Work in many industries such as chemical, oil, mining, metallurgy, requires using special equipment to provide extra protection from explosion and fires. Nowadays, the explosion and fire hazard location exists at all industrial enterprises, from the confectionery factory to the paint and varnish shop, without exception.
The term explosion-proof equipment means special equipment made in such a way that its operation minimizes the risk of ignition of the environment. Thus, the equipment itself cannot be a source of fire or explosion. Its design features include a special Ex (explosion-proof) component that prevents ignition. Thus, explosion-proof and flame-proof equipment is also called Ex-equipment.
An explosive zone is a limited space, where this equipment is used, divided into several explosion hazard classes:
Depending on the zone, explosion protection equipment is selected.
Explosion-proof equipment includes:
Various types of explosion protection are used for these devices. The main principle is to isolate and seal the element of equipment to prevent the explosion from spreading beyond the envelope of the device.
For lighting production, storage and fire-safe premises, gas stations, oil platforms, etc. use only lighting for explosive environments. Distinctive features of flame-proof lamps from general-purpose lighting devices are:
Explosion-proof fixtures are mandatory for use in areas with increased explosion hazard:
Explosion-proof luminaires are required for areas with increased explosion hazards. For example, as places of chemical, oil refining, and other industries, and gas stations, landfills, factories for the production of paints and varnishes or any combustible substances particularly stringent safety requirements are imposed, because of which, these companies are required to purchase specific equipment.
GOST R obliges the production of explosion-proof luminaires by the explosion protection standard Ex. All characteristics of the devices must be indicated on the marking:
Explosion Protection Group:
I – underground application for indoor and outdoor lighting of mines;
II – ground application, lighting devices for explosive objects, except for mines.
Classification types of protection:
m – filling compound;
d – flameproof enclosure;
e – increased protection;
Temperature class (from T1 to T6):
The temperature depends on the power of the lamp. The largest heating temperature of the surface of class T1 luminaires is 450 ° C, of class T6 - 100 ° C. That is, you need to choose such devices that do not heat up to the autoignition temperature of explosive mixtures.
T1 > 450℃;
T2 = 300-350℃;
T3 = 200-300℃;
T4 = 135-200℃;
T5 = 100-135℃;
T6 = 85-100℃;
Degree of protection against dust and moisture (IP):
Explosion-proof luminaires comply with IP65 and above. This means that the devices have reliable dust and moisture protection.
Today, hazardous objects are illuminated using LED, gas-discharge, and fluorescent lighting equipment. In recent years, most enterprises have used explosion-proof LED-lamps more actively, since they have many advantages. This is: