Exproof junction box in an explosive atmosphere 1

[icatwork]

Hi all,

We have a junction box to be used for a plant at a natural gas rafinary. The box originally was an ATEX certified one. But we needed to drill a hole for 10* cable. We will use ATEX-certified gland for cable entrance. The thing I wonder is;

"Does the ATEX approved property of the box still valid?"

"Can it cause any explosion or sth dangerous in the future?"

I need your eng-tips.

 

[ScottyUK]

What does the certifcation for the box say? If it is Ex 'd' then you aren't allowed to modify the box by drilling additional holes. If it uses a different form of protection then 'maybe', depending on what the manufacturer allows.

 

[icatwork]

Hi ScottyUK,

The box is manufactured by a local workshop and I don't have a written document of certification.

"Don't we have any other way to determine its safety?"

Also the construction site we work is "Zone 2" which I think does not need such high certification. I am confused about this. What do you think?

 

[ScottyUK]

Whoever makes it has to get it certifed by an approving body like BASEEFA, PTB, SIRA or whoever. A manufacturer can't just claim that it is an ATEX box.

You shouldn't accept the equipment without the certificate. Do you know if it is Ex 'd', Ex 'e', Ex 'n' or something else?

 

[icatwork]

In fact I am a site electrical engineer and I am not responsible for buying the boxes. I just organize the installation of them, so I don't have its certificate. I will try ask the engineer who bought it but they may already put it into its place on the site. This is really something painful. It seems like we need to buy new ones but technicians already used some of them and I don't even have documentation about them.

The box contains terminal box for connection of 12v signals. Will it be ok to use ATEX certified terminal boxes instead of changing the junction box?

 

[ScottyUK]

I'm sorry, I can't even attempt to answer that one - there are too many variables and unknowns at the moment. You need to speak to the designer of the installation and get some help from him.

 

[icatwork]

Yes I need to talk to project manager about this issue. Thank you very much for your help ScottyUK.