ATEX or explosion safety
Gas and dust explosion risks are omnipresent in the food, chemical and manufacturing industries. Controlling these risks and demonstrating compliance with ATEX and AREI requires a methodology built on experience and knowledge.
Explosion Protection Document (EPD)
The Explosion Protection Document (EPD) has been mandatory since 1 July 2006 under the ATEX user directive 1999/92/EC, better known as ATEX 153, and describes the risks and control measures within your company.
Prohead Engineering draws up both general and specific EPDs, with a manageable and maintainable structure for the entire lifetime of your installation. Even for large sites, we deliver workable documents. When changes occur, only the relevant part needs to be updated; we determine this together in a preliminary gap analysis.
Prohead Engineering has developed a methodology that integrates the engineering of necessary measures into the entire process. We draw on our in-house databases of typicals and, as a team (engineers, experts, draughtsmen), can complete the drafting or renewal of large industrial EPDs efficiently and effectively.
Zoning / Hazardous Area Classification (HAC)
Zoning indicates the nature and extent of a potentially explosive atmosphere. Targeted safety measures can be taken within these zones. Zoning is an integral part of the EPD.
Thanks to our experience with most of the applicable standards, e.g. the NEN-EN-IEC 60079 series, the NPR 7910 series, API,... we can advise any client or take the work off their hands in the interest of the operator. Using tools including CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software, we create realistic and optimised zones that increase safety and reduce costs.
Moreover, according to Book 1, Chapter 7.102 of the new Belgian General Regulations on Electrical Installations (AREI), a zoning file is mandatory. Because this is a legal requirement, the file must be inspected by an accredited inspection body. Prohead Engineering draws up zoning files in close cooperation with the client and the inspection body.
Gas and dust explosion safety
Explosion safety goes beyond gas. At Prohead Engineering, we have in-depth expertise in both gas and dust explosions, each with its own risks. Gases spread quickly and react strongly to ventilation and ignition sources, while dust explosions often involve hidden hazards, such as dust accumulation in silos or on surfaces.
We always start with a targeted risk assessment, after which we select the right standard (such as NEN-EN-IEC 60079-10-1 & 2, NPR 7910-1 & 2) and appropriate protective measures. Using specialised modelling tools, we analyse realistic scenarios of gas or dust dispersion, ventilation and explosion risk.
Whether it concerns fine dust in a feed mill or vapour explosions in a chemical installation — we deliver safe, compliant and well-founded solutions.
Ignition hazard analysis (IHA)
At Prohead Engineering, we carry out thorough ignition hazard analyses (IHA) to identify potential ignition sources in your installation. We consider all 13 types, such as electrostatic discharges, hot surfaces, sparks and lightning strikes.
Our analyses follow the relevant standards and make use of proven methodologies and templates. This allows us to map the risks accurately and clearly and to design effective measures to control them.
With an IHA from Prohead Engineering, you proactively identify explosion risks and increase the safety and compliance of your installation.
Mechanical ATEX
Within Ex zones, mechanical equipment must also be assessed for ignition risks, especially equipment dating from before 1 July 2003 that does not fall under the ATEX directive. At Prohead Engineering, we carry out risk analyses to identify and evaluate these risks, and we also check the assembly in the context of machine safety.
We analyse mechanical ignition sources such as friction, heat generation or electrostatic discharge and assess the equipment against the relevant standards. We translate our recommendations into clear actions and measures, so that you can quickly achieve a safe and compliant installation.
Explosion safety engineering
At Prohead Engineering, we offer comprehensive explosion safety engineering services. In addition to performing analyses and drawing up compliance documentation, we can effectively eliminate explosion risks with a multidisciplinary team of explosion safety experts, process engineers, electromechanical engineers and E&I engineers.
We turn the recommendations into concrete primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary measures, carrying out the complete design, verification and validation in cooperation with all parties involved.
Drawing office
At Prohead Engineering, we have a specialised drawing office with experts in zoning drawings, P&IDs (Process & Instrumentation Diagrams) and PFDs (Process Flow Diagrams). Our experienced draughtsmen use the analyses and simulations of our ATEX specialists as input to produce careful and clear PFDs, base drawings and zoning drawings.
This specialised expertise, supported by professional tools and software, ensures fast, efficient and clear high-quality zoning.