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This ESSENTIAL describes the conformity assessment requirements for electrical/electronic equipment and Ex-components for use in explosive atmosheres, based on
- The Explosive Rules 2008, The Petroleum Rules 2002, The Factories Act 1948/1987
- PESO regulations
- IECEx regulations
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Explosive Rules, 2008
Paragraph 22
22. Use of electrical equipment.—
(1) No electrical equipment shall be used in places where explosives are being manufactured, handled or stored except with the prior permission of the Chief Controller.
(2) The electrical equipment shall be of a type acceptable to the Chief Controller.
Petroleum Rules 2002
102. Restriction on electric installation and apparatus.—Save as provided in this Chapter, no electric wiring shall be installed and no electric apparatus shall be used in any refinery, installation, storage shed, services station or in any other place where petroleum is refined, blended, stored, loaded or unloaded.
103. Hazardous area.—For the purpose of this Chapter, an area shall be deemed to be a hazardous area, where—
(i) petroleum having flash point below 650 C or any inflammable gas or vapour in a concentration capable of ignitions is likely to be present;
(ii) petroleum or any inflammable liquid having flash point above 65°C is likely to be refined, blended, handled or stored at above its flash point.
104. Classification of hazardous area.—
(1) A hazardous area shall be deemed to be—
(i) a zone “0” area, if inflammable gas or vapours are expected to be continuously present in the area; or
(ii) a zone “1” area, if inflammable gases or vapours are likely to be present in the area under normal operating conditions; or
(iii) a zone “2” area, if inflammable gases or vapours are likely to be present in the area only under abnormal operating conditions or failure or rupture of an equipment.
(2) If any question arises as to whether hazardous area is a zone “0” area or a zone “1” or a zone “2” area, the decisions thereon of the Chief Controller shall be final.
105. Extent of hazardous area.—The extent of hazardous area shall be as laid down in the Fourth Schedule: Provided that the Chief Controller may, increase or reduce the extent of hazardous area where there are special circumstances which, in his opinion, warrant such increase or reduction, and the persons affected shall be informed of his decision.
106. Fixed electric apparatus.—
(1) No electric apparatus shall be allowed in a zone “0” area: Provided that this sub-rule shall not prohibit the use in a zone “0” area of an intrinsically safe apparatus of a type approved in writing by the Chief Controller and in connection with an intrinsically safe circuit, where use of such apparatus cannot be completely excluded.
(2) All electric apparatus installed or used in a zone “1” area shall be either—
(i) a flame proof or intrinsically safe apparatus of a type or types approved in writing by the Chief Controller, or
(ii) an industrial-type apparatus house in an enclosure or a room which has been made safe by pressurizing or purging with a plenum of atmosphere free from significant concentration of any inflammable gas or vapour and so arranged and inter locked that in case of failure of the pressurizing or purging agent, the electricity supply is automatically cut off or a warning is automatically given to a person in attendance who shall take suitable measures to prevent a hazard.
(3) All electric apparatus installed or used in a zone “2” area shall, be either—
(i) A non-sparking apparatus of a type approved by the Chief Controller; or
(ii) an apparatus of any of the types permitted under sub-rule (2).
(4) Where the approval of the Chief Controller is sought for any type of electric apparatus for use in hazardous area, the person desirous of manufacturing the apparatus shall submit to the Chief Controller—
(i) a comprehensive report accompanied by all necessary drawings, calculations giving references to recognised code or codes followed, full details of design and construction and necessary test certificates from the recognised bodies in respect of the apparatus and its components;
(ii) a scrutiny fee of rupees five hundred.
107. Fixed electric wiring.—
(1) All conductors of an intrinsically safe circuit in connection with an intrinsically safe apparatus installed in any hazardous area shall be so laid as to prevent invasion of such circuit by current arising from contact or electrostatic or electromagnetic induction from any other circuit. Conductors of intrinsically safe circuits shall be effectively protected against mechanical damage.
