ATEX & Sealing Cable Ducts
by Chris Dodds T&D - estimated reading time 3 minutes
The following short update is written to provide clarification on the requirement to seal cable ducts in hazardous area locations according to the ATEX Directive – ATEX is a EU applicable directive to protect and ensure worker and workplace safety for equipment to be installed in potentially explosive atmospheres.
ATEX Directive relates to equipment which is used in hazardous areas i.e. locations with concentrations of flammable gases and vapours creating a potentially explosive atmosphere.
Specifically ATEX relates to equipment with moving parts posing a potential source of ignition (such as fuel dispensing equipment, gears, motors, pumps, mining equipment, lighting, alarms, plugs, switches, sensors etc).
The comments and conclusions below apply to sealing all types of electrical cables both onshore and offshore – including control, instrumentation and power supplying low, medium and high voltage electricity, typically entering substations at 11kV-33kV.
Equipment is only considered to be within the scope of the ATEX Directive if it is intended (either in whole or in part) to be used in a potentially explosive atmosphere. If a product containing an intended potentially explosive atmosphere, for example a vessel, itself contains equipment as defined in the Directive, then the latter equipment is in effect in a
potentially explosive atmosphere, albeit one which is contained by the vessel, and is therefore subject to the ATEX Directive.
Potential sources of ignition: electric sparks, arcs and flashes, electrostatic discharges, waves, ionising radiation, hot surfaces, flames and hot gases, mechanically generated sparks, chemical flame initiation and compression.
If equipment containing a potentially explosive atmosphere can, due to its construction, operation etc. create a potentially explosive atmosphere itself, which wholly or partially surrounds it, then such equipment is in effect in a potentially explosive atmosphere, and is therefore subject to the Directive.
A third scenario is that there may not only be a surrounding potentially explosive atmosphere but also a process that requires such a mixture to enter and/or be released from the product. The interface between the equipment and the process input/ output will also require consideration. This may, in some cases, lead to equipment having more than one Category, one (or more) for the external atmosphere and another for the process atmosphere.
According to the ATEX Directive download below Section 2 and 3.7 covers the type of equipment that the hazardous area certification covers – the document does not reference products excluded from the Directive.
Duct sealing systems are not covered or categorised according to ATEX – they are effectively “non-sparking” and when installed in accordance with the manufacturers installation instructions do not pose a potential explosion risk. In this instance, a “Statement of Exclusion” applies to cable sealing with respect to the ATEX Directive.
Duct seals are available to prevent water ingress and gas migration into electrical substations, infrastructure and buildings – fire resistant cable seals are available for fire-rated applications. Sealing solutions are available to suit all duct diameters and cable voltages in single, multiple or trefoil cable arrangement.
This information has been provided by SIRA, the leading hazardous area certification body.
Filoform – Water, Gas & Fire Protection Of Cable Ducts In Industrial & Hazardous Areas
Should you require any advice or specification support to enable to selection of cable duct seals for safe, industrial or hazardous area locations, call us | LV MV HV | 11kV 33kV 132kV
Since 1985 Thorne & Derrick based in the UK have been specialist distributors of LV, MV & HV Cable Installation, Jointing, Substation, Arc Flash Clothing & Electrical Safety Equipment – customers include UK and worldwide contractors, specifiers, traders and end-users involved in cable installations, sealing cable ducts, cable jointing, substation, overhead line and electrical construction at Low, Medium & High Voltages.
We are specialist stockists and distributors of 11kV-33kV Cable Joints, Terminations & Connectors from manufacturers including 3M, Pfisterer, Prysmian and Nexans Euromold in a selection of jointing technologies including heat shrink, cold shrink and push-on.
➡ Further Reading
ATEX Cable Glands – Glanding Cables In Zone 1 & Zone 2 Hazardous Areas
ATEX Cable Joints – Jointing Cables In Zone 1 & Zone 2 Hazarodus Areas
MV HV | Medium & High Voltage Power Products, Cables & Electrical Equipment
by Chris Dodds T&D - estimated reading time 5 minutes
Headquartered in the USA, OCS Group is one of the largest independent inspection company’s, developing many proprietary services and products over the last 20 years for all their clients within the oil, gas, energy and hazardous area industries.
OCS Group works in collaboration with the regulators, government agencies and leading industry bodies for electrical safety in the work place to provide the best training available in the USA in respect to hazardous areas and high voltage power systems.
It is acknowledged that OCS Group is the industries leading expert in electrical safety and this has resulted in a growing relationship and ongoing collaboration with UL to provide the best of industry related competency based training. In addition, OCS is the leading training provider to drilling contractors and operators working in hazardous area and on high voltage systems in their region.
With offices in the USA, Singapore, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UAE and India, OCS Group provides a wide range of services to international oil and gas industries and other industrial engineering and energy markets.
OCS Group delivers these services with an unwavering commitment to the highest safety and quality standards, evidenced by IS0 9001:2015 certification.
OCS has global experience of over 150 successful hazardous area and high voltage project management, engineering, testing and acceptance projects delivered on time and budget.
All projects are managed through proprietary software developed in house specifically for land assets, jack-ups, platforms, FPSO’s, drill ships and refineries.
OCS Group over 20 years has built strong relationships with operators and contractors providing solutions for all types of hazardous area and high voltage inspections, audits and compliance surveys.
OCS Group provides VCI materials, experienced and qualified personnel for application and preservation management for large and small projects. For 20 years OCS Group has been providing rig and asset re-activation services, continuously proving the process by ensuring your asset is ready to operate.
Houston based OCS Group has been awarded the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Marine High Voltage Safety accreditation as a Marine High Voltage Training Provider.
OCS Group is a leading hazardous area (Ex) equipment Inspection Company, evidenced by their loyal clientele comprised of renowned, international drilling companies.
OCS Group follows IEC and NEC standards, employing CompEx certified inspectors to work on every Ex hazardous area inspection. Additionally, the technical training of staff ensures the professionalism of the entire inspection crew and operations personnel have the specialised knowledge and skills necessary to comprehensively complete the job with utmost client satisfaction.
The hazardous area management plan includes creating a register of every item within the Ex location. The equipment is inventoried, logged, inspected, tagged and verified for compliance. The end result is a detailed report outlining the remedial tasks required to make the hazardous area zone safe.
The Hazardous Area Electrical Register (HAER) Inspection consists of several Phases to choose from. Client Preparation required is an up to date area drawings and to provide all hazardous area equipment certification and maintenance system records for review.
OCS Group – Solutions For Success
THORNE & DERRICK are national distributors of LV, MV & HV Cable Installation, Jointing, Substation & Electrical Equipment – we service UK and global businesses involved in cable installations, cable jointing, substation, overhead line and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV and EHV.
Since 1985, T&D have established an international reputation based on SERVICE | INTEGRITY | TRUST.
Contact us for 3M Electrical, ABB, Alroc, AN Wallis, CATU Electrical, Cembre, Centriforce, CMP, CSD, Elastimold, Ellis Patents, Emtelle, Euromold, Filoform, Furse, Lucy Electric & Zodion, Nexans, Pfisterer, Polypipe, Prysmian, Roxtec, Sicame, WT Henley.
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