Hazardous Areas

Here in the States, there are requirements for classed areas, gas stations, flammable gasses, sugar, powdered milk, etc. Depending on the type of material and the construction there are classed areas defined by the NEC article 500. Most classed areas are inspected prior to the power being turned on. This inspection can be by the authority having jurisdiction or even insurance companies are getting into the act now. Depend on where you are. I do not know much about Australia. So I would do some local checking there before doing anything. I do not see why not as long as you follow the rules. Check locally there may be rules and ordinances I am unaware of.

Interesting stuff! Sorry about the million questions.. Australia is a totally different story.

Does an installation in the US need to be re-inspected if there are any mods made afterwards (eg. for maintenance)? Can the inspectors actually close the place down if they don't like the installation - or will they likely get the pants sued off them for doing so??

Thanks again, Cameron:-)

Try the American Petroleum Institute

API 500 Area classification API 505 Area classification API 540 electrical equipment in petrochemical industry API 541 induction motors in petrochemical industry API 546 synchronous motors in petrochemical industry

Also the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE

IEEE-303 aux devices in div/zone 2 areas IEEE-1349 Div 2 motors

In fact, the IEEE / IAS sponsored Petroleum and Chemical Industry annual conference just finished in Houston (1000 electrical engineers from around the world working in specifically this industry. try

Plants have their own electrical staffs, all the way from area classification and risk analysis engineers, power system design engineers, regular facilities and/or plant electrical engineers, electrical safety engineers, and all sorts of electricians. In Texas, the NEC doesn't necessarily have to apply. There is a chain of petrochemical plants near Houston that have their own "mutual protection" group. If something happens, then they all respond, and the local fire department may NOT enter.

Keeping things from exploding is no different here, just slightly different philosophies used in the NEC versus the IEC. Although some of them are being merged into one.

good luck

tg

Thanks for the info!.. I was more interested in the qualifications of inspectors & electricians to work in these areas, and not so much the standard of the gear itself. The term often used here is "competency" - how do you know that the sparky has done the right thing?

Basically, it doesn't matter how 'safe' the gear is - if it's not wired properly it's not safe at all.

Thanks, Cameron:-)