Safe Handling of Combustible Dusts

Advanced Training Industrial Vacuums

Part 8
Preconditions of a dust explosion

 When is there a risk of fire and explosion?

If the three following preconditions are given, there is a risk of a dust explosion
Precondition 1:
Air / oxygen

Precondition 3: Precondition 2:
Effective source of ignition Combustible dusts

e.g. electrostatic discharges, fire, flames, hot surfaces

Protective measures:
Reliable prevention of ONE of the three preconditions
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Explosion Control - Basics

Approach for explosion control

 Prevention (or enclosure) of the ignition source

 Prevention of inflammable medium (finely dispersed)

 Inertisation (Replacement of oxygen)

The only possibility for explosion control in suction-units:

Prevention (or enclosure) of the ignition

source

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Explosion Control - Basics

Examples for ignition sources:

 mechanic or electric sparks
 flame
 hot surfaces
 electric discharge
 heat of compression
 chemical reaction
 shock wave
 flash
 etc.

Ignition sources in Kärcher safety vacuums are reduced through a design according
the ATEX directive for equipment intended for the use in potentially explosive
atmospheres.
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Introduction ATEX

What is ATEX?

ATEX (ATmosphère EXplosive) is the short name for the European directives
according explosion protection

ATEX includes 2 different European directives

1. ATEX 137 workplace directive 99/92/EC valid since 16th December 1999
 minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers
potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres
 operator side (Kärchers’ customers)

2. ATEX 95 equipment directive 94/9/EC valid since 1st July 2003

 equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres
 directs the market for products in the area exposed to explosive atmospheres
 manufacturer side (= Kärcher)
 Kärcher safety IVs are build according this regulation

Attention:
As ATEX is a European directive please always check which directive is
valid in your customers country!
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ATEX 137

 employers (not the manufacturer of the machine) must classify areas where
hazardous explosive atmospheres may occur into zones

 the classification is dependent on how likely an explosive atmosphere will occur

Samples of explosive dust:

Paper

Tantalum/Electrolyt Flour Plastic (GFK) Paper Powder coating

Animal feed Turf Tobacco

Pharmaceuticals Fertilizer

Database combustible dusts: http://www.dguv.de/ifa/en/gestis/expl/index.jsp

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Explosive Dust

 dusts with particle sizes < 0,5 mm are explosive due to their large surface

 the large surfaces of dust causes fast oxidation and fast through-ignition

 non explosive materials become explosive though shredding

5 kg wood:

~ 0,25 m² ~ 0,5 m² ~ 20.000 m²

surface surface surface

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Explosion in the food industry

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ATEX 137: Zone classification

Zone classification in explosive locations (dusts)

Examples for zone 20: Inside of a silo

dust collectors, filter systems, blenders
Examples for zone 21:open hand-over
point (up to 1m distance)
Examples for zone 22:Areas with dust
deposit (dust layer thickness less then
5mm)
Examples for zone-free: Dust layer
thickness must always be as small, that
the colour or the structure on all surfaces
is visible (no footmark on the floor)

IMPORTANT: The operator is obligated to execute the zone classification by

himself or with support of a business consultancy
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ATEX 95: Equipment classification

 Classification in Equipment Groups:

Device Group l: For use in the underground parts of mines

Category M1 (M = Mining) - Category M2

Device Group II: For use in non-mining locations

Furthermore, the equipment groups are subdivided into the three following categories:

Category 1: Very high safety requirements

Category 2: High safety requirements

Category 3: Normal safety requirements

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ATEX 95: Equipment classification

Definition “Zone 22”:

Area in which an explosive atmosphere in the form of a cloud of airborne
combustible dust does not normally occur or occurs only for a short period of time.

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Kärcher Labelling

Old labelling: New labelling:

 DIN EN 60335-2-69  ATEX 95
 Type of construction B1  Build for Zone 22

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Kärcher Labelling

Ex-labelling on example of IVC 60/12-1 Ec H Z22

ATEX- Logo

Equipment group II for the use in all

other potentially explosive areas
with the exception of mine workings
susceptible to firedamp

Category 3 corresponds to a “normal

level of security”

Certified for dusts

Max. surface temperature of the

machine (even during fault) 95°C

Labelling according norm

Kärcher Labelling

Ex-labelling on example of IVC 60/30 Ap M Z22

ATEX- Logo

Equipment group II for the use in

all other potentially explosive areas
with the exception of mine
workings susceptible to firedamp

Category 3 corresponds to a
“normal level of security”

Certified for dusts

Main application tc: cabinets,

motors, lamps

Group IIIC: conductive dusts

Max. surface temperature of the

machine (even during fault) 125°C

Labelling according directive

Range of IV safety vacuums
Turbine power kW

3~ / 400 V / 50 Hz
IVC 60/30 IV 100/75 M B1
Ap M Z22 (Z22)

IV 100/55 M/H B1
(Z22)
IV 100/40 M B1
(Z22)
IV 60/30 M
B1 (Z22)

1~ / 220 V / 50 Hz
IV 60/27-1
IVC 60/12-1 M B1 (Z22)
Ec H Z22

Price
PART 8

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