Staying cool under pressure in dangerous areas is not always easy, but it helps to have ATEX HVAC equipment installed.
Challenging environments where there’s a real risk of a catastrophic event breaking out, such as a fire or explosion, call for specialist tools and equipment, and not just to ensure that operations can be done, but to keep employees safe from harm and ensure they’re comfortable too.
Difficult settings where people spend large parts of the day working include environments where there may be extremes in temperatures — from unbearably hot to freezing cold — and potentially, there could be an explosive atmosphere that’s partly or continually present.
“What do you mean by an explosive atmosphere?” you may ask.
This is where fumes, gases or tiny particles of combustible dust are in the air from raw materials such as wood or chemicals that have been used within the workplace, and all it takes is a small ignition source, such as welding sparks, to set off an explosion.
So companies operating in these challenging environments — oil and gas facilities and the petrochemical industry, for instance — have added responsibilities. They need to use certain types of machines and equipment that won’t be a potential trigger for a blaze or explosion and that will allow people to work in an optimal temperature environment so they won’t fall ill. They need ATEX HVAC equipment.
What Is ATEX HVAC Equipment?
ATEX is an acronym for the French Appareils destinés à être utilisés en ATmosphères EXplosives (equipment destined for use in explosive atmospheres). It is legislation drawn up by the European Union covering the installation and use of modified equipment designed for hazardous environments. The aim is to protect employees and to keep everyone safe from harm within the workplace.
One ATEX product range covers heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems essential for workers’ comfort and maintaining the right temperature for products and dangerous substances and materials. Such items are typically more robust than standard HVAC products because they often operate in the extreme environments we mentioned. They also have to be more contained so that their components don’t come into contact with vapours and fumes and spark a fire or explosion.
This is a challenge that most manufacturers of explosion-proof HVAC units face before they get approval and accreditation for their products and can sell to companies and organisations. ATEX-approved air conditioning units, for instance, differ from their standard counterparts in that they’re hermetically sealed and keep everything in that might otherwise cause a problem with substances in the atmosphere around them. And they won’t overheat and pose similar risks to people and facilities — they’re designed to be ultra-reliable in that they will keep going in the most challenging environments without breaking down.
Working in More Hazardous Environments
Some parts of a company’s facilities may have a higher-than-usual explosion risk due to the nature of the work done and the type of materials handled — oil and toxic chemicals, for instance. In such extra-hazardous environments, there’s a constant threat to staff’s lives, and employers are compelled to take additional measures to protect them.
These measures include:
- Installing equipment such as fire doors to stop a blaze from spreading to other parts of the building.
- Thorough cleaning of the workplace, as no dust means no possible hazards or explosions. Hard-to-reach places or areas not visible can usually have the most amount of dust build-up, so these may need to be checked regularly.
- Workplace areas being well-lit with ATEX-approved lighting to ensure that build-ups of dust are not missed.
- Training your employees or contractors to help them understand where dust explosions might occur, how to prevent them, and what to do in the event of an emergency.
The number of people working in such dangerous areas must be reduced, and specialised equipment that can help put out fires is necessary. In addition, these places must be adequately ventilated and have hazardous area air conditioning units.
Some jobs are more complicated than others, but all jobs are vital, and with the right tools, equipment and machinery, workers can perform their essential tasks while staying safe and comfortable.
Order explosion-proof HVAC units right here at the ATEX Online shop — only the best brands, at the best prices and shipping worldwide.