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Safety Regulations
2.13 Explosion protection document
2.13.1 Directives
DIRECTIVE 1999/92/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL (ATEX 137),
dated 16 December 1999, on minimum requirements for improvement of safety and health protec-
tion of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres (fifteenth individual Directive relevant
to Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC), the company, in this case the operator of electrostatic
spraying equipment, is required, pursuant to Article 8, to compile an explosion protection document
identifying explosion hazardous areas (zones).
In the Federal Republic of Germany, the aforementioned Directive 1999/92/EC has been enshrined
in national legislation by the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (BetrSichV) dated 27 Sep-
tember, 2002. These requirements must additionally be observed if the plant is operated in Ger-
many.
The following requirements are based on the 1999/92/EC Directive.
The operating company has the following obligations in this respect:
As from 3 October, 2002, and before starting any work, an explosion protection document must be
drawn up for all newly created workstations and plant with explosion hazardous atmospheres. This
document must be at hand prior to initial start-up of a plant.
Should any changes or extensions occur and/or the working materials and/or the working proce-
dure be changed during the operating time of the plant, the explosion protection document must be
revised accordingly.
Document content:
•
Determination and assessment of the hazards
•
Measures taken to achieve the objectives
•
Classification into zones
•
Observance of minimum requirements set out in Annex 4
•
Coordination of measures taken by the employer responsible for the provision and use of
working equipment
It is possible to combine existing risk assessments, documents or other equivalent reports (BetrSi-
chV § 5, Explosion hazardous areas).
2.13.2 Explosion hazardous areas
Example of the application of solvent-based coating materials in spray booths with no operator in-
side the booth (pursuant to EN 12215:2005).
Note:
With automatic electrostatic coating equipment pursuant to EN 50176:2009, the maximum concen-
tration of flammable solvents must be limited to < 50% LEL. This also applies to a recirculating air
system.
Spray booths with flammable solvent concentrations > 25%, but < 50% LEL pursuant to EN
12215:2005 (irrespective of solvent flash points!).
