Comparison Between ATEX 94/9/EC. and NFPA 85

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1 Comparison Between ATEX 94/9/EC and NFPA 85 Gerald L Young PENTA Engineering Co. LLC

2 PURPOSE OF ATEX The objective of Directive 94/9/EC is to ensure free movement for the products to which it applies in the EU territory. Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSRs) are listed in Annex II to Directive 94/9/EC.

3 9.2 Purpose. PURPOSE OF NFPA The purpose of this chapter shall be to establish minimum requirements for design, installation, operation, and maintenance of pulverized fuel systems.

4 DIRECTIVE 94/9/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL of 23 March 1994 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres

5 ATEX this Directive sets out essential requirements only; whereas, in order to facilitate the task of proving compliance with the essential requirements, harmonized European standards are necessary, more especially with regard to the non-electrical aspects of protection against explosions standards relating to the design, manufacture and testing of equipment, compliance with which enables a product to be presumed to meet such essential requirements;.

6 NFPA In the IMPORTANT NOTICES AND DISCLAIMERS section it states: The NFPA has no power, nor does it undertake, to police or enforce compliance with the contents of this document. Nor does the NFPA list, certify, test or inspect products, designs, or installations for compliance with this document. Any certification or other statement of compliance with the requirements of this document shall not be attributable to the NFPA and is solely the responsibility of the certifier or maker of the statement.

7 Details on design NFPA 85 PROVIDES: Numerous schematics of pulverized systems Lists of equipment and equipment arrangements Start up sequences, Normal operations, and Shutdown sequences. Procedures for abnormal conditions

8 CERTIFICATIONS ATEX vs NFPA ATEX provides for conformity marking for products that are certified by the manufacturer to meet the requirements of 94/9/EC NFPA does not have a certification program for equipment or installations

9 REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSTRUCTION ATEX vs NFPA ATEX states that the equipment used and the construction measures used must make the operation of a grinding system safe. NFPA provides rather detailed guidelines on the design and operation of pulverized fuel systems

10 EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS ATEX vs NFPA Manufacturers of equipment must provide for a risk assessment of their equipment, test their equipment and certify it meets 94/9/EC. NFPA does not have a certification program for manufacturers.

11 INSTALLATIONS ATEX vs NFPA ATEX does not regulate the process of installation. Installing such equipment will generally be subject to legal requirements either workplace directives or the domestic legislation of the Member States. NFPA provides specific guidelines on pulverized fuel installations. For example, more than 15 schematics of various pulverized fuel systems are provided.

12 PRESSURE EQUIPMENT ATEX vs NFPA ATEX does not address pressure equipment, but defers to Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 97/23/EC, a single market directive similar to Directive 94/9/EC. NFPA does not address pressure relief equipment and directs the reader to NFPA 68 Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting and NFPA 69 Standard on Explosion Protection Systems

13 ATEX - OBLIGATIONS OF THE EMPLOYER Article 3 Prevention of and protection against explosions With a view to preventing, within the meaning of Article 6(2) of Directive 89/391/EEC, and providing protection against explosions, the employer shall take technical and/or organisational measures appropriate to the nature of the operation, in order of priority and in accordance with the following basic principles:

14 ATEX - OBLIGATIONS OF THE EMPLOYER the prevention of the formation of explosive atmospheres, or where the nature of the activity does not allow that, the avoidance of the ignition of explosive atmospheres, and the mitigation of the detrimental effects of an explosion so as to ensure the health and safety of workers. These measures shall where necessary be combined and/or supplemented with measures against the propagation of explosions and shall be reviewed regularly and, in any event, whenever significant changes occur.

15 NFPA - OBLIGATIONS OF THE EMPLOYER NFPA does not list obligations of the employer.