electrical installations in an areas containing potential explosive gases

[Sparky 63]

Evening Gents,

Can anyone advise of ratings of electrical equipment , disboards, switches, light fittings and socket outlets in a potentially explosive environment.

Thanks

Sparky 63

 

[urbanmonkey]

Should all be ATEX marked/certified, new stuff has 'ex' written on it inside a symbol that looks a bit like a 50p iirc

 

[LeeH]

Yes, they need to be explosion proof.


Seriously, COMPEX is your friend, I hope you are asking out of curiosity and not on a 'got this job' basis.

 

[Sparky 63]

Hi there, I have been asked the question and just wanted to confirm my thinking.

Thanks

Sparky 63

 

[Cornwall Sparks]

Hi there, I have been asked the question and just wanted to confirm my thinking.

Thanks

Sparky 63

If its got to be COMPEX, it aint going to be a cheap job !!

 

[pepparz]

If you have to ask then its time to give the job to a company competant in zoned areas. For a start you need the data sheets of any hazardous materials and detailed site plans with the spacific zoned areas drawn out, only then can you begin decide what equipment is suitable for which area. And yes its expensive equipment.

 

[pepparz]

to add, you wont see dist boards or 240v socket outlets in zoned areas, these would be sited in "safe" non-zoned areas. But its not always explosion proof, you can install intrinsically safe equipment ,gear thats not capable of producing a spark of significant energy to ignite the surrounding atmosphere but thats just for zone 0 areas.