Ebadat’s research has culminated in the publication of numerous technical papers and articles.

www.hazardexonthenet.net

28 Electrostatics

The consideration of conductivity

in flammable and potentially explosive atmospheres W

vessel being earthed, a charge can remain within the liquid for a period of time (1, 2).

the walls of the vessel or piping- come into contact. The greater the area of the interface

static. As fluids are pumped, stirred or mixed, solids dissolved or crystalised charge is generated at interfaces.

The rate of flow, the conductivity of

Accumulated charge can also give rise to electrostatic discharges from the liquid surface sufficiently energetic to ignite a flammable atmosphere. This flammable

between the liquid and the surfaces and the higher the flow velocity, the greater is the rate of charging. The charge is carried with the liquid to the receiving vessels where

the liquid, and the diameter of the vessel or pipe have a dramatic effect on the electrostatic buildup. In non-

atmosphere may be evolved from the liquid itself if the liquid is flammable or combustible and it is above its flash point temperature, or

they can accumulate (figure 1). The electrical properties of the solvents play a major role in determining both charge generation

conductive fluids this charge can build and accumulate even when the system is grounded and bonded. If static

in the form of a spray or mist.

Electrostatic charge is generated when two

and relaxation. Static electric charge on a liquid in a grounded conductive container will dissipate at a rate that depends on the

charge is generated more quickly than it can be taken away, there is potential for static discharge. If this charge

dissimilar surfaces- such as the liquid and

conductivity of the liquid. (2)

herever there is a flow of liquid, there is the potential to generate

discharges as a spark it can lead to a number of problems in terms of process manufacture from pitting of the vessel to explosion.

This article by Amy Rigby, Technical Service Manager at Innospec, looks at the challenges associated with electrostatic build-up in liquids and at potential measures to reduce the risk of spark discharge.

Electrostatic charge The electrostatic hazards of liquids are not always well understood. An electrostatic charge can build up within a liquid, particularly those with low conductivity such as hydrocarbons. Even with the pipe or

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Figure 1. The Generation of Static Due to the Flow of Liquids

Electrostatics 29 Conductivity

Liquid

Conductivity (pS/m)

The conductivity of a liquid affects its

Conductive Liquids

(>10,000pS/m)

charging ability. The conductivity is expressed in terms of siemens per meter (S/m) or more commonly picosiemens per metre (pS/m). According to NFPA-77, the US consensus practice on static electricity, liquids can be divided into three classes;

Ethyl Alcohol (25 oC)

1.35 x 105

1.6 x 10-3

Isopropyl Alcohol (25 oC)

3.5 x 108

5 x 10-7

Water, distilled

~1 x 109

7.1 x 10-4

Semi-Conductive Liquids

(100-104 pS/m)

Methylene Chloride

4300

1.8 x 10-2

Pentachloroethane

100

0.3

Non-Conductive Liquids

(<50pS/m)

Heptane

3 x 10-2

~100

Hexane

1 x 10

~100

Toluene

<1

21

Xylene

0.1

~100

conductive (>10,000pS/m), semi-conductive (50-10,000pS/m) and non-conductive (<50pS/m) (Table 1). For conductive liquids any static generated within the liquid can be conducted to the pipe/vessel and be dissipated safely via the grounding. For semi-conductive liquids, the rate of charge generation is critical, i.e. when charge generation is rapid, there may not be time for the charge to be dissipated. Low conductivity liquids are unable to dissipate the static charge. Static buildup can occur even if the vessel is earthed. Conductivity is a factor of temperature; hence the conductivity of a liquid will be lower when it is cold.

Therefore it is important in a manufacturing process to measure the conductivity of a solvent when it is at its lowest temperature.

-5

Relaxation Times Constant (s)

Table 1. Conductivity and Relaxation Times for Selected Liquids (2)

Prevention of Static Build-up All conductive equipment associated with processing of flammable liquids should be grounded in order to prevent the accumulation of static charge.

