The Health and Safety at Work Act, together with current and impending EU Directives, obliges those responsible for hazardous areas, those who work in such areas and those who supply equipment for use in such areas to demonstrate that they have taken all necessary and reasonable steps to prevent fires and explosions. This book addresses these issues, seeks to explain the ever increasing complexity of standards and codes pertaining to this field and describes their method of application and the application of other procedures to assist those involved.

Area classification; Area classification practice for gases, vapours and mists in freely ventilated situationsCalculation of release rates and the extents of hazardous areasArea classification practice for gases, vapours and mists in areas which are not freely ventilatedArea classification practice for dustsDesign philosophy for electrical apparatus for explosive atmospheresGeneral requirements for explosion protected apparatus (gas, vapour and mist risks)Apparatus using protection concepts encapsulation 'm', oil immersion 'o' and powder filling 'q'Apparatus using protection concept flameproof enclosure 'd'Apparatus using protection concept pressurization 'p'Apparatus using protection concept increased safety 'e'Apparatus and systems using protection concept intrinsic safety 'i'Apparatus using protection concept 'N' ('n')Protection concepts for apparatus for dust risksOther methods of protection and future apparatus requirementsSelection of power supply, apparatus and interconnecting cabling system for both gas/vapour/mist risks and dust risksInstallations in explosive atmospheres of gas, vapour, mist and dustInstallation of pressurized apparatus and other uses of the pressurization techniqueInstallation of intrinsically safe apparatus/associated apparatus and intrinsically safe systems 'i'; Documentation, inspection, test and maintenance of explosion protected apparatus, systems and installationsRadio frequency radiation and static electricity