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This scenario seems impossible, but it is a real-life or death possibility. This is because Zone ratings are measured independently from temperature codes and gas group types defined within the ATEX and IECEx classifications.

Zone 0 is defined as an area where an explosive atmosphere is always present. Zone 1 is defined as an area in which an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur during regular operations due to scheduled maintenance, accidents, or leakage.

Temperature codes refer to the maximum surface temperature of any device component that can be exposed to a hazardous environment in a fault condition. A T1 rating can be up to 450°C (842° F), but a T4 rating cannot exceed 135°C (275° F). These significant differences between temperature codes often go unnoticed unless examined closely.

Likewise, gas group ratings require careful scrutiny. Group B type gas contains explosive gases like Hydrogen and Etheylene Oxide, while Group D type gas contains less volatile gases like Propane and Gasoline vapors. These differences often go unnoticed by safety professionals who rely solely on a Zone rating for guidance.

These T codes and gas ratings can confuse someone into believing a Zone 0 device with a T1 code, and a rating for group D type gases is safe for use in a Zone 1 environment that requires a T4 code and a rating for group B type gases. In this specific instance, the Zone 1 product rated for this environment is safer than the Zone 0 rated product.

All equipment safety ratings must be based on the potentially hazardous environment it may encounter as the current one may quickly change without you being aware of it. If you are unsure, analyze the work environment, determine the worst-case scenario, and equip your teams accordingly.

Nightstick, a global manufacturer of intrinsically safe, professional, portable LED lighting products that exceed industry standards in performance, quality, and user safety, has over fifty intrinsically safe products. You need to focus on completing your job with confidence, know­ing your equipment was designed and rated for the highest levels of safety when your life depends on light.

Find the certification level you need at www.nightstick.com

ENGINEERING specialists McMenon have made a senior appointment as the UK company further expands in the nuclear and renewables markets.

Scott Castlehow has joined McMenon as its new Business Director to help the Workington-based firm achieve further growth in nuclear, renewables, defence and other sectors.

Scott brings to McMenon almost 20 years of experience in a range of industries, including nine years in the nuclear and decommissioning sector, and ten years in the aeronautical industry.

McMenon CEO Anand Puthran said: “We are delighted Scott has joined McMenon at such an exciting time in the company’s development as we expand in the nuclear and renewables markets.

“The timing is perfect to enable our plans to become one of the main Cumbrian SME suppliers to the nuclear industry. McMenon, along with TIS Cumbria, has formed the North West Energy Coast Alliance, to compete for, and deliver, large projects in the nuclear sector.

“Scott’s invaluable experience in this sector will aid us as we look to continue our growth across all markets.”

Scott said: “I will be helping McMenon develop its engineering and manufacturing solutions within new sectors. It’s a great opportunity and I am really looking forward to it.

“I am inspired by the CEO’s passion, and I will feed off Anand’s drive and his vision. McMenon is a key player in the delivery of flow and temperature instrumentation products within the global energy industry. But there are lots of opportunities through engineering and manufacturing to grow McMenon’s offerings in the nuclear, renewables, defence and other sectors.”

Scott will manage McMenon’s technical engineering and supply chain departments and lead business growth in the nuclear, renewables and defence sectors.

McMenon has built a global reputation for design and manufacture of quality, specialist flow and temperature measurement products supplying to more than 50 countries around the world. It also provides complete contract engineering and manufacturing solutions, and fabrication, pipework and welding services.

Our “Three Day” DSEAR course is aimed at those who responsible for conducting DSEAR assessments, but are not necessarily fully confident with the process. They may work in a flammable environment, in-addition to being responsible for managing the area, day to day.

The course content:

• Legal foundations
• How sources of danger arise.
• What is the difference between flashpoint, fire point, boiling point and Auto Ignition?
• The fundamentals on the origin of Explosions, Deflagrations and Fires
• Risks resulting from improper storage or handling of these substances
• The meaning of the danger triangle and pentagon.

An overview of the regulations, understanding solvents and their physical properties, explosive dusts, ATEX classifications, gas groups, temperature ratings and BS 60079-10 Ex Zone determination, all giving a greater understanding of how ATEX fits into the DSEAR equation when establishing hazardous zones.

Reference is made to the theoretical understanding of flammable vapours with examples of how the L.E.L can be converted into a meaningful quantity of chemical per cubic metre.

Supported by a full and detailed 200-page, training manual to assist with their learning.

Our “Three Day” DSEAR training course is aimed at those who may be responsible for conducting risk assessments, but are not necessarily fully confident to do so with such a technical subject.

The Course Content :

Legal foundations of DSEAR and COSHH

How Fires and explosions occur,

The fundamentals of understanding the explosive potential - Deflagrations

Understanding the Chemical Properties of a substance

Risks resulting from improper storage or handling of substances

The danger triangle and dust pentagon.

