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7) This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit. |
Evidence shall show that knowledge has been acquired of safe working practices and testing installations in hazardous areas. All knowledge and skills detailed in this unit should be contextualised to current industry practices and technologies. |
KS01-EM064A | Hazardous areas installation auditing |
Evidence shall show an understanding of hazardous areas installation auditing to an extent indicated by the following aspects: |
T1 Occupational Health and Safety responsibilities related to hazardous areas encompassing: the main features and purpose of a ‘clearance to work’ system (includes hot work permit systems). typical safety procedures that should be followed before entering a hazardous area; the purpose of gas detectors and their limitations; effects of temperature on gas and vapour detection; frequency of monitoring for presence of gas or vapours, i.e. effects of temperature rise; factors affecting the accuracy of gas detectors, for example, contamination, condensation, temperature; safety in use of gas detectors, for example, ‘read and run concept’ the safety precautions to be taken when working in a hazardous area. |
T2 The roles of the parties involved in the safety of hazardous areas encompassing: common Acts and Regulations related to the safety of hazardous areas and the Authorities responsible for their implementation; where assistance and further information can be obtained to assist persons with hazardous area responsibilities, for example, Standard bodies, experienced consultants; and the hazardous area responsibilities of the owner of premises in which a hazardous area exists; the occupier of premises in which a hazardous area exists; enterprises and personnel engaged in installation and/or maintenance of explosion-protection systems; enterprises and personnel engaged in the classification of hazardous areas and/or design of explosion-protection systems; enterprises and personnel engaged in the overhaul, modification and/or assessment of explosion-protected equipment; enterprises and personnel engaged in the inspection of explosion-protection installations; manufacturers of explosion-protected equipment; designated authorities; insurers. |
T3 Properties of combustible substances and their potential to create an explosive hazard encompassing: condition in the workplace that will lead to an explosion; the terms ‘combustion’, ‘ignition’ and ‘propagation’; explosive range of substances encountered in the workplace i.e. LEL/UEL; explosive parameters of substances as given in tables of substance properties Note: Combustible materials are gases, vapours (from liquids), and dusts; flash point. the difference between gases and vapours; and the toxic nature of gases and vapours and potential harmful consequences. |
T4 The nature of hazardous areas encompassing: the Standards definition of a ‘hazardous area’; the recommended methods for classifying the type and degree of explosion hazard in an area; hazardous area classifications as defined by Standards; and factors that are considered when a hazardous area is classified. the basics of how explosion-protection is achieved by the methods of exclusion, containment, energy limitation, dilution, avoidance of ignition source. |
T5 Explosive-protected equipment encompassing: The principles of each explosion-protection technique, the methods used and how each technique works (Flameproof (Ex ‘d’); Increased safety (Ex ‘e’); Non-sparking (Ex ‘n’); Intrinsic safety (Ex ‘i’) and Pressurization (Ex ‘p’) for gas atmospheres and Dust-exclusion enclosures (Ex ‘tD’); Pressurization (Ex ‘pD’); Encapsulation (Ex ‘mD’); and Intrinsic safety (Ex ‘iD’) for dusts) How explosion-protected equipment is identified by the ‘Ex’ symbol marked on the equipment, including old equipment and equipment certified in another country. Visible conditions or actions that would void the explosion-protection provided by a particular technique. |
T6 Explosion-protection equipment — Ex certification schemes encompassing: Purpose and scope of certification schemes. Schemes accepted in Australia and New Zealand. Schemes commonly used in countries other than Australia and New Zealand. Processes for having equipment certified under the acceptable Ex schemes — scheme procedures; quality management requirements; conformance testing and assessment; and requirements for ongoing certification. |
T7 Flameproof (Ex ‘d’) explosion-protection technique encompassing: The purpose and characteristics of the design features of apparatus and circuits protected by the flameproof (Ex ‘d’) technique. (Examples of characteristics and design features are flame paths, integrity under pressure, pressure piling, and enclosure entries). Typical situations where the flameproof explosion-protection technique is used; Actions or conditions that would void the protection provided the Flameproof technique; The use of Standards in determining the requirements to which the installation of flameproof explosion-protected apparatus shall comply. |
T8 Increased safety (Ex ‘e’) explosion-protection technique encompassing: The purpose and characteristics of the design features of apparatus and circuits protected by the Increased safety (Ex ‘e’) technique (Examples of characteristics and design features are temperature rise, maximum power dissipation, protection devices, certified components, creepage and clearance distances, absence of sparking contacts and enclosure entries). Typical situations where the Increased safety explosion-protection technique is used; Actions or conditions that would void the protection provided the Increased safety technique; The use of Standards in determining the requirements to which the installation of Increased safety explosion-protected apparatus shall comply. |