(2) All electric wiring in a hazardous area, other than the conductors of an intrinsically safe circuit, shall be effectively sealed at all joints, mechanically protected and adequately supported throughout its length and shall consist of—
(i) approved armoured cable with correctly designed terminations, complete with armour clamps, the armouring being carried and electrical clamps to provide mechanical support to the cable and electrical continuity; or
(ii) approved metal sheathed cable with correctly designed and installed terminations; or
(iii) single or multicorde insulated cables accommodated in solid drawn heavy gauge screwed galvanized conduits used in conjunction with approved flameproof fittings, the conduit being sealed at both ends and installed in such a manner as to permit internal condensation to drain to a point or points from which it may be removed; where a conduit runs from a zone “1” area to zone “2” area or an area which is not hazardous area, an adequate seal shall be provided outside the boundary of zone “1” area;
(iv) single or multicored mineral insulated cable of approved type in conjunction with approved flame-proof type glands at all joints and terminations;
(v) bare conductors contained in an approved flameproof or forming part of an intrinsically safe circuit.
(3) Insulated cables without metallic sheathing or armouring but accommodated in a conduct shall not be buried in the open ground in any hazardous area.
(4) The electric supply circuits of each electric pump in a hazardous area shall be—
(i) separately protected by a fuse or circuit breaker set to operate when the current in the circuit so exceeds the rated current for such a period of time as to involve danger; and
(ii) provided with an individual isolating switch at the main supply point for each electric pump including its integral lighting system, if any.
(5) If the Chief Controller is satisfied that the requirements of sub-rules (1) and (2) may be modified or relaxed in any class of electric wiring, he may authorize such modification or relaxation for such period and subject to such conditions as he may think fit.
Factories Act 1948/1987
Section 36A. Precautions regarding the use of portable electric light.-
In any factory-
(a) no portable electric light or any other electric appliance of voltage exceeding twenty-four volts shall be permitted for use inside any chamber, tank, vat, pit, pipe, flue or other confined space unless adequate safety devices are provided; and
(b) if any inflammable gas, fume or dust is likely to be present in such chambers tank, vat, pipe, flue or other confined space, no lamp or light other than that of flame-proof construction shall be permitted to be used therein.
Section 37. Explosive or inflammable dust, gas, etc. -
Where in any factory any manufacturing process produces dust, gas, fume or vapour of such character and to such extent as to be likely to explode on ignition, all practicable measures shall be taken to prevent any such explosion by-
(a) effective enclosure of the plant or machinery used in the process;
(b) removal or prevention of the accumulation of such dust, gas, fume or vapour;
(c) exclusion or effective enclosure of all possible sources of ignition.
(2) Where in any factory the plant or machinery used in a process such as is referred to in sub-section (1), is not so constructed as to withstand the probable pressure which such an explosion as aforesaid would produce, all practicable measures shall be taken to restrict the spread and effects of the explosion by the provision in the plant or machinery of chokes, baffles, vents or other effective appliances.
(3) Where any part of the plant or machinery in a factory contains any explosive or inflammable gas or vapour under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, that part shall not be opened except in accordance with the following provisions, namely:-
(a) before the fastening of any joint of any pipe connected with the part or the fastening of the cover of any opening into the part is loosened, any flow of the gas or vapour into the part of any such pipe shall be effectively stopped by a stop-valve or other means;
(b) before any such fastening as aforesaid is removed, all practicable measures shall be taken to reduce the pressure of the gas or vapour in the part or pipe to a atmospheric pressure;
(c) where any such fastening as aforesaid has been loosened or removed effective measures shall be taken to prevent any explosive or inflammable gas or vapour from entering the part or pipe until the fastening has been secured, or, as the case may be, securely replaced:
Provided that the provisions of this sub-section shall not apply in the case of plant or machinery installed in the open air.
(4) No plant, tank or vessel which contains or has contained any explosive or inflammable substance shall be subjected, in any factory, to any welding, brazing, soldering or cutting operation which involves the application of heat unless adequate measures have first been taken to remove such substance and any fumes arising therefrom or to render such substance and fumes non- explosive or non-inflammable and no such substance shall be allowed to enter such plant, tank or vessel after any such operation until the metal has cooled sufficiently to prevent any risk of igniting the substance.
(5) The State Government may by rules exempt, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, any factory or class or description of factories from compliance with all or any of the provisions of this section.
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