Page 31 - Electrical Installation in Hazardous Area

10 Electrical installations in hazardous areas

the only means of compliance). In addition non-electrical equipment and
systems have been brought into the scope of the new Directive.
Both of the Directives are brought into effect in Great Britain by the
Explosive Atmosphere (Certification) Regulations13 and in Northern Ireland
by similar legislation.
The EU Directives and National Implementation legislation referred to
above refer only to the construction of equipment and not to its installation
and use which is still a matter for National Law. A Directive14 is in discus-
sion within the EU, however, which will address matters of installation
and use. This Directive is still at a relatively early stage but its implications
are far reaching. It formalizes the requirements on employers to identify
hazardous areas (with notices), to class@ such areas and to consult with
and inform employees. It also formalizes the requirement for the use of
experts (properly trained and experienced personnel) in the workplace to
oversee installations. While much of what is included is correct and is
commonsense, it adds a degree of formality not hitherto seen in the UK
and thus, when promulgated, may have a significant effect on UK industry.
Having said that, much of what is in the proposed Directive is in accordance
with the recommendations and guidance in this book and other guides.

1.6 Certification

As has been stated there is no specific requirement for certification in respect
of equipment used in hazardous areas in the UK, other than that associ-
ated with the EU Directives associated with construction and marketing of
equipment and ensuing National Law. Certification has, however, become
accepted as the norm, at least in the more hazardous of the affected areas
and is an important aspect of the technology. It must be noted however that
over the years the vision of certification has changed from that of inspection
by a body expert in hazardous area technology, such as the Safety in Mines
Research Establishment and its associates, against not very specific stan-
dards, to inspection by a competent test laboratory against very detailed
standards not requiring anything like the previous level of expertise.
Within the EU there are now some 17 approved bodies for such certi-
fication, including the non-EU European and Scandinavian countries with
whom the EU has agreements. As far as EU legislation is concerned, these
are all equivalent and a certificate from any one of them is sufficient to
demonstrate that the equipment satisfies the requirements of the appro-
priate European Standard. Equipment which is certified by any one of these
17 approved bodies is normally identified by the manufacturer by marking
the apparatus with the Distinctive Community Mark in addition to any
marking associated with the certification.
The 17 approved bodies are:

Belgium (EU)
Institut Scientifique de Service Public (ISSEP)
Division de colfontaine