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ASPECTS REGARDING THE ASSESSMENT OF TOOLS INTENDED FOR USE IN EXPLOSIVE HAZARD ENVIRONMENT
Abstract
Technical installations in explosive hazard environments have specially designed characteristics to ensure safe operation in such atmospheres. For safety reasons, it is essential to maintain the integrity of these special features throughout the entire lifespan of the installations through maintenance and inspection processes. In this operation it is necessary to use safety tools. These tools must be assessed and certified in accordance with the applicable requirements of the current legislation, regulated by Directive 1999/92/EC and SR EN 1127-1:2019, to prevent the generation of ignition sources such as mechanical sparks. The legislation forbids any ignition sources in explosive hazard environments and classifies hand tools as unique sources of mechanical sparks. Therefore, they must be carefully selected to avoid and minimize the generation of hazardous sparks. For assessing the intrinsic safety to mechanical sparks, two dedicated methods are implemented in testing laboratories and further used for the conformity assessment of tools with regard to explosive atmospheres ignition, namely: impact test and friction test. The purpose of the paper is to present the results obtained by using the first method mentioned. Also, the paper highlights important aspects on non-sparking tools used to carry out the specific maintenance works within technical installations located in hazardous Ex areas, in compliance with the European workplace safety and health principles and practices.
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References5
Directive 1999/92/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 December 1999 on minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres, 1999.
EN 1127-1 (2011), Explosive atmospheres. Explosion prevention and protection. Basic concepts and methodology.
Powell F (1986) �Can non sparking tools and materials prevent gas explosions�, Gas-Wasser-Abwasser 66, Jahrang 1986, Nr 6.
SR EN ISO/IEC 80079-20-1:2020, Explosive atmospheres � Part 20-1: Material characteristics for gas and vapour classification � Test methods and data, ASRO, 2020
STAS 10449-86, (1986), Electrical Equipment for Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Impact and Friction Testing, The Romanian Standardization Institute, Romania.
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