Limiting the liquid velocity during vessel

limit electrostatic charge increase. In pipes, buildup of static is limited by reducing flow velocity. The recommended maximum flow for a low conductivity solvent is 1m/s where a solid or second liquid could be present.

Where this is not the case, a maximum limit of 7m/s is suggested.(3)

and container filling operations helps to

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30 Electrostatics Increasing Conductivity

additives increase the conductivity of solvents to render them conductive

conjunction with appropriate grounding of equipment, for use in solvents, and coatings

conductive liquids such as hydrocarbons, aromatic solvents, and insulating oils to name but a few, can be decreased dramatically by increasing their electrical conductivity. The conductivity of an insulating liquid can be increased by addition of an anti-static additive. The increased

(>10,000pS/m), mitigate the build of static charge and its resulting consequences.

applications.

The latest such additives have the advantage of very low dose rates, requiring the addition of only a few parts-per-million, and can increase the conductivity of

Handheld conductivity meters allow the conductivity to quickly and easily be checked to ensure target conductivity continues to be maintained after a period of time or downstream in the process. This

conductivity enables charge to be more readily dissipated from the liquid. The use of antistatic additives, also known as conductivity improvers, to render a solvent â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;conductiveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and enable static electric charge dissipation is becoming a recognised

an insulating liquid by several orders of magnitude, as well as being available in a food contact approved version. The low treat rates can offer a cost effective solution to static electricity in fluids, when used in

conductivity consideration gives an extra layer of protection against static electricity, helping to keep your plant, people, processes and business safe, and also helping to achieve ATEX compliance.

The electrostatic hazard posed by non-

practice, particularly in the solvents and coatings industry and is described in the industry guidelines.(2-5) Static dissipater

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Electrostatics 31 ATEX 137/ DSEAR

Conclusion

Where flammable and potentially explosive

The role of conductivity in static generation

atmospheres exist the ATEX 137 European directive, implemented as DSEAR in the UK, places a mandatory obligation on employers to: “consider and eliminate possible sources of static electricity”. (6,7) One source that is often overlooked is the flammable liquid itself. Use of best handling practices in

of flammable liquids is often overlooked.

The conductivity of a liquid determines the rate at which generated static can be dissipated via grounding. Rendering a liquid ‘conductive’ with a conductivity of >10,000pS/m by the use of an antistatic agent reduces electrostatic hazards in

conjunction with anti-static additives can be effective at minimising the risks associated with generation of static electricity in moving liquids.

a variety of applications. This is a cost effective solution to reduce the risk of static discharge and fire, and also helps to achieve ATEX compliance when used in conjunction with other safety methods such as appropriate grounding of equipment and reduced flow rates.

References: 1) Walmsey, H. L., J. Electrostat. 1992, 27, Nos. 1 and 2 2) National Fire Protection Agency document, NFPA-77, ‘Recommended Practice on Static Electricity’, (section 7.4.3).

3) British Standard 5958, control of undesirable static electricity, (1991) 4) American Coatings Association, Generation and Control of Static Electricity in Coatings Operations, 2010 5) European Solvents Industry Group, Best Practice Guidelines, Flammability: A safety guide for users No.4, V3, 2013 6) European Directive 99/92/EC (‘ATEX 137’) 7) DSEAR (the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations) 2002

About the authors

Amy Rigby is a Technical Service Manager at Innospec Ltd, providing technical guidance to the solvents, coatings and polyolefin industry on management of static using the Statsafe™ range of static dissipaters.

Amy has worked at Innospec for 14 years, previous to working with static additives she was a senior applications chemist in the Performance Chemicals business which manufactures a range of ingredients for the Personal Care and HI&I industries

www.hazardexonthenet.net

32 Lighting

Emergency Lighting Solutions for Hazardous Areas E

mergency lighting is critical to

up power source designed to initiate when

of an offshore application where emergency

safety in hazardous areas, especially where there is a risk of power failures.

While emergency lighting is required for

the primary power source fails.

lighting is required.

