ExKnowledge: Explosion Protection Podcast | Podcast on RSS.com

ExKnowledge: Explosion Protection Podcast

ExKnowledge: Explosion Protection Podcast

by ExKnowledge.com

Education Technology

Season 1

DSEAR Regulations UK

The UK's Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002. Explains how DSEAR implements the EU Workplace Directive(99/92/EC) in the UK, its scope (broader than most people think — covers any workplace with flammable or explosive substances), the employer's duty to carry out risk assessments, hazardous area classification, the Explosion Protection Document, worker training requirements, and how DSEAR interacts with other UK regulations likeCOMAH and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations. Covers post-Brexit status. More info: https://exknowledge.com

NEC 500/505 vs ATEX/IECEx

Comparing North American and international hazardous area classification systems. The NEC uses two parallel systems: Article 500(Division system with Class I/II/III) and Article 505 (Zone system). This episode puts them side by side with ATEX/IECEx, covering howDivision 1/2 maps to Zones 0/1/2, gas group conversions (Groups A-D vsIIA-IIC), protection method equivalents, equipment marking differences, and the challenges of cross-certification for equipment sold in both markets. https://exknowledge.com

The ATEX Directive

A deep look at the ATEX Directive itself. Explains that ATEX is actually two separate directives: 2014/34/EU (the product/equipment directive for manufacturers) and 1999/92/EC (the workplace directive for employers). Covers equipment categories I through III, conformity assessment modules, the role of notified bodies, CE marking requirements, the Explosion Protection Document (EPD), and how ATEX interacts with national implementation across EU member states. https://exknowledge.com

Installation and Inspection

What happens after certified equipment reaches the site. Covers IEC60079-14 (installation) and IEC 60079-17 (inspection and maintenance).Topics include competency requirements (CompEx, IECEx CoPC), cable gland selection and fitting, wiring practices for different protection methods, the three types of inspection (initial, periodic, continuous), inspection grades (visual, close, detailed), common installation mistakes, and why ongoing maintenance is where most real-world failures occur. More info: https://exknowledge.com

The Ex Certification Process

How Ex equipment goes from prototype to certified product. Covers thefull certification journey: preparing technical documentation, selecting a notified body or ExCB, type examination and testing, theQAN (Quality Assurance Notification) for ongoing manufacturing, factory audits, and the differences between ATEX and IECEx certification paths. Explains what happens when designs change, certificates expire, and how manufacturers maintain compliance over a product's lifetime. More info: https://exknowledge.com

Fundamentals of Explosion Protection

Steps back to look at the full picture after eight detailed episodes.How explosion protection works as a system: the fire triangle (fuel,oxygen, ignition source), the 13 recognized ignition sources in IEC60079-0, and the two-level approach of preventing flammableatmospheres (zone classification) and controlling ignition sources(equipment protection). Connects zones, protection methods, gasgroups, temperature classes, and EPL into a coherent framework. More info: https://exknowledge.com

EX Standards Overview

A guide to the IEC 60079 series and related standards that form the technical backbone of explosion protection. Covers the key standards:60079-0 (general requirements), 60079-1 (flameproof), 60079-2 pressurized), 60079-7 (increased safety), 60079-11 (intrinsic safety), 60079-14 (installation), 60079-17 (inspection and maintenance), and others. Explains how standards, directives, and certification schemes relate to each other. More info: https://exknowledge.com

Reading Ex Markings

How to decode the string of letters and numbers on an Ex-certified product. Walks through the full marking structure: the Ex symbol, protection method codes (d, e, i, p, etc.), gas group (IIA/IIB/IIC),temperature class (T1-T6), and equipment protection level (Ga/Gb/Gc).Includes real-world marking examples, combined protection methods, dust markings, and the differences between ATEX and IECEx marking formats. After this episode, you can read any Ex nameplate. More info: https://exknowledge.com

Equipment Protection Levels (EPL)

Equipment Protection Levels (EPL) tell you how reliable a piece of equipment is at preventing ignition. This episode explains theGa/Gb/Gc system for gas, Da/Db/Dc for dust, and Ma/Mb for mining. Covers how EPL maps to zones (Ga for Zone 0, Gb for Zone 1, Gc forZone 2), which protection methods qualify for each level, and why EPL was introduced to simplify equipment selection across different protection concepts. More info: https://exknowledge.com

ATEX vs IECEx

A head-to-head comparison of the two major certification frameworks for explosive atmospheres. ATEX is the EU directive (mandatory in 30+countries), while IECEx is the international voluntary scheme recognized in over 50 countries. Covers the legal status of each, how certificates differ, mutual recognition (or lack thereof), where each system is accepted, and practical guidance on which certification to pursue depending on your target markets. More info: https://exknowledge.com

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