ATEX Inspectors: Electrical considerations for ATEX Inspections
ATEX Inspectors
This white paper takes a look at the importance of maintaining focus on electrical issues during hazardous area ATEX inspections. Electrical considerations for ATEX inspections. The requirement for utilising operatives that are industrially experienced with potentially explosive atmospheres is paramount. ATEX inspectors.
Many companies do not give adequate consideration to the condition of their electrical installations in relation to potentially explosive atmospheres, especially within older plants. Whilst most are concerned with ensuring completion of their hazardous area ATEX inspections and demonstrating compliance with the DSEAR regulations, ATEX 137 directive and BS EN 60079-17 standard, they tend to ignore or forget electrical testing which should be equally considered to the ATEX inspections (BS 7671-part 6 in conjunction with BS EN 60079-14 section 4.1 General Requirements, HSE 2002, HSE: ATEX and explosive atmospheres).
There are a number of reasons why companies focus upon ATEX inspections rather than having a dual focus on both electrical and ATEX inspections. These may include local, regional or national safety authority drive on achieving ATEX compliance; insurance requirements; organisational policy and safety processes, all of which may prioritise the requirement of ATEX inspections over electrical inspections. In fact, it is apparent within some industries and, particularly, within smaller companies that do not possess the resources to maintain awareness of legislative compliance requirements, that there is a clear lack of industrial awareness in order to demonstrate and achieve compliance for electrical and hazardous area ATEX inspections.
This paper also looks at what ATEX inspectors should consider with regard to the overall inspection and maintenance of electrical equipment within potentially explosive atmospheres.
