The Wolff Group, consisting of TESSA, ATEX and LEWTECH, is one of the very few companies in this part of Europe to perform comprehensive ATEX compliance projects for new workplaces, facilities and installations as well as revamping existing ones.

Our services include:

• working out formal and legal issues,
• limiting explosion hazard areas, hazard assessment,
• explosion protection of equipment and vessels.

 ATEX
COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

We have experience across all phases of project management, which allows us to optimise a project’s economies and technologies.

EXPLOSION PROTECTION

Our solutions combine the best of the available explosion protection technologies.

Our specialists will handle all ATEX compliance aspects as required by the ATEX137 directive (regarding minimum requirements for improving the health and safety protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres).

In regard to formal and legal obligations our activities include:

• hazard assessment evaluation,
• identification and marking of explosion hazard zones,
• preparation of the explosion protection document.

It is optimal to begin cooperation with an investment contractor from as early as the design stage. This makes it possible to avoid many wrong assumptions that could rule out or significantly hamper the attainment of a minimal level of explosion protection. Such situations may require modifications to finished process equipment or implementation of additional protective systems.

One of the essential methods is to limit the explosion hazard areas to an indispensable minimum. This reduces the risk of explosion occurrence, at the same time allowing for the use of cheaper equipment without an ATEX certificate or certified for lower EX zones.

Limiting of EX zones is achieved through the proper implementation of the following methods:

• dedusting,
• central vacuum systems,
• airtight sealing of crucial equipment elements.

Assuring minimal protection levels of process equipment is not always possible by eliminating ignition sources or explosive atmospheres. It is then essential to implement a combination of proper explosion safety measures (explosion suppression, explosion venting, explosion isolation).

Explosion suppression systems are among the most universal and reliable explosion safety measures. They are designed to detect an explosion in its early stages and inject extinguishing agent into protected equipment. System response times, measured from the moment of explosion detection to its total suppression, remain below 0.0075 seconds.

Learn more:

• explosion suppression

The principle of explosion venting is based on controlled venting of explosion pressure from the inside of protected equipment into the atmosphere. This task is carried out with the use of certified panels or doors having a properly selected decompression surface area. As a result of venting, the pressure inside the equipment is lowered to a safe level which protects its structure from uncontrolled bursting.

Explosion venting systems:

• safety panels,
• flameless venting systems,
• self-closing explosion doors.

When selecting an explosion venting system it is important to take into account its application limits and select an appropriate decompression surface area, which is calculated for specific conditions at each time.

Explosion isolation is an integral element of every safety system mentioned above. Its purpose is to isolate a process component where explosion hazard exists from the rest of the system. This prevents the shock wave from propagating to the whole plant.

Explosion isolation systems:

• HRD systems,
• Ventex valves,
• quick acting gate valves,
• ExKop valves,
• sself-closing, non-return valvesa,
• diverters,
• certified airlocks,
• W-DS Pressure Sluices.