Safety in hazardous areas implies addressing multiple aspects. Click on each of the steps below to find out the key elements for hazardous area compliance.
A dossier is a must-have for hazardous areas, as it can be used as a compliance trail because it provides proof that equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres is fully compliant and documented.
Without a comprehensive dossier, there could be no evidence to prove all equipment being used is properly specified and that it has been installed according to relevant standards and then inspected for compliance.
EUTEX Inspection Teams collate all the required supporting documents, they make sure there is a master “clean” EX register, certificates for all equipment installed, area classification drawings, electrical and Intrinsically safe design parameters, and manufacturers supporting information.
Step number 1 to a compliant EX Life Cycle for hazardous areas isTraining.
EUTEX provides training to ensure staff understands whatstandards, regulations, directives, and codesare needed to ensure safety during operations in potentially explosive atmospheres. From beginner to advanced practitioners, EUTEX has options for those who could be defined as operatives, designers, or responsible persons.
EUTEX regularly carries out a training needs analysis for their corporate clients, creating competency matrices to allow teams to understand their specific duties and how these fit into safe operations.
We understand that learning styles can be different, so we offer a variety of course delivery options, in-person and online. The EUTEX E-Learningplatformis self-led, allowing individuals to progress at their own pace to fit their personal schedule.
If you are looking for hazardous area training or competency certification, EUTEX can advise on which course should be taken. For companies looking to certify their staff for hazardous are compliance, EUTEX can help on this first step of their EX Journey.
Step 3 to a compliant EX Life Cycle for Hazardous Areas is Design and Unit Verification with the purpose of ensuring that equipment to be installed in potentially explosive atmospheres is documented as safe and suitably certified for its area of use.
EUTEX has certified, competent, experienced engineers who can analyze a design against the risk presented in a specified hazardous area and ensure all essential health and safety requirements are met and adequate certification is in place.
This helps our clients ensure projects can confidently proceed to their purchasing phase.
Every hazardous area must go through an initial detailed inspection and must be reinspected at suitable periods throughout its whole lifetime of use.
A common mistake when operating within potentially explosive atmospheres is to skip the previous 5 steps mentioned on the EX Life Cycle and cut straight to the inspection.
When this happens it is almost certainly going to result in a higher “fail” rate which will likely increase the remedial and re-inspection costs to put things right.
Do not let this occur to you. Contact EUTEX to guide you through your EX Lice Cycle compliance journey here.
After many incidents occurred throughout the years, area classification for hazardous areas has become a requirement in multiple countries around the world.
Hazardous area zone classification is a representation of the actual risk level presented in the workplace so all staff from maintenance to management are aware of how to keep those risks minimal and avoid catastrophic events.
EUTEX’s design engineers can create hazardous area classifications to demonstrate the actual risk presented in the workplace and with this ensure safety for all staff during regular operations.
To ensure safety within potentially explosive atmospheres equipment must be installed by competent experienced personnel in line with the relevant standards, directives, and codes.
Installers should as well as being certified – fully understand the principles of explosion protection so they can be sure the equipment being installed is acceptable for the actual area of installation.
EUTEX staff has these competencies as well as extensive knowledge of international standards, directives, and codes. Let us help make sure your installations have been done properly.