HAZARDOUS AREAMAINTENANCE
The correct maintenance and management of equipment should hold equal importance alongside that of Selection, Erection, Inspection and Testing as maintaining assets correctly can help reduce costs by extending the life of the equipment, reducing the cost of repairs or business interruption for down time along with minimising safety risks.
With our highly experienced hazardous area inspection team, F.E.S. (EX) offers a range of maintenance services including:
- Routine Maintenance as part of an Ex Inspection programme
- Emergency Maintenance
- Manufacturer Specific
- Client Specific
- Site-Based
- Off-Site
Many of our clients prefer to opt for a service level agreement to enable our engineering team offer maintenance support on their facilities over a set period of time within a schedule that suits their operational needs.
HAZARDOUS AREAEX INSPECTION
F.E.S. (EX) originates from the Hazardous Area arena and built its reputation on ATEX Inspections; our experienced & highly qualified engineers have the proven skills to conduct Ex inspections of Electrical, Instrument & Mechanical equipment located within explosive atmospheres. It is vital hazardous area inspections are carried out, in order to support your business in complying with current legislation such as ATEX, IEC, & NEC i.e. EN 60079, Article 500…
Explosive atmospheres occur in the form of Dusts, Gases, Mists & Vapours and can be present across many different sectors such as Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Oil & Gas, Food and Drink etc…
TYPES OF EX INSPECTION:
The IEC 60079 standards state that initial inspections should be carried out on all new installations of electrical equipment and systems prior to making them live. The grade of inspection required will differ depending upon the location and type of equipment in question.
Periodic Inspections are inspections of all equipment and systems carried out on a routine basis. They may either be a visual or close inspection but may lead to a detailed inspection depending upon the outcome of first round of inspections. F.E.S. (EX) can determine the interval required between periodic inspections to ensure your assets remain compliant.
If a client is unsure on what inspections have previously been carried out, our team of experienced field technicians can undertake sample inspections to assess the general condition of assets and formulate a new inspection regime.
GRADE OF INSPECTION:
The grade of inspection (visual, close or detailed) and the frequency of an Ex inspection is determined by various elements such as manufacturer’s guidance, deterioration factors, the zone of use and the results from any previous inspections.
Visual – Visual inspections take note of all defects which can be determined visually either from the ground or from permanent access platforms and which are apparent to the eye. A Visual inspection is the least intrusive grade as the equipment remains live and no hand tools are used.
Close – Close inspections determine where any defects, including visual, may be detected without the removal of power. This may involve the use of some tools, ladders and other access equipment. It is usually recommended to start your Asset management journey with a mixture of close and detailed inspections to gain a greater insight into the condition of the equipment.
Detailed – Detailed inspections are carried out on completion of the installation, when it has been handed over by the installation contractor, and prior to the equipment being commissioned. It encompasses aspects covered in a close inspection but goes further by identifying defects such as loose terminations which are only apparent by opening up the item of equipment/enclosure or where necessary utilising tools and test equipment. They are carried out on a sample basis and follow the disconnection of power. Detailed inspections are also compulsory following modification to plant and its wiring.
WE CAN PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING:
- Strategy Development & Implementation of a bespoke Hazardous Area Inspection program comprising of Visual, Close & Detailed Inspections of Electrical, Instrument & Mechanical Equipment over a scheduled period of time
- Initial & Periodic Inspections of Electrical, Instrument & Mechanical Equipment
- Equipment Asset Register Development & Updates utilising our bespoke asset management software or client systems
- Complete rectification solutions to any dangerous or non-conformance issues found
- Intrinsically Safe Loops & Calculations
Our field engineers carry out Hazardous Area inspections utilising our own in house developed asset management software ExTrace, creating a database that ensures your facility is compliant with regulatory requirements.
Click here to find out how we can make your asset management simple.
HAZARDOUS AREARECTIFICATION
We appreciate that client’s workloads and tight deadlines mean that time saving solutions are always preferable. Our clients benefit from utilising our Hazardous Area Inspection services as not only do we utilise our own inspection software, our team of field engineers are also able to complete non- conformance rectifications at the source of inspection. By completing rectifications at the time of inspection this increases efficiencies as we offer a turnkey solution; removing the need to try and re-schedule in rectification works or liaise with a different contractor.
We can also offer our rectification services as standalone service if you already have an approved ATEX Inspection contractor at your facility.
