In electrical engineering, a dangerous area is a location where the presence of flammable gases or vapors, combustible dust, or ignitable fibers in sufficient quantities to produce explosive or incendiary mixtures poses a fire or explosion hazard.
Where can you find hazardous areas?
Hazardous gas vapors may be present in places such as oil refineries, chemical plants, and sewage treatment plants; however, many businesses are unaware that dust can also create hazardous environments in food and beverage suppliers, plastics factories, and recycling operations.
Due to the inherent dangers of these hazardous areas, only personnel with an EEHAÂ certification are permitted to install and maintain electrical equipment in these areas. The equipment installed in these locations must also be specifically designed and tested to ensure that neither arcing nor its high surface temperature can cause an explosion.
While technological advancement and stringent health and safety practices have improved the safety of current manufacturing operations, the risk of combining electrical equipment with hazardous areas remains. Therefore, personnel working in these areas are required to hold EEHA certification. EEHA-qualified personnel can identify dangerous areas, interpret shaky area drawings, comprehend explosion protection methods, are skilled in installation in these sites, are familiar with the process for breakdowns and equipment maintenance in hazardous areas, and ensure that all dangerous area dossiers are current.
What is EEHA?
The acronym EEHA stands for Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Areas. The National Electrical Code defines a hazardous area as a location where fire or explosion hazards are present due to the flammable gases, flammable liquid–produced vapors, combustible liquid–produced vapors, combustible specks of dust, or ignitable fibers/flyings in sufficient quantities to produce explosive or volatile mixtures. Due to the unique characteristics of these areas, the required electrical equipment must be assembled and tested according to the manufacturer’s specifications to ensure that it will not cause an explosion.
EEHA training is not a new concept. When electrical equipment such as lights and motors became commonplace in coal mines, it was first implemented. It was quickly determined that these items had the potential to cause lethal explosions. Before the introduction of electricity in coal mines, the dangers of methane collection and suspended coal dust were well understood. In industrial facilities such as refineries and chemical plants, handling large quantities of flammable liquids and gases creates the potential for leaks. To work safely in these conditions, you must know the specific dangers surrounding each working area.
Technical standards have been developed for installed electrical equipment to identify and prevent the potential risk of explosions, thereby protecting the equipment and workers. The kit may have been constructed to withstand the force of an internal explosion. It may also have been built to prevent flammable gas or dust from entering the interior. Or, through energy limitation may have been designed to be incapable of “producing a spark or temperature high enough to ignite a hazardous gas.”
By the AS/NZS and IEC standards, electrical equipment for use in hazardous areas must undergo stringent design, manufacturing, and testing procedures. It is type tested by an independent testing and certification agency, which then issues a Certificate of Conformity, assuring the end user that Ex Certified Equipment is safe for installation and operation in hazardous areas.
Scope
This qualification provides the skills to supervise the selection, installation, commissioning, maintenance, and trying of explosion-protected equipment and systems for plant control and monitoring. The certification confers skills for working with explosion protection techniques, with options for applying them to gas and dust atmospheres. It includes ERAC requirements for an “Electrician’s license” and competencies to select, install, set up, test, troubleshoot, repair, and maintain renewable energy equipment and systems that operate independently.
After completing Hazardous Area Electrical training, careers for certified technicians are financially and professionally rewarding for those willing to upgrade their skills and advance their careers. Electrical and instrumentation technicians are among the highest-paid trade professionals, as the electrical industry is expanding rapidly and will continue to require qualified professionals. To remain gainfully employed, industrial electricians must acquire skills and knowledge that will stay in demand during the plant operation phase, e.g., Electrical equipment in hazardous areas, Instrumentation and Control, High Voltage Switching Operations, Battery Storage, etc.
The EEHA course covers the statutory requirements for hazardous areas and provides an overview of the applicable Australian standards. In addition, there is an introduction to the general principles of explosion-proof techniques, various explosion-protected equipment, and guidelines on how to read and interpret hazardous area classification drawings, e.g., NFPA, ANSI, etc.
Considerations
Different chemical properties of explosive atmospheres influence the probability and severity of an explosion. Each substance possesses a unique combination of properties. Still, it has been discovered that they can be categorized into similar ranges, simplifying the selection of protective equipment for hazardous environments.
Temperature classification is another crucial factor when selecting equipment for use in a hazardous environment. The surface temperature of electrical equipment that may be exposed to the dangerous atmosphere must be tested to ensure that it does not exceed 80% of the auto-ignition temperature of the specific gas or vapor in the area where the equipment is used. All electrical equipment placed in a hazardous area must be ICE/Ex-certified, indicating the permissible operating zone and maximum temperature.
Personnel conducting Electrical Equipment of Hazardous Areas (EEHA) inspections must use intrinsically safe tablets. It is compatible with tablets and does not require a constant internet connection. Once an online connection is established, inspection data is synchronized back to the cloud-based Completions system upon completion of work in the field.
Hazardous Area Periodic Inspection
Periodic inspections are an essential maintenance activity that should be performed as part of an inspection program and should apply to existing installations. Regular inspections are conducted to monitor the effects of deterioration or change. The maximum time between periodic inspections should be three years. As qualified EEHA inspectors can perform both initial and regular inspections, EEHA inspectors are qualified to conduct both types of inspections. The hazardous area inspection and auditing services will guarantee that your equipment and installations adhere to all applicable standards, statutes, and regulations.
Outcome
This course will increase general personnel’s faith and awareness in hazardous areas where they may accidentally introduce ignition sources to explosive environments. It would also help administrators address common misunderstandings that increase the risk for workers in dangerous areas. Engineers who attend this course will acquire a general understanding of electrical design in hazardous environments.
Demand
After accomplishing the EEHA course, the mineral processing, chemical, fertilizer, and oil and gas industries offer numerous employment opportunities in Australia. The most prevalent attendees are electricians and instrument technicians. Still, electrical engineers who conduct inspections are also familiar with and are renowned for their high salaries and opportunities to travel the world and work with cutting-edge technologies.
