Dangers can be recognized on time
Explosion protection is one of the most important safety responsibilities of every employer. Avoidance of interruptions to production and injury to persons through early recognition of explosion hazards are primary tasks of explosion protection.
In industry, combustible substances have to be stored on a day-to-day basis. However, combustible dusts, vapours or organic solvents and also combustible gases can form a potentially explosive atmosphere in combination with air. If an ignition source exists and an explosion occurs, major destruction can result.
European Directive 1999/92/EC, the so-called ATEX 137 directive, lays down minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres.
The European directive is implemented at the national level in the form of the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (Betriebssicherheitsverordnung -BetrSichV).
What standards and legal regulations form the basis of our work?
- ATEX 137 = Directive 1999/92/EC as transposed into the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health
- Technical Rules
- all other applicable standards and regulations
Our Services
- Calculation of combustible substances in production plants
- Evaluation of the substance concentrations and characteristics for the possible formation of a potentially explosive atmosphere
- Creation of explosion protection concepts in cooperation with the plant operator. The objective is to use technical and/or organisational measures in order to avoid formation of potentially explosive atmospheres
- If the occurrence of hazardous potentially explosive atmospheres cannot reliably be avoided, the relevant areas are divided into so-called "Ex zones"
- Assessment of electrical and non-electrical devices and equipment to ensure fulfilment of the requirements of the necessary explosion protection category (documentation check)
- Assessment of the electrical and non-electrical devices and equipment regarding the possible effects of ignition sources in a potentially explosive atmosphere (ignition source analysis)
- Advice on the use of design-related measures for explosion protection in process plant
- Drafting of explosion protection documents according to the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health in cooperation with the plant Operator
- Inspection of plant in areas where there are potentially explosive atmospheres prior to plant commissioning by our approved inspection body. the aim to establish their proper condition with regard to assembly, installation, environment and safe functioning
- Periodic testing of plant and equipment in areas where there are potentially explosive atmospheres
- Examination of explosion-related safety of workplaces in areas where there are potentially explosive atmospheres according to Annex 4, Clause A 3.8 BetrSichV. This examination is in the form of a systematic health and safety inspection, taking all functional units and their interactions into consideration as they affect the protection of employees and third parties. It serves as proof of the correctness of the explosion protection concept and its implementation in the entire plant that is subject to monitoring and surveillance
- Cause analysis following explosion damage and exchange of experience with the plant operator with regard to avoidance of a repeat occurrence
