Professional Certificate of Competency in Hazardous Areas and Intrinsic Safety for Engineers and Technicians

Overview

This course provides a comprehensive technical approach to hazardous areas. It explains the subject of explosion protection applied to electrical equipment in such areas. The course offers detailed explanations of the principles involved, the techniques used, the management structures and requirements to comply with the harmonized international standards that are now in place. Where potentially flammable atmospheres are encountered in industrial processes, area classification is mandatory as part of a risk assessment for the management of health and safety; the issues are examined by providing the opportunity to apply this process and understand the importance and extent of the co-operation of the disciplines involved. Requirements of inspection and maintenance are examined to show the importance of their effectiveness once the correct installation has been properly achieved, and to enable management to form a structured and effective regime to assure safety.

This course would also be appropriate for supervisors and managers, with the emphasis on outlining the management responsibility and enabling them to complement and accommodate the needs of technical staff beneath them. It is a common problem that technical staff are trained in what needs to be done but their management does not appreciate this or understand it. This course will address these shortcomings.

Course Outline

MODULE 1: Background and History

• The need for explosion protection
• Lessons from disaster investigation
• Concept of certification
• Risk assessment

MODULE 2: Ignition Characteristics

• Fire triangle
• Flammability characteristics
• Ignition sources
• Apparatus grouping

MODULE 3: Area Classification Theory

• Objectives
• Terminology and definitions
• Sources of release and ventilation
• Zoning
• Presentation, communication and monitoring
• Responsibilities
• Types of protection suitability

MODULE 4: Area Classification Practice

• Process of decision making
• Assessment and calculation
• Other 'codes of practice'
• Examples and tabulations

MODULE 5: Ex d

• Flameproof
• Theory of operation
• Flamepath joint types
• Dimensions and condition
• Apparatus and component certification

MODULE 6: Ex i & Systems

• Intrinsic safety
• Simple apparatus
• Apparatus and system concepts
• Interfaces
• Apparatus matching
• Descriptive system documentation

MODULE 7: Ex e and Ex n

• Increased safety
• Limitations of use
• Insulation and connection integrity
• Enclosure requirements
• Non-incendive
• The difference in approach

MODULE 8: Ex Types: p, o, q, m and s

• Features of these other types of protection
• Pressurisation and purging, oil immersion, sand-filling and encapsulation.
• Special protection
• Combined protection types

MODULE 9: Installation

• General requirements
• Information flow
• Cabling requirements
• Electrical protection
• Earthing and bonding
• Specific requirements for different types of Protection

MODULE 10: Inspection

• General requirements
• Periodicity and grade
• Scheduling
• Maintenance
• Responsibilities
• Testing and fault-finding issues

MODULE 11: Certification and Marking

• Summary of certification
• Marking of older apparatus
• Types of certificate and information contained
• Conditions placed on the use of apparatus
• Multiple certification techniques and benefits

MODULE 12: European ATEX Requirements

• ATEX and the international standards
• Product marking
• "Product" directive
• "Workers" directive (The DSEAR in UK)

Software/Hardware Used

Software

• N/A

Hardware

• N/A