Typical Application

As they are used in times of emergency

a wide range of different applications, hazardous areas are often located in high-risk environments with unstable power sources which make the need for

Lifeboat systems found on any offshore vessel or jack-up rig, are a good example

(when the likelihood of power failures are high), having a lifeboat system with an

an effective emergency lighting solution even more important.

While non-emergency lighting tends to use mains/AC power (or through a generator if the site is off-grid), emergency lighting is designed to provide light when the primary power source fails. Although there are different methods in how this back-up is supplied, such as through a central battery system or standby generator, the simplest and most common way is to use selfcontained emergency luminaires. These emergency luminaires have their own back-

www.hazardexonthenet.net

Lighting 33

for a set time until the mains/AC power can be restored or the site can be evacuated.

As standards between sites differ, and the emergency duration requirement varies, it is important to consider the capability between different luminaires when specifying emergency lighting.

Essentially, the question is: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Will the luminaire provide adequate light output for a long enough period in order to evacuate or to restore power?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Some applications (such as the lifeboats we mentioned earlier) will require maximum lumen output for around 30 minutes so those on site can be evacuated quickly. Other applications will require longer duration. The majority of industrial applications in the UK will require a minimum of 3 hours, as per guidance from the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

Output The amount of light output a luminaire can provide during emergency operation significantly affects the overall lux levels achieved on-site when mains/AC power is lost. Each application will have a minimum lux level to which they must comply with during emergency scenarios. This will be guided by emergency lighting standards (which are a completely separate standard

effective emergency lighting solution is essential. It assists in making evacuation quicker, easier and ultimately safer and is a critical part of protecting the workers on-site.

Imagine trying to evacuate an offshore rig.

There would be a multitude of challenging elements facing you; now imagine the near impossibility of doing this in a blackout. This is why emergency lighting is so important.

Specifying Emergency Luminaires With a better understanding of why emergency lighting is so important, we must consider the criteria and performance that an emergency luminaire needs to meet in order to be effective. Most commonly, the performance of a luminaire tends to be judged on its duration (the length of time the luminaire can provide backup illumination)

to general area, non-emergency lighting standards). However, in practice, higher lux levels are often specified to account for any site specific tasks. The choice and quantity of luminaire affects how easily these lux requirements can be achieved.

Traditionally, the light output of luminaires can drop significantly when switching to emergency mode, i.e. emergency fluorescent luminaires will typically drop to 20% of their light output (at best) under

Aside from offshore applications, safe evacuation is also important for industrial installations. Escape routes must be clearly identified and illuminated to allow safe movements towards and through the

and/or output (the light output it will provide in emergency operation - generally measured as a percentage of its total light output in normal operation). Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s consider these two factors in more detail, as well as

emergency conditions. This may not be a serious issue for some applications, as minimum lux requirements on emergency do tend to be lower than in normal operational mode, but it may cause an issue if higher

exits in emergency scenarios. Specific standards exist to provide guidance on the specification of emergency lighting and every installation should comply with these standards as a minimum in order to protect site personnel.

other features which affect an emergency luminaire:

lux levels need to be maintained. More luminaires would need to be installed to raise lux levels on emergency. However a simpler, more cost effective solution would be to find a luminaire which can offer a greater output on emergency.

Duration Given that emergency luminaires are powered by a battery (a limited power source), they are designed to provide output

www.hazardexonthenet.net

34 Lighting For example an indicator or status light, usually as part of a self-testing feature, can quickly tell the user the health status of the emergency battery.

Understanding why emergency lighting is required, and the features and performance criteria that go into an effective emergency luminaire, leads us to look at the technology that enables this.

Specifically we will look at LED technology and how it has helped to improve the performance and functionality of emergency lighting.

