European Regulations On Explosion Protection and Major Accidents: Examples of Application In Spain, France and Switzerland
CCPS Latin American Conference on Process Safety
2011
3rd Latin American Process Safety Conference and Expo
General Program
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Monday, August 8, 2011 - 4:45pm to 4:50pm
The European Community and Switzerland have an advanced set of regulations regarding explosion protection and major accidents. The aim of this paper is to present an overview of these regulations through examples of application to different industries as e.g.: chemical, pharmaceutical, food and concrete production.
Regulations about explosion protection
European regulations about explosion protection require conformity of the equipment to be used in Ex- zones not only regarding the electrical ignition sources as in e.g., the USA but also regarding another ignition sources, principally mechanical sparks and electrostatic discharges. This situation has a significant impact on different types of industries, especially those that were not systematically defining Ex-zones for combustible dust. This situation will be presented by mean of practical examples.
Regulations about major accidents
Switzerland and some regions of Spain (Catalonia) have adopted a quantitative approach to perform risk analysis of major accidents. These studies are mandatory for companies where dangerous products are present in quantities above defined thresholds. A quantitative risk analysis is necessary in certain cases. However the criteria of acceptance of the risk are different in both countries. These criteria will be presented by mean of examples.
France adopted after a severe explosion in Toulouse in 2001 a semi-quantitative approach. A new law was approved in 2003. The consequences of the application of this law will be shown: in some cases the expropriation of real state around a dangerous plant may be prescribed.