A look at the benefits and mandatory requirements of hazardous area air conditioning units.
Hazardous work environments pose many challenges for companies and their staff, including keeping production going and ensuring workers are not only safe and healthy but comfortable too. Such challenging industries include the oil, gas and petrochemical sectors, as well as mining and flour mills, where there’s the potential for explosions from particles of flour mixing with oxygen.
Many of these workplaces are also hot, so companies need the right kind of equipment to keep the temperature at a comfortable level so that workers don’t overheat and become ill. That’s why hazardous area air conditioning units are essential in all these settings. They keep employees cool and comfortable and allow them to get on with their work and keep production constant.
We’re talking about hazardous area air conditioning units that are ATEX-approved and certified and suitable for the many kinds of industrial premises where there’s a real risk of explosions and other potentially catastrophic events happening. ATEX is the collective name for two pieces of legislation enacted by the European Union (EU) and adopted by member states, including pre-Brexit Britain. These directives make it mandatory for manufacturers of various equipment and tools to design them to a certain standard and cover their use on the factory floor and elsewhere too.
How Are Hazardous Area Air Conditioning Units Different?
Using ordinary air conditioning units in hazardous work environments can become a danger and lead to explosions since the motor and other parts could cause a blast. Companies with hazardous work environments are mandated under the EU legislation we mentioned to install special air conditioning units that are ATEX-approved so that they’re safe in hazardous places and won’t pose an explosion risk.
These hazardous area air conditioning units are part of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment that businesses use to regulate and control their work environments. They’re different from usual air conditioning units in that they have an airtight, or hermetic, seal that stops anything, like sparks, from getting out and causing problems. The fan motor is also sealed, and they have corrosion-resistance and other features that help ensure they won’t break down and, with regular servicing, will keep on going.
Best Hazardous Area Air Conditioning Units
Here at ATEXOnline, we specialise in Friedrich hazardous area air conditioning units. They’re extremely efficient, strong, robust and built to last in the most challenging of workplace environments. They’re so well built that they will operate in the most extreme of environments, with the surface temperature of the units not rising above 135C, even if it’s as high as 55C outside, the maximum temperature they work at (the lowest is 7C).
These hazardous area air conditioning units from market-leader Friedrich are specifically designed for spaces where volatile and flammable liquids and gasses are being used or handled — ensuring there’s no chance they might cause something to happen that could harm workers or lead to a loss of life. They’re of particular value and necessity in settings where it’s vital to have cool air delivered by a sealed air conditioning unit, such as:
- Offshore and onshore oil sectors
- Petrochemical facilities
- Plants that use chemicals and strong solvents
- Recycling facilities
- Hazardous materials storage.
ATEX-approved air conditioning units make for pleasant workspaces where people can feel comfortable carrying out their tasks, safe in the knowledge that they’re protected from possible injury and can focus on their work. And for management, investment in top-quality hazardous area air conditioning units also means they’re in full compliance with health and safety regulations.
Browse our ATEX-approved Friedrich hazardous area air conditioning units now and order some for your company today. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please get in touch with us, and we’ll do our best to get it for you.