Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations DSEAR

Explosive atmospheres can be caused by flammable gases, mists or vapours or by combustible dusts. If there is enough of a substance, mixed with air, then all it needs is a source of ignition to cause an explosion. Each year people are injured at work by flammable substances accidentally catching fire or exploding. Work which involves using or creating chemicals, vapours, liquids, gases, solids or dusts that can readily burn or explode is hazardous.

The effects of an explosion or a fire in the workplace can be devastating in terms of lives lost, injuries, significant damage to property and the environment, and to the business community. Most fires are preventable, dealing with workplace process fire safety is important and those responsible for workplaces and other non-domestic premises to which the public have access can avoid them by taking responsibility for and adopting fire safe behaviors and procedures.

DSEAR Regulations

The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) are concerned with preventing or limiting the harmful effects of fires, explosions and similar energy-releasing events. DSEAR are goal-setting regulations which replace old legislation on flammable and explosive substances and are supported by a set of Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) reflecting good practice.

DSEAR

The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 are concerned with protection against risks from fire, explosion and similar events arising from dangerous substances used or present in the workplace. They set minimum requirements for the protection of workers from fire and explosion risks related to dangerous substances and potentially explosive atmospheres and require employers to control the risks to the safety of employees and others from fire and explosions. Learn more » DSEAR

ATEX and Explosive Atmospheres

Explosive atmospheres in the workplace can be caused by flammable gases, mists or vapours or by combustible dusts. Explosions can cause loss of life and serious injuries as well as significant damage. DSEAR require that any workplace where explosive atmospheres may occur are classified into hazardous zones based on the risk of an explosion occurring, and protected from sources of ignition by selecting equipment and protective systems on the basis of the categories set out in the Equipment and Protective Systems for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (EPS). Learn more » ATEX

Petroleum

Petrol is a dangerous substance and is a highly flammable liquid which can give off flammable vapor, even at very low temperatures. This means there is always a risk of fire and explosion when a source of ignition is present and when ignited it can quickly cause fire, injury and loss of life. Storing and dispensing petrol at a workplace is covered by the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR), and other legislation specifically for controlling petrol storage and the suitable containers for storing petrol in. Learn more » Petroleum

Work Process Fire Safety

There are thousands of recorded fires in commercial premises every year. HSE's main responsibility in this area is for the special precautions within a work process which are designed to prevent or reduce the likelihood of a fire breaking out or (should a fire break out) reduce its intensity. HSE also has enforcement responsibility for process fire safety on construction sites, for nuclear premises and on ships under construction or repair. These pages provide information about HSE's role: Learn more » Process Fire Precautions and Building Regulations

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CONTINUATION:

AIS panel PCs and thin clients with HMI open platforms are designed and certified to meet National Electrical Code (NEC)/Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) Class/Division standards, ATEX Directive 94/9/EC Category 3, IECEx and IEC Zone standards for increased safety in Human Machine Interface (HMI) panels in Division 2 and Zone 2 applications. 

AIS offers UL Class I Division 2 (C1D2 or Class I Div 2), Groups A, B, C, D, T4, ATEX 94/9/EC Category 3 Zone 2, IEC’s IECEx Zone 2, Ex “nA” and Ex “ic” certification on its Hazardous Locations (Hazlocs) & Hazardous Areas panel PCs and open HMI platforms which are primarily designed for the volatile and harsh environments of Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical manufacturing industries. Learn more » 

The standard or custom HMI applications are designed to meet Class I and II, Division 2 and Class III, Divisions 1 and 2 Hazardous (Classified) Locations (North American Classification), and Zone 1/21 and 2/22 Hazardous Areas (European and IEC Classification) specifications.