Explosion Protection and Risk Assessment

Areas of activity

• Notified Body according to European Directive 94/9/EG 
  • Flame arresters
  • Non-electrical equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres
• Examination of safety devices for welding and cutting equipment  
  • Certification
• Investigation of deflagrations and detonations in tubes and vessels (in preparation) 
• Assessment of mechanical ignition sources
• Risk assessment  
  • Probabilistic Risk Analysis
  • Modeling
  • SHAPE RISK

Flame arresters

Flame arresters are intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Their purpose is to prevent transmission of explosions. They must pass the conformity assessment procedure for autonomous protective systems according to the European Directive 94/9/EC. The manufacturer states successful conformity assessment in a declaration of conformity and by CE marking of the equipment.

The conformity assessment procedures as described in the European Directive 94/9/EC for autonomous protective systems consist of:

1. EC-Unit verification (Annex IX)
2. EC-Type examination (Annex III) followed by 
   • Production quality assurance (Annex IV) or
   • Product verification (Annex V).

BAM has achieved the status of a Notified Body (Notification N° 0589) for EC-Directive 94/9/EC and is therefore authorised to perform the necessary tests and certifications of flame arresters for the EC-Unit verification, EC-Type examination and the assessment of production quality assurance systems.

Examinations are based on EN 12874 Flame Arresters - Performance Requirements, Test Methods and Limits for Use (04/2001).

They are as follows:

• Deflagration test of in-line flame arresters (up to NW 300)
• Detonation test (stable and unstable) of in-line flame arresters (up to NW 150)
• Stabilized burning test (up to NW 150, endurance burning test only for methane/air-mixtures)

Information:

EC type-examination certificates of static flame arresters with crimped ribbon flame arrester elements
(Impact on EC-type examination certificates issued by BAM and PTB due to the substitution of EN 12874 by EN ISO 16852 as a harmonized standard under Directive 94/9/EC, status: July 2010)

Assessment of the production quality assurance system

Production quality assurance procedures have to ensure products match their design as described in the EC-Type examination certificate and fulfill the requirements of Directive 94/9/EC.

The production quality assurance system is checked by an audit of the production facility which is carried out by a BAM System assessor and a BAM Technical assessor. The assessment is based on ISO 9001 and EN 13980:2003 according to Annex IV of 94/9/EC. A full report is provided following the audit and the Production Quality Assurance Notification issued which is then valid for three years.

top