Electrical equipment for flammable atmospheres-enforcement aspects

Electrical equipment has been used in applications where it was exposed to flammable surroundings and explosive atmospheres since electricity was first introduced into industry in the latter part of the 19th century. During the early years of the 20th century, there was a growing awareness of the potential for electrical equipment to be a potential source of ignition of explosive atmospheres. Standards and codes of practice at both national and international levels covering the protection concepts and construction of, and arrangements for, electrical equipment for use in flammable atmospheres were introduced and have been (and are being) improved and refined almost continuously since they were first introduced. Standards and codes of practice have played a pivotal role in encouraging that explosion protected electrical equipment has been properly constructed, installed and maintained. The fact that there have been few recorded incidents concerning properly constructed equipment installed and maintained in accordance with the codes of practice may be said generally to show that the systems used have provided adequate protection. The challenge now is to ensure that, in 2003, the systems are in place for compliance with the new Regulations, the Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 1996. One area of standardisation that requires further consideration is that of static electricity and the prevention of it in relation to explosive dusts, vapours and gases.