NEWS IN THE FIELD OF EXPLOSION-PROTECTION? FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE NON-ELECTRICAL STANDARDS EN 13463 IN THE PROCESS INDUSTRY

摘要

Directive 94/9/EC became mandatory July 1st, 2003, and outlines the requirements for placing on the European market of electrical and non-electrical (“mechanical”) equipment intended for use in explosive atmospheres. While standards for electrical equipment were common practice, mechanical equipment formed a new aspect and standards had to be developed to comply with the European Directive 94/9/EC. Within 94/9/EC, only the essential health and safety requirements for mechanical equipment were set. The European working group CEN/TC 305 “Potentially explosive atmospheres – Explosion prevention and protection” was responsible for specification of these requirements in the standard. WG 2 “Equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres” was established in 1994 to produce the mechanical standard series EN 13463. Seven parts describe the different measures of explosion-protection for mechanical equipment and are near to completion. The first experiences with these standards demonstrated the necessity for revision, which is currently under way. The revision is focused on the mandatory risk analysis, which can only be an ignition assessment procedure carried out by the manufacturer. Therefore, EN 13463-1, “Basic requirements” was restructured to reflect the procedure of ignition assessment. Although the old version of the standard also contained requirements for mechanical equipment, the ignition assessment procedure, including the evaluation of malfunction, led to confusion. Wherever equipment is an integral part of a process (i.e. pumps, dryers, mixers etc.) the user must integrate this equipment into the safety concept of the process. The interfaces of responsibility must be clearly defined.