Advances in Explosion Protection: How Advanced Solutions Open New Doors

Related Vendors

DÜPERTHAL Sicherheitstechnik GmbH & Co. KG

Italvacuum, Srl

TRM Filter d.o.o.

Fike Europe B.v.b.A.

Fike Corporation

Regulatory and Related Activities

A strong regulatory state exists and expands in the European Community. The regulations and standards referred to as ATEX impose safety and performance requirements on both the process industries as well as the safety equipment industry.

The closest thing to an actual regulatory change in North America has been the National Emphasis Program (NEP) instituted by OSHA in 2007 and 2008. While not necessarily a change in the law, the NEP has resulted in an increased awareness of dust explosion in the process industry. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board does not have regulatory authority, but has conducted an extensive review of dust explosions and made a number of strong proposals for regulatory reform.

Following the Imperial Sugar explosion in 2007, an effort was made to change safety regulations. House Bill 5522 was passed and sent to the senate which was unable to act prior to the end of the session. This bill has been reintroduced as HR 849, “The Worker Protection Against Combustible Dust Explosions and Fires Act”.

The Key for Successful Explosion Control: Communications and Awareness

Many positive advances have been made in communicating the hazard and consequences of dust explosions. This has included the publications and symposia of professional organizations as well as governmental groups and is international in scope. Examples of symposia and related activities held in the past few years include the AIChE Global Congress on Process Safety, trhe NFPA Dust Explosion Symposium (this meeting), the International Symposium on Process Hazards and Mitigating Industrial Explosions, CSB Hearings, Reports and Videos, and many more.

Explosion Protection Becomes Top Priority

Explosion protection techniques have been undergoing several refinements as a result of the implementation of legislative requirements and the innovative developments of products by suppliers. The extended use of explosion protection standards and demands from industry users for best practice solutions has not only resulted in additional products with improved performances but has also triggered an in-depth awareness stimulants with law- and standards makers, educational/testing institutes and Health and Safety Inspectorates. Further increases of knowledge and products are eminent, offering additional and better solutions to the users. n

References

[1] Eckhoff, R.E.: Understanding dust explosions - The role of powder science and technology. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, Vol. 22 (2009) No. 1, pp. 105–116.

* * Dr. John E. Going The author is Manager Combustion Research at Fike Corporation, USA, Tel. +1 816/229-3405, E-Mail: john.going@fike.com

* ** Roger Bours The author is Sales Manager at Fike Europe, Belgium, Tel. + 32 14/210-031, E-Mail: roger.bours@fike.com

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