T9 Non-sparking (Ex ‘n’) explosion-protection technique encompassing: The purpose and characteristics of the design features of apparatus and circuits protected by the Non-sparking (Ex ‘n’) technique (Examples of characteristics and design features are creepage and clearance distances and restricted breathing). Typical situations where the Non-sparking explosion-protection technique is used; Actions or conditions that would void the protection provided the Non-sparking technique; and The use of Standards in determining the requirements to which the installation of Non-sparking explosion-protected apparatus shall comply. |
T10 Intrinsic safety (Ex ‘i’) explosion-protection technique encompassing: The purpose and characteristics of the design features of apparatus and circuits protected by the Intrinsic safety (Ex ‘i’) technique (Examples of characteristics and design features are field devices, cables, safe area devices, earthing, entity versus integrated system concept, simple devices and interface devices and their parameters, segregation, infallible components, current and voltage limiting, creepage and clearance distances). Typical situations where the Intrinsic safety explosion-protection technique is used; Actions or conditions that would void the protection provided the Intrinsic safety; The use of Standards in determining the requirements to which the installation of Intrinsic safety explosion-protected apparatus shall comply. |
T11 Pressurization (Ex ‘p’) explosion-protection technique encompassing: The purpose and characteristics of the design features of apparatus and circuits protected by the Pressurization (Ex ‘p’) technique (Examples of characteristics and design features are exclusion and dilution; purge periods, controlled shut down, monitoring and sources of internal release). Typical situations where the pressurization explosion-protection technique is used; Actions or conditions that would void the protection provided the pressurization technique; The use of Standards in determining the requirements to which the installation of pressurization explosion-protected apparatus shall comply. |
T12 Enclosures for dusts (Ex ‘tD’) - explosion-protection technique encompassing: The purpose and characteristics of the design features of apparatus and circuits protected by the techniques for dusts (Examples of characteristics and design features are for enclosures; pressurization; encapsulation; and intrinsic safety). Typical situations where the each dust explosion-protection technique is used; Actions or conditions that would void the protection provided the each dust technique; The use of Standards in determining the requirements to which the installation of dust explosion-protected apparatus shall comply. |
T13 Common characteristics of explosion-protection techniques encompassing: The purposes of ‘temperature classification’ and ‘gas grouping/apparatus grouping’. Compliance plate markings. Limitations of non-metallic or specific alloy enclosures. The purpose of conformity and certification/approval for equipment used in hazardous areas. Environmental conditions that may impact on explosion-protection techniques. The principles and applications of other and mixed explosion-protection techniques (Other techniques include encapsulation Ex ‘m’; oil-immersion Ex ‘o’; powder-filling Ex ‘q’, ventilation Ex ‘v’ and special protection Ex ‘s’). Features and purpose of conduit seals and cable termination devices designed for use in hazardous areas (These include conduit seals and barrier and compression glands for cables with or without armouring, screening and/or drain wires). |
T14 Preparation to install and maintain explosion-protected equipment in hazardous areas encompassing: OHS procedures to be followed when working in a hazardous area; the significance of information provided on the certification documentation and schedules for a given item of explosion-protected equipment; the typical contents of a verification dossier and their purpose; and limitations in the use of tools and testing devices in hazardous areas. |
T15 The relationship between explosion-protected equipment, their certification documents and required locations given in specifications and layout drawings and/or written instructions encompassing: the purpose of markings on the compliance plate and certification documents for a given item of explosion-protected equipment; matching explosion-protected equipment with certification documents and the equipment specified for an installation; and the location the items of explosion-protected equipment for an installation from specifications and layout drawings and/or instructions. |
T16 Installation Standards and requirements applicable to hazardous encompassing: the wiring systems permitted and not permitted in or above hazardous areas; equipment not permitted in or above hazardous areas; the regulations and Standards to which explosion-protected equipment and wiring must be installed in a hazardous area and how these are applied; and the documentation required as a record of the installation process, including certification documentation. |
T17 Processes used in auditing hazardous areas encompassing: Requirements to retain hazardous areas documentation on site. Components of an audit: authenticity of documentation; hazardous areas delineations shown in site diagrams; location and operating parameters of equipment shown in certification documents; compliance of equipment location; compliance of wiring systems; and alignment of hazardous areas documentation to as- built installation. Reporting non-conformance of an installation. |