Hazardous Area Equipment situated in the North West of England is centrally located to distribute an extensive range of market leading products through a distribution network throughout the UK.

What is a Hazardous Area?

A hazardous area is an area which special precautions are required due to the presence of explosive atmospheres. Explosions and fires can happen on all sizes of installations, each can be serious.

Vapour gases & dust mixed with oxygen in the right proportions with an ignition source can create an explosive atmosphere.

Below are some examples of premises & industries that require Hazardous Area Equipment.

  • Garages (i.e pits)
  • Distilleries/Breweries
  • Flour Mills
  • Paper Mills
  • Silos (wheat, grain, rice & pulses)
  • Joinery Shops
  • Pharmaceutical Industries
  • Painting/Body Shops (spray booths)
  • Detergent Manufacturers
  • Agriculture & Food Industries
  • Glue Manufacturers
  • Chemical Industries/Manufacturers
  • Food flavourings manufacturers
  • Battery Changing Area
  • Metalworking Factories
  • Waste Treatment Plants
  • Textile/Spinning Factories
  • Bakeries
  • Perfume Production
  • Petrol Stations

Equipment

All new equipment electrical and mechanical installed in a potentially explosive environment has to be manufactured to the ATEX standards and certified.

ATEX Directive

ATEX regulations came in to place 1st July 2003 for new installations. This is a directive and is law which can not be deviated from. Companies with existing installations have until 1st July 2006 to implement the relevant requirements.

"Article 137 ATEX directive" Directive 1999/92/EC on the minimum requirements for improving the safety & health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres.

Part of the ATEX Directive is that customers must asses the risk such as:-

  • Identify Materials
  • Identify Dust
  • Asses Ventilation (you might not want ventilation for dust as you are causing dust clouds)
  • Determine Zone & Extent
  • Predict the effect if an explosion occurred where possible
  • Document findings
  • Rules for risk assessment to be effective
  • Try to reduce risk
  • System & area to be reviewed on a regular basis - Audit

As part of the risk assessment areas of potential explosive atmospheres need to be put into classifications or zonings, these areas should be marked accordingly on the appropriate drawings. Zoning will now be a legal requirement as part of the ATEX directive.