Information about explosion-proof lifting devices
What is explosion protection?
Explosion protection is a branch of technology that deals with protecting against explosions or limiting their effects. This is a sensitive and complex topic that belongs to the safety engineering area and that requires preventive measures to be established. Explosion protection is defined by technical solutions such as types of protection and zone classifications, is described by standards (e.g. IEC or EN) and is subject to constant changes. The legal provisions such as the European Union ATEX directives or the National Electrical Code (NEC) in the USA are the basis for this. It is important to observe these directives as people‘s lives can depend on their correct implementation.
Why explosion protection?
Explosion protection for electrical and mechanical machines is an important and necessary preventive measure for the safety of people and all types of production, storage and distribution equipment if explosive mixtures of flammable gases or dusts and air can arise there.
What is an explosion?
The term explosion means a sudden chemical reaction of a flammable substance with oxygen with a release of a large amount of energy. Flammable substances can be in the form of gases, vapours, mists or dusts. An explosion can only occur if three factors occur together. Oxygen and a source of ignition are required in addition to the flammable substance..
Explosion protection measures
Explosion protection measures include avoiding an explosive atmosphere, preventing explosive atmospheres igniting or limiting the effects of an explosion. The finish of our devices helps to prevent ignition by avoiding spark or heat formation during operation.
Examples of areas in which there may be potential explosion risks:
• Chemical industry
• Landfill sites
• Energy generating companies
• Disposal companies
• Gas supply companies
• Metalworking companies
• Wood processing industry
• Paint shops
• Agriculture
• Food and feed industry
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Refineries
• Recycling companies
Dust explosion protection
In addition to gases, dusts can also pose a potential explosion risk.In many production processes, dust may form and just a 1 mm layer of this dust can pose a potential explosion risk. When the dust is whipped up into a cloud and combined with oxygen and a source of ignition, an explosion is virtually guaranteed.
In addition to dusts as a product, this risk must also be considered for dusts that are a by-product of producing other items, as 80% of all dusts are flammable. The flammable particle size is between a particle size of 20 μm and <400 μm.
In addition to the technical explosion protection of our products, suitable organisational measures already help to significantly reduce the explosion risk due to dusts.
Explosion protection information
According to ATEX Directive 95 (Directive 94/9/EC), as of 01/07/2003, manufacturers are obligated to produce hoists in accordance with the applicable rules, standards and regulations for explosion-protected operating materials, classified by EX class and identified accordingly.
The customer must specify either a classification or an EX zone.
When we have received this information, we can present you with a suitable quotation for the hoist you are interested in. Here is an overview of the classification of explosion-protected operating materials according to Directive 2014/34/EC, to serve as a guide. The standards, regulations and directives of the appropriate authority, e.g. chemicals industry associations, regarding the use of equipment in areas at risk of explosion, must be observed by the owner during installation, assembly and operation of >> EX-protected hoists <<. PLANETA offers hoists for various use cases, which are suitable for the following operating conditions in EX zones:
▪ Deployment in zones 1, 2, 21 and 22
▪ Temperature classes up to T4 or 135°C
▪ For gases in explosion groups IIA, IIB, IIC and dusts
DOWNLOAD THE ATEX POSTER HERE! ( click on the image)
Zone classification
The adjacent table provides you with a brief overview of deployability Temperature classes:
The max. surface temperature of the operating material must always be less than the ignition temperature of the gas-vapour-air mixture. Operating materials which are classed in higher temperature classes are approved in all areas where lower temperature classes are required.
In areas at risk of explosion due to flammable dusts, the surface temperature may not exceed 2/3 of the ignition temperature of the dust/air mixture in °C. This temperature class information related to PLANETA hoists assumes a maximum ambient temperature between -20°C and +40°C.
Explanation of the designation of an Ex classification:
Technical Information for the versions
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BASIC version is appropriate for use in EX II 3 G IIB c T3 (Zone 2) : – Fast-moving parts and contact parts treated with special coatings |
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MEDIUM version is appropriate for use in EX II 2 G IIB c T3 (Zone 1) : – Fast-moving parts and contact parts treated with special coatings |
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HIGH version is appropriate for use in EX II 2 G IIC c T3 (Zone 1) : – Fast-moving parts and contact parts treated with special coatings |
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In the “HIGH” version, load chains made from NIROSTA special load chain fabrication steel are used, |
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The table below shows that the load-bearing capacities of the “HIGH” version differ from |
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However, the hoists themselves are labelled with lower load-bearing capacity on their |
| Load-bearing capacity in kg on the BASIC / MEDIUM version |
TYPE Manual chain hoist for example |
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Number of |
Reduced loadbearing capacity in kg on the HIGH version |
| 250 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 3,000 5,000 10,000 |
PREMIUM PRO-EX 0,25 PREMIUM PRO-EX 0.5 PREMIUM PRO-EX 1.0 PREMIUM PRO-EX 1.5 PREMIUM PRO-EX 2.0 PREMIUM PRO-EX 3.0 PREMIUM PRO-EX 5.0 PREMIUM PRO-EX 10.0 |
4 x 12 5 x 15 6 x 18 8 x 24 8 x 24 10 x 30 10 x 30 10 x 30* |
1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 |
250 500 1,000 1,250 1,250 2,000 3,200 6,400 |
* Grade 100