Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Areas and Classifications Course
Electrical and Power Engineering
Select Other "city & date"
Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Areas and Classifications Course
Introduction:
Preventing the unintentional ignition of explosive atmospheres is a critical safety and economic aspect of all petroleum and chemical plant operations.
Course Objectives:
Participants attending the program will:
· Provide a clear understanding of hazardous area current custom and practice with particular respect to the following:
· Defining the hazard, classifying hazard materials, understanding the nature of the risk, and the necessity to eliminate sources of ignition
· The relationship between area classification and the various different types of Ex apparatus
· The relationship between electrical equipment and gas groups and temperature classes
· The installation and maintenance of the different types of equipment i.e. flameproof, increased safety, intrinsic safety, etc
· The need for, and typical approach to, electrical equipment inspection
· The documentation of the hazardous area
· An in-depth understanding of hazardous areas from the initial nature of the problem
· Some case studies of industrial accidents, through the identification and classification of the hazard, selection, and use of protected equipment
· The administration of hazardous areas in terms of record-keeping and certificates
Who Should Attend?
All personnel (examples are engineering, drafting, technicians, electricians) involved in the selection, installation, or maintenance of electrical or instrumentation equipment in potentially hazardous areas. This five-day program is a single and comprehensive training package that involves a combination of formal lectures, practical exercises, demonstrations, and written exercises.
It is primarily aimed at:
- Safety, electrical, instrumentation, and engineers or technicians
- It is assumed that most attendees will be familiar with industrial electrical practice although specific prior knowledge of hazardous areas is not a prerequisite
Course Outlines:
- Introduction and History
- A brief history of Industrial fires and explosions
- Materials
- Understanding the important characteristics of hazardous materials and how they behave when they are ignited. Looking at the data tables and seeing how, Flashpoint, boiling point, L.E.L., etc. influence our approach to the materials
- Area Classification
- A look at the techniques and the procedures that result in the formal allocations of zones zero, one, and two
- Sources of Hazard, duration of release, the extent of zones, calculations, nature of the hazard, and release characteristics
- Area Classification Exercise
- An exercise carried out in syndicate groups where a small plant is classified against the IP code of practice. This will give attendees a much clearer idea of what zone 0, zone1, and zone2 really mean at their own place of work
- Apparatus Groups and Temperature Classes
- How apparatus and hazard materials are matched together in terms of ignition energies, flame transmission characteristics, and ignition temperatures. How groups and T Classes have changed over the years and from country to country and where to find the information to make comparisons
- Source of Ignition
- A look at some of the possible sources of ignition, e.g. static electricity, light metal thermite reactions, friction, etc., which can occur in hazardous areas. Also consider some of the steps which can be taken to eliminate them
- Methods of Protection
- Considering the recognized methods of protection. The fundamental concept in each case and the zones in which they may be employed
- Ex d Flameproof
- Ex i Intrinsic Safety
- Ex e Increased Safety
- Ex p Pressurized
- Ex N Type N
- Ex m, Ex o, Ex q, Ex s
- Exercise
- A written exercise in which the relationship between zones, Apparatus groups, temperature classes, and certifies electrical equipment is examined
- Ex d Flameproof
- Considering in depth the concept of Flameproof protection, how it works, how it must be installed, how it must be inspected & maintained. Looking at weatherproofing, corrosion, gaps, fasteners, etc
- Equipment Inspection Exercise Session 1
- Examining samples and answering questions about them
- Intrinsic Safety
- As for flameproof, an in-depth look at the subject considering minimum ignition energies, associated apparatus, and systems, simple apparatus, IS clean earth, floating systems, system matching, etc
- Intrinsic Safety Installation
- Segregation of cables, screens, and armor, earthing and bonding, induction and invasion, creepage and clearance, etc
- Increased Safety
- An in-depth look at this concept of protection making comparisons with flameproof, and stressing the vital importance of correct installation. Also looking at weatherproofing IP rating, CTI, stoppers, and bolts, derating, etc.
- Equipment Inspection Exercise Session 2
- Ex p Pressurized Apparatus
- A close examination of this method of protection, what it can be applied to, when certification is possible, and how to maintain it. Where pressurized rooms fit in and how uncertified pressurized enclosures may be used in zone 2
- Type N
- A thorough examination of type N considering non-sparking, enclosed break, energy limitation, and restricted breathing concepts. Also making comparisons with the concepts of protection already covered in detail
- The Less Common Types of Protection
- A look at Ex m, Ex o, Ex q, and Ex s considering each in turn and pointing out the safety-critical features. Also considering combined or dual certification and the combination of many concepts of protection into one item of equipment
- Equipment Inspection Exercise Session 3
- Labels, Marking and Certificates
- A look at the coding’s, certificate numbers, and other essential markings on labels and certificates. Including a paper exercise to identify equipment and assess its suitability for a given environment
- Installation, Inspection, and Maintenance
- Considering the guidance of National codes of practice in terms of wiring and cabling, identification, isolation, inspections, and maintenance. Examining inspection schedules and referring back to the concepts of protection to ensure that the attendees are comfortable with the inspection requirements for all types of equipment. Prioritizing repairs, i.e. which failures are immediately life-threatening and which could become so in time
- Cable entries
- Considering cable and conduit entries to all types of enclosures and protection concepts. Also looking at adapters and reducers, plugs, and correct selection in each circumstance
- Equipment Inspection Exercise Final session
- Legislation
- What the Law has to say, standards, certificates, codes, European directives, the HSE, and how it all ties together
- Administration and Record-Keeping
- Considering the records that should be kept by a company in order to manage a hazardous area installation
- General Discussion: Any outstanding questions