Dust fires and dust explosions; Hazards – Assessment – Protective measures; Fire and explosion protection in elevators
Duesseldorf, 29/10/2008 - Where elevators transport combustible dust-like or dusty bulk materials between different levels, potentially explosive atmospheres may be created depending on the design of the elevator and the type of bulk material conveyed. Unlike the European body of rules and regulations, the guideline VDI 2263 Part 8 published by the VDI Coordinating Centre for Environmental Technologies takes into account both the manufacturer’s and the user’s explosion-protection tasks.
Fig. 1: Modular elevator,
explosion-protected through
flameless venting into the interior
The European Directive 94/9/EC concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres only addresses the manufacturers of elevators. The Directive 1999/92/EC on minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres, on the other hand, addresses the users of installations, equipment and protective systems operated in potentially explosive atmospheres.
In practice, however, manufacturers and users will often have to apply both directives at the same time. For instance, when a manufacturer puts products into circulation in the geographical scope of EU Directive 94/9/EC and installs them at the user’s. Users, too, can be concerned by this directive if they manufacture equipment intended for use in their own elevator system. The new VDI guideline “Dust fires and dust explosions; Hazards – Assessment – Protective measures; Fire and explosion protection in elevators” gives guidance here.
The guideline VDI 2263 part 8 substitutes the draft edition of December 2007. It is released as bilingual German-English version and will be available from the publishing house Beuth Verlag, Berlin, phone +49 (0) 30 2601-2759, E-mail: foreignsales@beuth.de) at the price of 69,60 € from December 2008. For online orders, go to http://www.vdi.de/richtlinien or http://www.beuth.de/.
VDI is the Association of German Engineers, a financially independent and politically unaffiliated, non-profit organization of 135,000 engineers and natural scientists. More than 13,000 of these members work for the VDI in an honorary capacity.
Established in 1856, the VDI is today the largest engineering association in Western Europe. In Germany, it is recognized as the representative of engineers both within the profession and in the public arena.■
Elevator Explosion Protection
Explosion Protection in Elevators:
Manufacturer’s and User’s Tasks
Guideline VDI 2263 Part 8:
Dust fires and dust explosions; Hazards – Assessment – Protective measures; Fire and explosion protection in elevators
Duesseldorf, 29/10/2008 - Where elevators transport combustible dust-like or dusty bulk materials between different levels, potentially explosive atmospheres may be created depending on the design of the elevator and the type of bulk material conveyed. Unlike the European body of rules and regulations, the guideline VDI 2263 Part 8 published by the VDI Coordinating Centre for Environmental Technologies takes into account both the manufacturer’s and the user’s explosion-protection tasks.
Fig. 1: Modular elevator,
explosion-protected through
flameless venting into the interior
The European Directive 94/9/EC concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres only addresses the manufacturers of elevators. The Directive 1999/92/EC on minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres, on the other hand, addresses the users of installations, equipment and protective systems operated in potentially explosive atmospheres.
In practice, however, manufacturers and users will often have to apply both directives at the same time. For instance, when a manufacturer puts products into circulation in the geographical scope of EU Directive 94/9/EC and installs them at the user’s. Users, too, can be concerned by this directive if they manufacture equipment intended for use in their own elevator system. The new VDI guideline “Dust fires and dust explosions; Hazards – Assessment – Protective measures; Fire and explosion protection in elevators” gives guidance here.
Fig. 2: Elevator boot protected through flameless
explosion venting (both photos courtesy of
Karl Solenthaler, Buhler AG, CH-Uzwil).
Download from http://www.vdi.de/press
The guideline VDI 2263 part 8 substitutes the draft edition of December 2007. It is released as bilingual German-English version and will be available from the publishing house Beuth Verlag, Berlin, phone +49 (0) 30 2601-2759, E-mail: foreignsales@beuth.de) at the price of 69,60 € from December 2008. For online orders, go to http://www.vdi.de/richtlinien or http://www.beuth.de/.
VDI is the Association of German Engineers, a financially independent and politically unaffiliated, non-profit organization of 135,000 engineers and natural scientists. More than 13,000 of these members work for the VDI in an honorary capacity.
Established in 1856, the VDI is today the largest engineering association in Western Europe. In Germany, it is recognized as the representative of engineers both within the profession and in the public arena. ■