ASSOCIATION NEWS
THE ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION (ECA) TALKS TO IRELAND’S ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HAZARD AWARENESS AND WORKFORCE COMPETENCE… Sparking competency in explosive environments
Electrical contractors work in all types of buildings and locations. However, the risks vary dramatically in these installations. For instance, a swimming pool installation poses different risks to an installation on a chemical site. What is clear, however, is that fire and explosions are, without doubt, a major risk that electrical contractors face in many projects and environments. Most of us are familiar with the fire triangle – remove any one of the three elements and the fire cannot occur, but is that it? It is a consequence of modern life that we manufacture, store or handle a range of gases or liquids that are deemed flammable and a range of dusts that are
deemed combustible. These substances can, in the right conditions, form an atmosphere that could be explosive. Fortunately, incidents that involve an explosion are rare but when they do occur, they often make the news. When breaking these events down into their simplest terms, they are essentially a combination of a release or leak in the right quantities and concentrations of a particular substance or material, their mixing with oxygen and the presence of a source of ignition. Hazardous areas are documented on the hazardous area classification drawing and are identified on site by the triangular “EX” sign. Here, amongst other key information, the zones are split into three types dependent upon
the hazard, the likelihood and duration that an explosive atmosphere will exist; Zone 0 or 20 is considered the most hazardous and Zone 2 or 22 is deemed the least. Due to the risks presented, it is in these areas where we find specific requirements for the types of electrical equipment and installations that are designed to prevent an ignition. The methods by which this is achieved can vary, so it is critical that the special features of this electrical equipment and installation must not be compromised. Have you heard of terms such as “flameproof”, “increased safety” or “intrinsic safety”? Identified by special markings, these are just a few examples of the types of protection (or protection
ELECTEX LIMERICK: REGISTER TO ATTEND AT WWW.BEPEX.IE
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