1. Overview of Explosion Protection
1-1
TI 33Q01J30-01E
1. Overview of Explosion Protection
This chapter provides the general explanation about explosion protection.
1.1
Primary Explosion Protection and
Secondary Explosion Protection
In order to prevent explosions and its danger, plants must have an effective explosion protection.
To prevent explosions of plant, as a comprehensive countermeasure, the following steps must be
taken.
(1) Step to prevent generating dangerous explosive atmospheres
(2) Step to prevent ignition to explosive atmospheres
(3) Step to limit the influence of explosion within the security area
Steps such as (1) are called Primary explosion protection, Steps such as (2), (3) are called
Secondary explosion protection.
Primary Explosion Protection
Primary explosion protection is a step to avoid the formation of potentially explosive
atmospheres. It includes removing explosive gas and chemically changing explosive gas into
non-explosive gas.
Secondary Explosion Protection
Secondary explosion protection is a step to keep the influence of explosion to a minimum. In
order to prevent the ignition, it pays attention to the electric circuit area of equipment in plant that
may cause it. Moreover, if it happens, it prevents the propagation of the influence to the exterior.
CENTUM-compliant explosion protection products are for Secondary explosion protection. The
following chapters in this book mostly describe Secondary explosion protection.
May 21, 2004-00