Dust explosion potentials

An overview of the regulations is included along with, explanations and understanding of solvents and their physical properties, explosive dusts, ATEX classifications and coding, gas groups, temperature ratings and BS 60079-10 Ex Zone determination, all giving a greater understanding of how ATEX fits into the DSEAR equation when establishing hazardous zones.

Reference is also drawn to the theoretical understanding of flammable vapours with examples of how the Lower Explosive Limit can be converted into a meaningful quantity or volume of chemical per cubic metre of space.

The course includes:

A detailed 200-page, training manual for all delegates

Working group activities

A “multiple choice” exam

Buffet Lunch Tea Coffee and refreshments. – COVID conditions apply.

Venue and Dates 2022:

Cannock Staffordshire

March 15-17th

Jun 14-16th

Oct 11-14th.

www.dsc-ltd.co.uk

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

01952 947682

07989 597569

Hoist and Winch Ltd has come a long way in a short space of time. From humble beginnings in 2007, the company today offers a full spectrum of lifting equipment services to the UK and global marketplace. Indeed, the Hoist and Winch portfolio now comprises product sales, installation, service, inspection, repair and hire, with a special emphasis on project work. With increasing demand, the reputation and corporate profile of this ISO9001-accredited business is rising fast.

The company excels in managing the supply and installation of standard and explosion-proof air-powered/electric hoists, while another strong business area is hoist hire, an offer that includes higher capacity air/electric hoists. As one of many market differentiators with its competitors, the company also offers installation services for rental hoists.

Although Hoist and Winch serves a number of sectors, the company is particularly at home supplying demanding industries such as heavy construction, cement production, petrochemical, offshore, marine, mining and tunnelling, many of which require explosion-proof equipment.

Radnor Hills Mineral Water has chosen Hart Door Systems to supply a further high-speed door for its Radnor-based mineral water plant.

Brian Woodcock, Hart’s regional sales manager says, “the order continues an excellent working relationship with the company.”

“We have installed several Speedor Minis, so it is good to follow these up with our Speedor Storm variant, designed specifically as an external high-speed door for frequent use in high traffic situations, particularly in exposed areas where exceptional wind resistance is required.”

Mr Woodcock adds: “We had a five-star review from the client for our door quality and speed of installation which underscores the Hart ethos. The continuing performance of Hart’s existing doors on site is a great help I am sure but also our bidding process and the excellence of our engineers on site were pivotal.”

www.hartdoors.com

Glasgow’s COP26 conference did much to remind us of the issue of Climate Change. However well-intentioned the debate over two weeks by the global audience was followed by a real, live, reminder that the Earth is very much on the edge with dramatic storms, flooding, forest fires, continuing rising sea levels and melting ice caps. Will it be more of the same at COP27 to be held later this year at Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt or will the Earth’s rising temperatures finally show signs of moderation asks, freelance journalist Chris Dobson.

Research shows that nearly 40% of carbon emissions coming from the construction of property and about a further 30% coming from the actual use of the building, that is heating, lighting, air-conditioning and so on.

As buildings such as manufacturing facilities and warehousing are essential to any country’s economy what can be done to reduce carbon emissions from property? Building energy efficient properties is the obvious step but how can this be achieved?

 A new flameproof cable gland range from Pratley  allows for soft-bedding cables like PVC and the like, which are prone to creep, to be fitted to flameproof equipment without any concern regarding cable damage or poor long-term sealing.

The Pratley Taper-Tech® flameproof gland range consists of four separate glands in two unique categories. First is the Pratley Taper-Tech® gland for armoured and braided cable. This is a ‘double compression’ gland, meaning it has both an inner and an outer seal. The second is the Pratley Taper-Tech® single-seal flameproof gland, also for armoured and braided cable, but with a durable rubber shroud.

The range also includes two ‘double compression’ glands for unarmoured cable, one being a hose-tail version that features a spigot on the compression nut. This is intended to be fitted with flexible hosing, for example, where cables are fitted to mining machines, for protecting the cable outer sheath.

DUBAI, January 21, 2022 – MSA Safety (NYSE: MSA), the global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of sophisticated safety solutions that help protect people and facility infrastructures,  will exhibit at the iktva 2022 Forum and Exhibition in the Dhahran Expo Center in Dammam, Saudi Arabia from January 24 to the 26.

