In many branches of industry, hazardous atmospheres exist due to the presence of flammable liquid vapours, gases, dust and fibres. No matter how the explosive atmosphere is classified, all potential ignition sources must be eliminated, with static electricity being perhaps the most insidious of them all.
During the storing and handling of flammable liquids, it is imperative to implement safety solutions to avoid the build-up of static electricity. When conducting a HAZOP (Hazard and Operability Study) analysis of its filling area, which is classified as a Zone 2 IIb T3 gas/vapour atmosphere, a customer identified a requirement to simultaneously monitor three electrostatic protected composite hazardous area suitable Ex IBCs prior to being filled with a solvent-based resin.
The analysis also identified the metal funnels seated on top of the Ex IBCs as a potentially isolated conductor that required an independent monitoring connection. Due to this requirement, a total of six monitoring connections were used. This case study looks at how Newson Gale helped a customer specialising in the production of resins to improve employees’ safety and efficiency by installing the Earth-Rite® MULTIPOINT II.