Duration vs Power Output Duration and level of output should be considered together; essentially they are trade-off, with one aspect directly affecting

LED vs Conventional Emergency Lighting

the other. The higher the light output on emergency, the shorter the duration - and

be replaced every 5-7 years depending on how frequently they are used, but also depending on how well they are maintained. The extent of ongoing inspection and testing will depend on

vice versa. It is important for an end user to analyse the requirements of their site to get this balance right.

the specification of the battery; it will dictate the level of conditioning which may be required prior to the luminaire

only used for specialist applications.

Currently they aren’t considered a viable emergency lighting solution. When

being installed and also how often the luminaire and battery should be cycled in normal operation. Understanding the maintenance demands of a luminaire,

fluorescent emergency lighting emerged, it represented a significant development from discharge solutions. However, LED emergency lighting offers even greater

and how it differs between technology types, is another important factor to consider.

performance advantages.

Other Factors • Instant restrike – Emergency situations tend to arise without any warning, so having an emergency lighting solution capable of instant restrike is important.

• Maintenance – An emergency luminaire will generally require greater levels of inspection and testing than a nonemergency luminaire. Batteries are consumable items and generally need to

• Visual aids – While not directly affecting the performance of the fitting, visual aids can make emergency luminaires easier to identify quickly, manage and maintain.

Earlier versions of emergency luminaires used traditional discharge lamps. However, these were very rare due to their size, weight and cost limitations and generally

While it is relatively easy to find a luminaire which meets the required output and duration on paper, it’s important to consider the other factors which affect the luminaire’s performance in real terms.

With reliability being imperative to the effectiveness of an emergency luminaire, LED represents a big improvement on fluorescent technology.

The Future of Emergency Lighting Battery Technology The battery is an essential component of any emergency luminaire, so as battery technology advances it aids the development of new and improved emergency lighting solutions. The progression from lead acid to Ni-Cd batteries has helped to reduce the size and weight of emergency systems thanks to their higher energy density. While other batteries technologies with greater energy Important Considerations for Specifying Emergency Lighting

www.hazardexonthenet.net

density than Ni-Cd already exist, such as Ni/MH (Nickel Metal Hydride) or Li-ion

Lighting 35

process. Removing elements of reliance on operator interaction reduces the chances of human error or neglect, which may affect the performance of a luminaire in an emergency scenario. More and more intelligent emergency solutions are starting to emerge, using a microprocessor which is programmed to automatically cycle the batteries - typically every 2-3 months.

The results of this self-testing are then highlighted using a tri-colour LED indicator, visually notifying the user if everything is working as it should be or of any faults which require further investigation.

Summary LED technology has had a significant impact on emergency lighting, improving design and performance of the luminaires compared to traditional discharge and fluorescent solutions. Ultimately this improvement increases safety to those who work in areas where emergency lighting is required.

(Lithium Ion), other limitations prohibit them

more effective solutions for its customers.

The nature of hazardous area equipment means maintenance and inspection of emergency luminaires still plays an important role in ensuring they are operating

from being commonly adopted. Ni-MH suffers from a shorter life cycle and the volatility of Li-ion leads to concerns over its

Inevitably, battery technology will progress to combine greater energy density with improved functionality, which can be

effectively, while the development of intelligent emergency systems have made this easier and safer for users. As LED and

suitability for use in hazardous areas.

adopted to further optimise the design and performance of LED emergency luminaires.

battery technology develops further the opportunity to make more improvements to the design and functionality of emergency

Advancement in LEDs While LED technology has allowed emergency lighting solutions to improve,

luminaires increases.

LED vs Fluorescent

About the author

offering better performance and practicality than discharge and fluorescent lighting, LEDs themselves are constantly evolving.

As LEDs become more efficient, the same

Energy Density of Battery Technology

level of output can be achieved using less power. This will allow smaller batteries to be used to further improve the physical design of emergency luminaires, or alternatively could mean greater duration can be achieved thanks to reduced consumption and a smaller draw on the battery.

