Explosion risk assessment for already installed equipment

Abstract

The equipment of installations for the processing, transport or storage of flammable substances which may generate an explosive atmosphere, in or around them, must be assessed in terms of the risk of explosions, both when they are put into operation or when the installation is modified and periodically for verify that the initial level of protection is maintained. The purpose of the assessment is to establish appropriate protective measures to prevent sources of ignition that could initiate explosive atmospheres. Explosion risk assessment is an obligation of the employer who must draw up an explosion protection document, as regulated in GD 1058/2006 transposing European Directive 1999/92/EC. The explosion risk assessment process focuses primarily on the formation of explosive atmospheres and then on the presence and activation of ignition sources. The principle of explosion protection is to reduce the probability of an ignition source occurring at the same time as the explosive atmosphere, to a minimum acceptable level according to the applicable norms and standards. The paper presents some aspects regarding the evaluation of the risk of explosions to already installed equipment, assembled in an installation, depending on the specific conditions.