Product category:
Laboratory and scientific consultancy services
News Release from: Sira
Edited by the Laboratorytalk Editorial
Team on 29 June 2001
Classification of hazardous areas
Sira Test and Certification offers a hazardous area classification service to help meet the requirements of the forthcoming European Directive on Worker Protection
In 2003, the Worker Protection Directive (92/99/EC) will come into effect With it will come the legal requirement for classification of hazardous areas across Europe
This article was originally published on Laboratorytalk on 23 Jul 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Free wallchart goes with a bang
Sira has published an updated version of its wallchart showing potentially explosive atmospheres, for use in conjunction with current ATEX directives
After the closure of EECS
Following the closure of Electrical Equipment Certification Service (EECS) by the HSE, Sira is trying to establish how a suitable service for EECS customers can be maintained in the UK
The dangers of siting electrical apparatus in areas where explosive mixtures of flammable materials and air could occur are covered by this legislation.
Many factories, plants and sites are already classifying their hazardous areas and limiting and restricting the use of equipment in those potentially explosive atmospheres in compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Already, many organisations working in the petrochemical industry, in mining, chemicals, and power stations, and in some pharmaceutical and water industry environments, are accustomed to zoning their areas of work in accordance with this legislation.
Further reading
Explosive atmosphere management service
A new service which offers companies an Explosive Atmosphere Management Service in order for them to achieve compliancy with the Worker Protection Directive
QandA on electrical equipment certification
Electrical Equipment Certification Service (EECS) will close by July 2003, leading to speculation about the continuing validity of certificates and use of the BASEEFA/MECS mark
Sira Test and Certification, the long-established specialist in calibration, testing and certification, offers a full hazardous area classification service from its Hazardous Area Centre in Chester.
The service is intended to allow customers to utilise Sira's expertise in the ATEX 137 directive by commissioning support and project management to help with their hazardous area classification.
The classification of hazardous areas is a multi-stage project, taking into account a large number of factors and requiring both expertise and interpretation of the various Codes of Practice, as well as a number of extremely in-depth calculations relating to each individual site.
Sira offers its customers a full service to help the employer meet the legal obligations, including the assessment of their site's Sources of Hazard and likelihood of sources of ignition, classification of the area into zones and marking all points of entry, as well as producing and maintaining documentation.
Sira offers customers the support required to zone their sites, by area.
This then leads to a clear classification of areas into: Zones 0 and 20 - potentially explosive atmosphere is continuously present or for long periods.
Zones 1 and 21 - potentially explosive atmosphere is likely to occur in normal operation.
Zones 2 and 22 - potentially explosive atmosphere is unlikely to occur and will exist for only a short time.
The process of area classification requires full analysis of properties of materials, of the equipment and conditions and site layout, as well as ventilation.
Sira's capabilities extend to assignation of a team, meetings, reviews, calculations of hazards and full area classification review.
• Sira: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Laboratorytalk email newsletter
• Laboratorytalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