However, looking at other industries and the efforts being made to improve battery technology, continued developments in this area look encouraging. The automotive industry relies on the development of new and improved battery technology to aid the push towards electric vehicles and provide

Intelligent Emergency Developments in self-testing luminaires, which automatically cycle batteries and provide health indicators, are starting to make inspection and maintenance quicker and easier for users by automating the

Callum Ryder is Account Manager for Global Projects at Raytec.

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36 Event preview

Asset Integrity Management in the Process Industries - Managing your Ageing Assets Dates: 20-21 June 2017 Location: London, UK This IChemE course will enable delegates to understand how to determine the key threats from

a life extension strategy for managing them.

Includes all equipment types: static equipment (pressure vessels, piping, storage tanks etc.), rotating equipment, control and instrumentation, electrical and civil and structural infrastructure.

www.icheme.org/assetintegrity

ageing equipment and how to plan and implement

Brasil Offshore Date: 20-23 June 2017 Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

business in the market: it is the only showcase during the first semester for industry companies.

Brasil Offshore is the only event held within Brazil’s biggest Oil and Gas Exploration Basin. It is also the

In addition to the networking available at Brasil Offshore, other factors will be decisive for exhibitors and buyers to do business. Among them are Law

first major industry meeting in the first semester.

In an essentially technical environment, industry professionals discover new technologies and solutions in specialized products and services, resulting in an atmosphere of intense networking, formation of partnerships and generation of business.

Brasil Offshore has a tradition of generating

13.365/2016 – which expands the participation of exploration operators in the pre-salt areas – and the return of foreign companies to Brazil. With the recovery of oil prices in Brazil, various multinationals have already announced that for 2017 they will resume investment programs in drilling offshore

2017 will have the chance to expand their network of contacts and find new partners. At the last edition in 2015, 75% of industry professionals at the show were directors, managers and market

wells along the Brazilian coast.

leaders. Considering total attendees, 65% are involved in their company’s procurement process and 40% had funds to invest during the event.

Those planning to make the right investments in

www.brasiloffshore.com

Oil & Gas Asia (OGA) 2017 Date: 11 July 2017 to 13 July 2017 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia The 16th Asian Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Engineering Exhibition - Establishing Malaysia as the Regional Deepwater and Oilfield Services Hub Southeast Asia has around 412 active offshore fields with ongoing field development activities and Malaysia has the maximum offshore projects and accounts for a large portion of the regional Capital Expenditure (CAPEX).

Faced with maturing oil fields, declining domestic production and a finite fuel source in the face of accelerated economic growth, the main challenge

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for energy suppliers is not just the availability of alternative energy supply but also the commercial potential of these resources.

In the past decade, Malaysia’s Oil, Gas and Energy (OGE) industry has been contributing about one-fifth to the national GDP (Gross Domestic Product). As part of the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) that will propel Malaysia forward into a truly developed nation, the OGE sector is targeting 5 percent annual growth until 2020.

To sustain and increase oil & gas production, the focus is on deepwater exploration and EOR of mature fields with Malaysia generating big potential as a regional EOR hub. Hence, it is crucial that

Malaysia continues to highlight its oil and gas potential while staying up-to-date with the latest innovations and technology to strengthen its position.

Oil & Gas Asia 2017, happening on 11- to 13 July 2017 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, will be a crucial platform for O & G technology suppliers to tap into the lucrative business opportunities that exist in this dynamic regional market. www.oilandgas-asia.com

Product Datafiles 37 An Engineer’s 3 Step Guide to selecting a static grounding solution 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

Stand & Sponsorship packages now available For more information

Go to www.hazardexonthenet.net or email events@imlgroup.co.uk

High Flow Volume/Filter Booster – 500% Highest Flow Reduces Costs Bifolds patented unique volume and filter booster range in 316L stainless steel provides up to 500% higher flow than the market equivalents.

By removing all elements from the main flow line, including, regulators and filters, the effective CV of the patented filter booster is multiplied, resulting in significantly reduced tubing sizes.

Where safety is critical, Bifolds range of volume and filter boosters are SIL 3 third party certified to IEC 61508 Parts 1 & 2.