Conference attendees will experience MSA’s state-of-the-art solutions of fixed gas and flame detection technology, including: 

• The S5000 Gas Monitor – now assembled locally in Saudi Arabia, versatile and ideal for extreme environments, where workers need to detect combustible and toxic gases or monitor oxygen levels;

• Enhanced Laser Diode Spectroscopy (ELDS) – Laser based Open Path Gas Detector solutions to monitor combustible and toxic gases by making use of the latest optical laser-based detection technology;
• The IR5500 Detector – IR based Open Path Gas Detector that continuously monitors for flammable gas leaks over large open areas;
• Ultrasonic Gas Leak Detectors (UGLD) – the fastest responding sensor technology for high pressure gas leaks and are the perfect solution to increase the probability of detecting gas leaks; and
• The FL4000H & FL500 – Flame Detectors detect fires over a large area and the flame recognition software improves the false alarm immunity, which avoids unwanted shutdowns.

Visit booth E126 to learn how MSA’s solutions can help you better protect your workers and the plant itself from dangerous substances.

www.MSAsafety.com.

HSE inspection campaign sheds light on health and safety issues in South Yorkshire

Twenty-two inspectors inspected 71 business in Sheffield and Rotherham.

65 per cent of business inspected were found to be in some form of breach of health and safety law.

Inspectors served three prohibition notices, 31 improvement notices and a further 23 companies were written to.

With its South Yorkshire inspection campaign drawing to its conclusion the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has found 65 per cent of business to be in some form of breach of the law.

Last week 22 inspectors from HSE’s Yorkshire and Northeast Field Operations teams inspected 71 businesses in the Sheffield and Rotherham area. Of those visited 46 companies needed to make improvements to better protect the health, safety and wellbeing of workers in metal fabrication, engineering, general manufacturing and waste and recycling sectors

During the course of the week inspectors served three prohibition notices and 31 improvement notices. Examples of some of the breaches found included poor controls of welding fumes and metal working fluids.

In addition to where notices have been served, HSE has formally written to a further 23 local businesses to compel them to improve various aspects of health and safety.

Andrew Denison, Acting Head of Operations said: “Protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of workers is of paramount importance and at the heart of what we do.

“The high proportion of breaches identified during this initiative indicates that the risks were not being adequately controlled.

“Inspectors have taken robust proportionate action to deal with serious risks and to ensure companies are complying with the law.

“I hope businesses will take note and understand that they will be held to account if they fail in their responsibilities.”

www.hse.gov.uk

Exports showed significant growth for Pratley in 2021, with new distributors appointed in Europe and the Middle East. “Companies that can offer quality, innovative products at good ex-store service levels will benefit from the fallout of the pandemic.” In this regard, Pratley has a policy of maintaining a 95% ex-store service level, which has contributed to its success in 2021.

“We experienced a fairly good uptick in adhesive sales towards the end of 2020 that was sustained going into 2021. With many staying at home and working from home due to the lockdowns, a greater degree of attention has been given to DIY projects and repairs,” notes Andrew. Pratley continues to see strong growth from the automotive repair market, especially in the informal sector. “We work hard to build loyalty in this market, which has been using our products for many years. Customers trust the brand and believe in the reliability of our products. This sector will be one of our main marketing focus areas in 2022.”

It was an eventful 2021 for the company, which also commissioned Africa’s most advanced perlite filter aid facility and launched Percolite® perlite filter aid for the food, beverage, and chemical industries. On the electrical side, it launched a new range of flameproof cable glands that make use of Pratley’s Taper-Tech® flame-seal technology. “We believe that these glands are game-changers in the market,” says Andrew.

Pratley also completed the construction and commissioning of a new technologically-advanced adhesives packaging facility. This follows a marked increase in domestic and export sales and gives room for future growth capacity. “We certainly see sustained growth for 2022, especially from our export markets,” notes Andrew.

In addition, Pratley’s electrical division has some innovative products in the pipeline that it expects to launch in the first half of this year. One, in particular, will be a world-first, reveals Andrew. “We are also looking at some exciting new adhesive and mineral products to be launched later in the year. We like to think of ourselves as a research and development company, and it certainly lies at the heart of what we do.”

Well-known as a leading adhesive producer, Pratley’s electrical division is also a global leader in electrical termination equipment, particularly cable glands, junction boxes and related accessories for hazardous locations. “In keeping with our policy, the types of products that we produce tend to be unique and highly innovative, with features and benefits that out-perform others on the market. We invest a lot in research and development in this area, and have our own highly advanced in-house electrical testing laboratory and personnel,” explains Andrew.

Commenting on the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Andrew acknowledges that 2021 proved to be a tough time for most businesses. “Indeed, the difficult challenges that South African businesses face on a daily basis, especially from a regulatory point of view does not help, either. However, challenging times have proved to also be times of rapid innovation and opportunity.

“In many cases, we have managed to dramatically streamline processes and improve product formulations or designs. We also have our incredible employees, who have contributed to our strong growth in adverse times. We are fortunate to be in a relatively strong position going into 2022, and we plan on being around for a long time to come,” concludes Andrew.