HAZARDOUS AREAS and the ATEX DIRECTIVE
COURSE 390: 1 DAY
Potentially explosive atmospheres, where a flammable vapour, gas or dust is present are found in many sectors of industry. The ATEX (Atmosphere Explosif) Directives became mandatory on 1st July 2003. Stringent responsibilities are placed on the employer in upholding this directive. The changes mean that non-electrical equipment is now considered as well as electrical equipment, the effect of dust on the risk of explosion is included and significant emphasis is placed on the possible effects of maintenance and modifications. This course is designed to provide participants with an appreciation of the dangers of working in hazardous areas and the requirements of the Regulations and Directives.
PARTICIPANTS
Anyone involved in carrying out work in hazardous areas, or supervising others in carrying out such work will benefit from this course. No prior knowledge of explosion protection is required.
COURSE PRESENTATION
This informative course deals with practical issues in an informal way making full use of videos and providing plenty of opportunity for participants to raise their own questions. Participants are provided with useful reference documentation.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
On completion of the course, participants will have a thorough understanding of
- the ATEX and DSEAR Regulations
- the methods used to classify hazardous areas
- evaluation of hazards and methods of protection
- determining temperature classifications and gas grouping
- dust standards and recognising the dangers of dust, gas, vapour and mist in the air
- carrying out visual inspection and interpreting markings on equipment
- identifying protection methods Ex ia, Ex ib, Ex d, Ex p, Ex e, Ex m, Ex o, Ex q, Ex n, Ex s
- safe isolation and testing for dead in hazardous areas
- the requirements associated with installation and inspection
- the importance of earthing of electrical devices in hazardous areas
- evaluating the maintenance of apparatus in hazardous areas.
Successful completion of the course leads to the award of Unite / Technical Training Solutions underpinning knowledge certificate 390: Hazardous Areas and the ATEX Directive.
What do candidates on the Hazardous Areas course actually do?
Candidates are made aware of the fire and explosion hazards associated with various industries. The difference between combustion and explosion is discussed with the aid of video support material. The flash point and other properties of various commonly-used chemicals is discussed and explained with the help of comprehensive course notes. The following are example pages from the course notes for this stage of the course, describing flammable limits, vapour density and auto-ignition temperatures as well as how the vapour density and ignition energy relates to the possibilities of an explosion occurring:
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Hazardous areas are classified into zones and the next stage of the course explains, in simple terms, how this is done and what sorts of equipment would be acceptable in each zone. The various forms of protection are discussed (Exd, EXe, Exia, etc) and how and where these would most often be used. Manufacturers' markings (used to describe the environmental operating conditions of equipment) can be very confusing, and in order to help with this candidates are shown the CENELEC (committee for electrotechnical standardisation) marking system and how to decode the markings using various examples. The following are pages from the course notes for this stage of the course, describing the zones found in hazardous are classifications, the various methods of protection used and how components used in hazardous areas are marked:
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Simply having to listen to someone talking about the ATEX directive for hours would be very boring, and clearly it is impractical to demonstrate the dangers of dusts, vapours and gasses in a training room environment in a meaningful way. To overcome this, Technical Training Solutions’ instructors involve the candidates in discussions about how the directives may affect the components they use. Example components such as lamps, isolators and switches are examined, demonstrating how the ATEX directive has been met. This provides the candidates with important practical hands-on experience. The following are some of our example components - an EXe rated switch, an IS rated DP cell and a dustproof isolator:
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We also have some explosion-rated equipment for the candidates to examine and discuss:
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The candidates are provided with a range of Ex rated glands, zener barriers and explosion proof limit switches to examine, identify and discuss:
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While the ATEX directive defines how equipment is manufactured, is says nothing of the people who use and install it. This is where the DSEAR (dangerous substances and explosives atmospheres regulations 2002) regulations come into play. Candidates are given an overview of the directive and shown how a risk assessment would be conducted. Also the need for initial and periodic inspections are discussed.
Towards the end of the session the candidates are given a written assessment to ensure the key points of the day have been understood.
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We use the assessment as another learning tool, as it demonstrate the candidates' understanding of the key points about hazardous areas. Questions that the candidates get wrong are discussed until we can be truly confident that every candidate understood all the important issues about ATEX, DSEAR, protection methods, component marking, zoning and the dangers of hazardous areas.