In applications where a fast response time on modulating service, in combination with a fast shutdown time (ESD), is required, the VBP also eliminates the need for an additional poppet or Quick Exhaust Valve to achieve the required closing speeds. This results in reduced material and labour costs and simplifies positioned set up and control.

The range functions with a working pressure range of 2 to 10 bar g, with maximum inlet pressure of 20 bar g and operates at a working temperature of

-55ºC to +180ºC. The common design format offers a choice of four main sizes with port threads of 1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2”, 3/4”, 1”, 11/2” and 2” NPT which allow for installation flexibility and easy hookup.

The EQUAL internal porting and balanced forces allow identical fill and exhaust flow, making setup extremely simple and controllable.

For more information visit www.bifold.co.uk or Tel: 0161 345 4777

Getac launches the ZX70 fully rugged tablet for mobile field professionals Getac has unveiled the ZX70, a 7” fully rugged Android tablet engineered to meet the growing needs of mobile transportation and field service professionals. The ZX70 is IP67 and MIL-STD 810G-certified and features best in class battery life, designed for comfortable one-handed use in remote and challenging environments.

“Following on from the successful Z710, the ZX70 Android tablet has been built with field professionals in mind and is one of the most compact and mobile rugged tablets we’ve ever built,” explains Chris Bye, President, Getac UK. “Its fully rugged design, one-handed operation, extended battery life, military grade GPS and barcode capabilities are exactly what’s needed to work productively in the most extreme of environments.”

The ZX70 is powered by the Android 6.0 operating system. Its familiar interface

makes the tablet easy to use while providing access to millions of existing apps on the Google Play store. And because it runs on the Android platform, custom apps can be developed for download and use.

The ZX70 features a 7” inch IPS, sunlight readable display.

Its 580 NIT ultra-bright screen enhances readability in the toughest work environments to further improve productivity and efficiency in the field. Responding effortlessly to every touch, Getac’s revolutionary LumiBond® 2.0 touchscreen technology uses an optically clear resin to bond the display glass with the touch panel and LCD to create a single panel that is more durable and readable.

For more information visit: http://www.getac.co.uk.

SFY Functional Safety Frequency-to-DC Transmitter with Display Moore Industries’ newest addition to the ever-expanding FS Functional Safety Series line is the SIL 3 capable SFY Functional Safety Frequency-to-DC Transmitter with Display. The SFY provides a high level of availability for safety critical applications and for use as a component part of a safety instrumented system.

It monitors the signal, outputting the selected variable (frequency, period, high pulse width, low pulse width or contact closure) both to its display and to a 4-20mA signal that is linear and input-scalable.

It features a large integral display that shows real-time process status. The SFY programs in

less than a minute to accept varying frequency signals from AC or DC flow measurement devices such as turbine meters and magnetic pick-up coils.

Learn More Product page URL: http://www.miinet. com/InterfaceSolutionDownloadCenter/ Products.aspx?product=255 Datasheet download URL: http://www. miinet.com/Portals/0/DataSheets/SFY_ Datasheet_Moore_Industries.pdf

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38 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

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Tel.: 0161 6336431

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Powerful New ATEX-Approved Batteries

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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! ike i E

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: E: info@fike.co.uk www.fike.co.uk

Hazardous Area Specialist

Control Panels

HazardEx_43x60_0117_v2.indd 1

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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

Sponsorship & exhibition stands now on sale

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

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

Contact the HazardEx sales team on +44 (0)1732 359990 or events@imlgroup.co.uk

To advertise in the Product Datafiles or Buyers Guide contact

10% OFF all CompEX Courses • Foundation • EX01 to EX04 • EX01 to EX04 Refresher

Kathryn Startin

• Dust EX05 to EX06 • Mechanical EX11

Quote Code: HAZ10

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

+44 (0) 1642 770310

www.tte.co.uk/accredited

ATEX – 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

be ready for an extra-ordinary new world

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