Barrier Glands in Hazardous Areas Training

What is a Hazardous Area?

Before delving into hazardous areas training, it is essential to establish a clear definition of the areas encompassed by this classification. In the field of electrical engineering, a hazardous area, also known as a potentially explosive atmosphere, refers to an environment that contains concentrations of flammable gases, vapors, mists, or combustible dusts. Within these environments, the installation of electrical equipment requires adherence to specific design and testing standards to ensure personnel safety and prevent potentially hazardous situations arising from the equipment’s interaction with its surroundings.

Hazardous areas are commonly encountered in various stages of the production, transformation, delivery, and storage of flammable substances. Industries such as chemical and petrochemical plants, mining operations, oil and gas facilities, as well as food processing and grain handling establishments, are prone to generating potentially explosive environments. When flammable substances come into contact with oxygen in the air, they can give rise to an explosive atmosphere. Ignition of this atmosphere can lead to severe damage to individuals, equipment, and the surrounding environment.

Where are Hazardous Areas found?

Hazardous areas are commonly found in various locations, including oil refineries, chemical plants, LNG plants, paint manufacturers, sewage treatment plants, and offshore drilling rigs. These environments are known to potentially contain hazardous gas vapors. However, it is important to note that dust can also pose a significant risk and create hazardous areas. Industries such as food and beverage manufacturing, plastics factories, flour mills, recycling operations, and grain handling and storage facilities must recognize the potential for hazardous areas and ensure proper classification and training of personnel to mitigate risks effectively.

Current Practices of how Barrier Glands are used in Hazardous Areas

The utilization of barrier glands in hazardous areas (HA) is necessary when the cable being used is not of circular, compact, non-hygroscopic filler type, and when there is a potential for generating an explosion due to pressure and temperature in a device connected within the HA. It is widely accepted among HA practitioners that cables between HA and non-HA should be equipped with barrier glands unless they meet the criteria of being circular, compact, and non-hygroscopic filler type, regardless of their application.

In most cases, barrier glands are not required for cables used in HA applications such as motors or distribution boards, as the likelihood of gas or vapor transfer from HA to non-HA is minimal. However, the current industry practice tends to adopt a conservative approach of using barrier glands due to the lack of confirmation from cable manufacturers regarding the circularity, compactness, and non-hygroscopic filler nature of their cables. Consequently, many operating companies have implemented procedures mandating the use of barrier glands without assessing specific situations.

Only a few cable manufacturers worldwide can confirm that their LV 250V, 0.6/1kV, and HV cables meet the criteria of being circular, compact, and having undergone pressure testing. One such manufacturer in Australia is Prysmian Cables. In the case of the fabrication of Whetstone Upstream Project modules by DSME in South Korea, it was proven that the IS cables used were indeed circular, compact, and had non-hygroscopic fillers, leading DSME to forego the use of barrier glands.

What Hazardous Areas Training is needed?

PMV covers selection of cable glands in details during hazardous areas training, including the good industrial practices.

Without exception, persons who intend to work in hazardous areas need to be appropriately trained and competent. Whether a person is involved in the design, installation or maintenance stage, they must be able to demonstrate competency to ensure utmost safety measures are ensured.

AS/NZS 3000 Clause 7.7.2.4.2 refers to competency requirements in AS/NZS 60079.14. In Clause 4.5 requires the design of the installation, the selection of equipment and its installation shall be carried out only by persons whose training has included instruction on the various types of protection and installation practices, relevant rules and regulations and on the general principles of area classification. The competency of the person shall be relevant to the type of work to be undertaken.

AS/NZS 60079.14. Clause refers further states that appropriate continuing education or training shall be undertaken by personnel on a regular basis. PMV recommends that the EEHA Installation and Maintenance competencies are refreshed every 3 years. We offer hazardous area courses in:

• UEE42620 Certificate IV in Hazardous Areas (full qualification)
• Hazardous Areas Installation + Maintenance + Inspection Competency (Refresher)
• Hazardous Areas Classification and Design
• Hazardous Areas Compliance Verification Dossier

To become a technical authority and team leader, specialising in Hazardous Areas, PMV offers Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses:

• UEE50420 Diploma of Electrical Engineering
• UEE61222 Advanced Diploma of Engineering — Explosion Protection

To find out more, contact us