Hi, I'm working in a company which produce Explosionproof (ATEX) forklifts, transpalettes and any other trucks in the several kinds of protection types, Zone 1, Zone 21; Zone 2, Zone 22, IP 65, etc. If anyone wants, I can give more details, photos..
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- Posted
7 Jul 2009 22:04
- Reply by
zeliha777
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izmir, Turkey
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I agree to a point with luc h, but the responibility is just down with the rebuild company but also the end user, ie the operator.
In many surveys on internal machines. I have seen operators drive zoned machines outside there operating areas resulting in faulty sensor heads costing the company expensive repairs & leaving the machine open to accidents.
Customers should also be aware of how they clean there floors, various detergents can throw a sensor head out of calibration resulting in the machine not detecting the (LEL) the machine was set for.
The customer should also make sure the machine is serviced every three months, not by the hours the equipment is operated.
This way the customer is covered & the responsibilty is upon the supplier.
Middy
- Posted
10 Feb 2006 04:27
- Reply by
Middy
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Canada
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I agree with you Barry that personal education is very important and not good skilled personal is in the most cases the reason for accidents. I think as truck supplier it is important that you bring a product to the market that is covered by one declaration for the whole truck including Ex conversion. Mostly the customer buys a truck from one company including the EX rebuilding. If there is an accident caused by the truck the customer should only communicate with truck supplier and what happens between truck supplier and rebuilding company is not the customers problem. He needs to be covered by the liability assurance of the truck company and not to worry about all other aspects.
- Posted
1 Feb 2006 18:24
- Reply by
luc_h
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Antwerpen, Belgium
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I am no expert but I do service 3 DG (dangerous goods as we call them them here in NZ) rated machines, one electric and two diesels. The electric is no problem because everything that has power on it is in a steel box of at least 12mm thickness ( a headlight weighs about 10 to 12Kg) and is almost, literally, bullet proof. There is nothing for the operator to do or mess with. Experience has shown that it is essential that they receive very regular servicing which has never shown a scary problem, because of the regular servicing and that is as it should be. The diesels however are a different storey. The problem being that the exhaust scrubbers require daily checks. These daily checks are supposed to be carried out by the operators but are quite often missed although they are quite simple. The water in the scrubber tank needs changing every day along with a check of the sacrificial anode and a check of the spark arrestor for blockage. The other problem is with the laziness of operators. The diesels are started with a portable battery in a safe area. I quite often find that some clown has wheeled the starting battery into a DG area and started the machine there!! Also occaisionally some idiot in dispatch will drive there non DG machine into a DG area! So far there have been no explosions but how long will that last? This particular factory makes spray cans and paint including engine start! How scary is that? Fortunately my work place is about 12Km from the factory. The bottom line is that at least 50% of saftey in explosive atmosphere enviroments seems to be personal education. Unfortunately a large percentage of employees seem to think they know better.
- Posted
1 Feb 2006 17:30
- Reply by
Barry_m
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B.O.P., New Zealand
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The converter/ EX proofing company who issues the new CE mark is fully responsible for the protection concept on the equipment. The end user is responsible for the correct use of the equipment within the classified area (correct use for the classification). The end user needs to periodically check the Zoning assessment and products in use in those areas. My company takes full responsibility under ATEX 95 for equipment supplied. We have to do this to keep our ATEX "license"
- Posted
20 Jan 2006 20:06
- Reply by
steveb
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Staffordshire, United Kingdom
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one of the stumbling blocks to watch out for is liability and onus.
The customer has a high level of responsibility- the service provider has a defined responsibility as does the company who completes the Ex proof conversion.
it should be clear however on who is responsible for the actual equipment supplied. The OEM will have CE marked the equipment (in the EU) and the Exproof converter will then put a CE plate on the equipment.
The act of the Exproof conversion company 'changing' the original specification of the equipment effectively releases the OEM of liability - as the truck no longer conforms to their technical file.
Similarly - the Exproof conversion company should take sole responsibility for the equipment if they are the last to fit a rating plate- this is for the ENTIRE truck.
Any fault in truck design would thus become the responsibility of the company providing the Ex proofing?
Alternatively you potentially sit in the middle of the debacle between the OEM and the converting company both pointing at each other to allocate blame.
NOt a brilliant position to be in when the customer has a contract with you- as service provider- as neither the OEM nor the Converting contractor is under pressure to help resolve the situation
With competitive price and timely delivery, NFJ sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
- Posted
20 Jan 2006 19:04
- Reply by
Wardy
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Hampshire, United Kingdom
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We are a company that build and convert trucks for explosive atmospheres. Under our quality assessment proceedures we re-issue the CE mark and issue the EX mark. We are liable for the equipment but the customer is also liable under ATEX 137 in Europe for the working area. Rest of the world i'm not sure on. Try a certification body for an answer and read the DTI guidlines on ATEX. We use a body whoa udits us on a regular basis and has just issued us a licence number to certify equipment.
- Posted
20 Jan 2006 00:31
- Reply by
steveb
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Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Steve
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There is still a lot of confusion regarding Ex in general and certainly word wide. To many local directives like Europe,US,Japan,Australia etc...
I'm rather satisfied with ATEX directive.Still some manufactures bring machine on the market with a declaration for standard machine and extra a declaration from a rebuilding company.What if something happens??
- Posted
13 Jan 2006 02:09
- Reply by
luc_h
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Antwerpen, Belgium
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Do you really want to find out?
Currently we are involved in various applications involving Exproof equipment and have a real concern about the aparant ignorance of some people on legal obligations under ATEX and duty of care. this isn't only on the operators and customer side- but seems to be in general within the industry.
Other than a select few specialists - and the obvious beneficiaries (manufacturers of Exproof equipment) who are trying to 'spread the word' - the indication i am getting is that ignorance is bliss.
Having seen the testing process on some of the approved suppliers of Exproof equipment - you can only deduce that there is an added protection level to standard equipment which will have the effect of preventing or containing any explosion occuring PROVIDING it has been properly operated and properly maintained.
It is majorly important to understand WHAT the risk is - what the flash points and ignition temperatures are of the items stored, aswell as the likelyhood of an explosive atmosphere being present.
Absolutely no benefit to putting a Zone 2 truck into a Zone 1 area- and thinking you are protected. Similarly if the T class is insufficient the truck is STILL an ignition point and probably more dangerous than an unprotected truck as you have lulled the operator into believing he is safe.
We are still seing customers trying to find a 'cheap solution' at the risky expense of being non compliant to ATEX/DSEAR and unscrupulous dealers providing non-Atex compliant rental equipment on short term hire.
In answer to the question - I believe that Exprrof trucks are safe when properly specified, operated and maintained
- Posted
12 Jan 2006 20:03
- Reply by
Wardy
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Hampshire, United Kingdom
The objective of Salespeople is not to make sales - but to create customers
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I think starting at the point where the thing is on site is wrong.
Most of my problems have been caused before they arrive at site.
Here in the EEC there have been some rule changes with regards to where and when to use. So there are trucks out there that don't comply
Not carrying out site survey properly so customer ends up replacing test head every 6 month at £500 a go
Not using trained people to service these trucks. ( don't think any one untrained is allowed to service by Law)
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Explosion-Proof Flooring. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
- Posted
29 Nov 2005 06:53
- Reply by
Toric
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lothian, United Kingdom
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