With every modern sector aiming to minimise risks to its workers, health and safety spans many fronts.
The risk of explosions can occur in many industries – some you expect, and others where the risk might not be immediately obvious.
That’s why DSEAR and ATEX regulations have become critical in maintaining industry-leading safety for many of our clients.
But what are DSEAR and ATEX, what’s the difference, and how do they work together?
What is DSEAR?
The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002, or DSEAR for short, are a set of regulations applicable to UK workplaces.
The main requirement is for employers to assess and control any risks from fires, explosions, gases under pressure or substances corrosive to metals.
These risks can be an everyday presence in many environments where gases or vapours are common, including heavy industry, manufacturing and processing.
However, they can also be present in less obvious operations, where particulates such as flour, sugar, or wood dust can mix with air to create explosive potential.
Within the DSEAR regulations, dangerous substances include:
- Solvents, paints and varnishes
- Flammable gases
- Pressurised gases
- Dust and particulates from machining, sanding or food production
- Chemicals corrosive to metals
A potentially explosive environment can form when these substances (or the gases or vapours they produce) leak or accumulate to a sufficient volume in the air.
The nature and frequency of the potentially explosive atmosphere impacts how it is classified under DSEAR regulations:
- Zone 0 (gases) or Zone 20 (dust) – areas where an explosive atmosphere is present continuously or for long periods
- Zone 1 (gases) or Zone 21 (dust) – areas where an explosive atmosphere is likely to occasionally occur in normal operation
- Zone 2 (gases) or Zone 22 (dust) – areas where an explosive atmosphere is not likely but could occur for a short period
This classification is also used in ATEX regulations and affects the safety measures that must be applied to comply with DSEAR.
What is ATEX?
Whilst DSEAR is a UK-only regulation, ATEX (an acronym for the French “Atmosphères Explosibles”) is a European Union directive also applicable in the UK.
ATEX regulates equipment, protective systems and workplace safety in environments with explosion risk. It ensures that any equipment used in such areas will not trigger fires or explosions.
ATEX consists of two main directives that divide responsibilities between manufacturers and employers:
- ATEX 114 (Equipment Directive 2014/34/EU) affects the design, manufacture and safety requirements of equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres
- ATEX 137 (Workplace Directive 1999/92/EC) focuses on the actions required by employers to improve the protection of workers from the risk of an explosive atmosphere
How do DSEAR and ATEX work together?
In practice, DSEAR and ATEX are applied together in the UK, and their relationship is complementary.
DSEAR helps to identify the explosive risk and classify the hazard. By conducting a DSEAR assessment, we can identify hazardous zones where gases, vapours or combustible dusts may form a dangerous mix with air.
ATEX helps identify equipment which minimises the risk of explosion. Once the zones are established, ATEX-certified equipment minimises the risk of heat or sparks which could ignite an explosion.
Whilst DSEAR focuses on the substances in use, ATEX focuses on the workplace environment and equipment.
DSEAR can be thought of as the UK’s legal enforcement of the ATEX Workplace Directive.
What is a NEIRA equipment risk assessment?
Equipment in hazardous areas should be suitably ATEX certified. However, many sites have legacy (pre-ATEX) equipment, and these can be very costly to replace.
As an alternative to expensive replacements, the equipment can be risk assessed to show that they are suitable for use in a hazardous environment.
NEIRA is a methodology derived from the BS ISO standard 80079-36, the standard for Non-Electrical Equipment Ignition Risk Assessment. This methodology is predominantly used by manufacturers of new equipment, but can be used by equipment users to ‘self-certify’ equipment as ‘safe’ for use in the hazardous zone they operate in.
There are two ways to achieve compliance with the ATEX directives (‘ATEX 114’) – a risk assessment method (like the NEIRA) or certification route, which involves lodging a technical file with a notifying body.
As the name suggests, it seeks to identify, evaluate and control potential ignition sources from mechanical or non-electrical machinery operating in potentially explosive atmospheres.
ATEX-certification mostly applies to electrical or electronic equipment where excess heat or sparks could be a source of ignition.
However, heat and sparks can also result from mechanical movement within non-electronic equipment. This is the focus of NEIRA.
A NEIRA assessment seeks to identify and control:
- Risks during normal operation – ignition sources that could occur when the machine runs within its regular parameters, e.g. frictional heating between rotary seals and stationary etc.
- Risks during expected malfunctions – risks arising from anticipated failures, operator errors or maintenance mistakes, e.g. lack of lubrication, misalignment of drive shafts etc.
- Risks during rare malfunctions – unlikely but possible scenarios where a serious malfunction could have explosive consequences, e.g. snapping of an agitator shaft, smouldering dust, bearing malfunction, etc.
The NEIRA assessment helps mitigate risks and comply with the process safety directives within DSEAR and ATEX. ExVeritas, being a notifying body for ATEX and UKCA, can assist clients with undertaking NEIRA assessments.
DSEAR and ATEX training
As experts in explosive environments, DSEAR and ATEX audits and accreditation are at the heart of what we deliver for our clients.
However, DSEAR and ATEX are ongoing requirements in any operation vulnerable to potential explosions. Both employers and employees have a responsibility to continually maintain the standards and precautions required.
This underscores the importance of our other site services, such as training and workshops.
We can deliver bespoke training courses using actual site photographs, discussion, detailed risk assessment, Q&As and more. These courses can be tailored for operators, designers, and the management team and provide real-world value compared to other generic training courses on the market.
We provide support to management and operational staff to help them:
- Be aware of DSEAR, ATEX and explosive risks
- Conduct equipment risk assessments
- Deliver industrial process safety, such as PHA (Process Hazard Analysis) and QRA (Quantitative Risk Assessment)
- Maintain management systems and quality standards to ensure safety
Looking for DSEAR or ATEX support?
ExVeritas is part of NMi Group, a European family of businesses which specialise in testing, inspection, certification and calibration services.
At ExVeritas, we conduct DSEAR and ATEX audits to help UK businesses identify potential explosive environments, reduce risks and comply with all relevant regulations. We also provide on-site training, including CompEx (Competency in Explosive Atmospheres).
As a Certification Body Testing Lab (CBTL), we test and certify products for UKCA, ATEX, IECEx and other explosive safety standards. We are a UK government-appointed body for UKCA ‘Ex’, an ATEX notified body and an IECEx certification body.
We can help ensure your operational environment identifies and mitigates explosive risks to fully comply with DSEAR and ATEX regulations.
To find out more, visit: https://www.exveritas.com/dsear-audits/