DSS015: Understanding International Explosion Safety Standards with Michael Marrington

In this episode of the Dust Safety Science Podcast, we interview Michael Marrington, a hazardous area inspector, auditor, and consultant who has been dedicated to making a difference in hazardous area and location safety since 2006.

Michael, who has worked in many different regions of the world, talks to us about how explosion protection is treated across the globe and how North America standards differ from international ones. During the interview, we also cover competency schemes and important terms such as ‘responsible person’, ‘verification dossier’, equipment certification and hazardous area classification.

International Explosion Safety Standards Around the World

When Michael went to Australia in 2011, he learned about EEHA Training (Electrical Equipment for Hazardous Areas) certification, through a five-day course that is an absolute requirement for those wanting to work in hazardous industries such as oil and gas, in this region.

Australia was one of the first countries to move from a voluntary set of international explosion safety standards to legally required documents like AS4761, which provides guidelines on the assessment and application of competencies for hazardous areas. Today the UK has similar guidelines with RG-101 and COMAH.

As Michael discusses in the interview, the North American approach is different. Michael received his electrician license in Canada. With his interprovincial Red Seal, he took care of all work himself. There was no engineering input on the fixes that he made in a business surrounded by homes, which had the potential for further fires and explosions. As the electrician, he was responsible for taking of it and ensuring safe solutions. There was little documentation, structure or competency assessments. He went by what he read within the codebook, or Canadian Electrical Code Section 18.

When Michael went out to conduct installations on the Canadian oil sands. Engineering drawings were available but he never saw details or information like the following:

HAC, or hazardous area classification drawings
Documentation indicating that the equipment was rated for its location
What zone, class or division applied with respect to explosion safety

In contrast to this approach, in the UK, Australia, Kazakhstan, and other countries that applied IECEx or even its precursor, ATEX, it was an absolute requirement that people had to prove competency before hazardous equipment could be sold or installed.

Important Aspects of Hazardous Area Compliance

Michael explains in the interview that one of the most important people involved in the hazardous area installations are the EX inspectors who give the final approval of the overall system. These individuals require personal certification through either CompEx, IEC COPC, or ExAM competency schemes. They are also the last line of defence to incorrect systems being implemented in these facilities.

In many jurisdictions, facilities are also required by law to keep a ‘Verification Dossier’, which is a legal document that shows evidence of compliance and tracks maintenance and modifications. It must contain critical installation information such as:

Area classification documents, with plans showing the classification and extent of the hazardous areas
The applicable equipment group or subgroup for flammable material
The temperature class or ignition temperature of flammable material
Descriptive system documents for any intrinsically safe systems
Manufacturer’s instructions for the equipment

Other professionals involved in the process include process safety engineers who classify hazardous areas and locations the create the HAC document. This also requires input from the electrical, instrumententation, and engineering teams, as different standards can be used, such as:

IEC 60079- 10
IP 15 (Energy Institute)
API RP 500

Equipment Certification

The IECEx website has a list of standards, such as IEC 60079 and others. Hazardous area location inspectors rely heavily on 60079-14 (installation) and 17, which is for maintenance. It also has all the individual certificates for every single piece of equipment. The inspector compares the electrical nameplate data that’s on the device to the actual certificate, which is then downloaded so the following details can be reviewed and compared:

Conditions of use details
Model numbers or serial number ranges that affect things such as voltage rating and amperage rating of different parts within the device and CSA or UL ratings.

After mechanical completion, these reviews present a final opportunity to catch problems before the equipment is handed over for pre-commissioning or commissioning stages.

The Responsible Person Standard

CompEx and other schemes use the responsible person standard or ‘technical person with executive function’. This is typically a supervisor or a manager who takes ownership of the hazardous area or hazardous location installation. They have the knowledge, skills, and competencies to enable them to meet the requirements of IEC standards and relevant directives.

There are different schemes that allow these competencies to be met, with certification being done by third parties. Recertification is also necessary with IEC and CompEx standards require it every five years.

Michael pointed out that the system can be improved upon. A person can gain knowledge and skills after a course but they don’t have experience. Experience in the field doesn’t always equate correct skills and experience based on the latest standards. Both is required to meet both competency and certification within the international explosion safety standards.

The Importance of Spreading Awareness

Michael mentioned a hopper fire that took place at a furniture manufacturer in Abbotsford, BC, three years ago. When the firefighters shot water from their hose into the burning dust, the dust dispersed and caused an explosion on live TV. Three of the firemen were engulfed and one twisted an ankle, but they were mostly unharmed and the seriousness of the incident was underestimated, mainly due to lack of awareness.

Awareness needs to spread. When Michael talks about verification dossiers, having certification on all equipment, and finding responsible persons it seems like some of the answers to some of those questions are within that basic material and they are just not being adopted here.

Conclusion

For those of us who have acquired our combustible dust safety knowledge from North American organizations, such as NFPA, OSHA, and the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, hearing about zones, divisions, verification dossiers, IEC, and personal competency schemes can almost be like listening to another language. However, it is one that we should acquire greater fluency in, as this international perspective could make a positive difference in reducing the risk of injury and death in workplaces and facilities across the globe.

If you have any questions on international explosion safety standards please leave them in the comments section below. If you would like to connect with Michael to discuss this information further you do so from the following contact information:

Michael Marrington
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn Profile
Tel: +61 45 888 8832