Summary  

 Hazardous Area Classification(HAC) involves calculating and assessing risks in a more detailed and quantitative manner than previous methods, based on the latest IEC 60079-10-1 Edition3.0 (hereafter, “IEC Ed3.0”), for areas where flammable vapors or combustible gases may reach concentrations posing an explosion hazard. This allows hazardous areas to be defined more closely aligned with actual operational conditions.

《IEC Ed3.0≫

 Benefits of Risk Assessment   

1. Reduction of Hazardous Area
   A reasonable hazard distance can be set based on actual risk conditions, enabling the review and reduction of hazardous areas.
   
   
2. Evaluation of primary grades of releases
   For primary grades of releases, although specific calculation methods are not described in IEC Ed 3.0, it is possible to determine reasonably classify hazardous areas by considering risk assessment method and actual phenomena.
   
   
3. Securing non-hazardous areas in indoor facilities
   Risk assessments for indoor facilities shall be conducted based on IEC Ed3.0. It is also possible to specify ventilation system requirements for establishing non-hazardous areas
   
   
4. Enhancing safety awareness and effective implementation of safety training
   By comprehensively identifying release sources and conducting quantitative risk assessments, hazardous areas can be visualized, enabling awareness of these areas and effective implementation of safety training.

 What can be achieved by securing non-hazardous areas 

HAC is used in the following cases. If you are thinking of using non-explosion-proof equipment or reviewing hazardous areas at hazardous materials facilities, please take advantage of our precise risk assessment for HAC.

1. Enhanced operational efficiency through the expanded use of smartphones and tablets
   Smartphones and tablet terminals have been introduced to improve the efficiency and reduce the burden of on-site work, such as viewing information at the site, sharing and reporting information immediately, and digitizing work records, and to ensure the safety of workers by carrying vital sensors.
   
   
2. Automation and labor-saving through sensor and camera installation, and accident prevention
   By installing sensors and cameras at the site and continuously acquiring information, it is possible to automate and digitize data of work that was previously performed by workers. The data obtained can be analyzed and diagnosed to detect abnormalities at an early stage and help prevent accidents and malfunctions. In addition, alert functions by intrusion detection can be used to prevent accidental intrusion into hazardous areas.
   
   
3. Fixed equipment that cannot be made explosion-proof can be installed due to securing non-hazardous areas through out all zones
   Conditions for securing non-hazardous areas (such as necessary ventilation conditions and allowable leakage volumes) can be studied, and fixed equipment that cannot be explosion-proof can be installed.
   
   
4. Promoting the use of drones
   There is a need to use drones in hazardous material facilities as an alternative to inspection work in high places that require scaffolding, etc. and for diagnosis of abnormalities by image analysis of on-board cameras.
   
   
5. Reduction of maintenance costs
   By expanding the non-hazardous area, inexpensive non-explosion-proof equipment can be selected when updating equipment, etc. contributing to reduction of maintenance costs. 
    
6. Expansion of hot work areas and leveling of maintenance work
   Expanding the non-hazardous area will allow for hot work in routine maintenance, resulting in a reduced burden of turnaround maintenance and leveling of maintenance work.
   
   

 Establishment of system for evaluation to meet customer needs 

The risk assessment based on IEC Ed3.0 requires a high level of expertise to consider engineering considerations such as chemical engineering, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics in setting the physical properties, leakage rates, evaporation rates, etc. It is also expected to take a considerable amount of time just to evaluate one case. The implementation of several hundred cases to comprehensively evaluate the entire facility would be a very time-consuming and labor-intensive work.

We have already established the system that can accurately and efficiently conduct risk assessments that require expertise. We will strongly support HAC to meet the needs of our clients in timely manner.

Catalog　 The catalog for risk assessment is available here.  Click the image on the right to proceed to the catalog download page.

Scroll to top