Issues with installing explosion-proof human-machine interfaces on-site
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Our company operates in the fine chemicals industry. According to the safety assessment, several human-machine interfaces (HMI) are installed in Production Rooms 1 and 2; these interfaces communicate with the DCS system in the control room via cables, and some production operations can be carried out through the HMI units on site. However, during the safety assessment meeting, doubts were raised by the Ministry of Emergency Management. I would like to ask whether there are any regulations or documents regarding the installation of explosion-proof touchscreens or human-machine interfaces in workshops Coordinates: Jiangsu, thank you!
Is the equipment area a blast-proof area?
The entire workshop is a blast hazard area
For GB50058 environments with explosion hazards, electrical explosion protection is sufficient.
I think it’s possible to install it if necessary. What that leader should question is this: if we set up an explosion-proof human-machine interface on site, it means that production operations will take place right in the workshop. Now Jiangsu is talking about full-process automation, but in the fine chemical industry, it’s really difficult to carry out operations without being on site
The last edit to this post was made by Dedication on 2020-6-16 at 08:52. Personal opinion: Is your company in the field of fine chemicals a company that has obtained a production license? Those that have such a license should adhere to strict standards； If it does not involve the issuance of a production license, and if it is not related to the concepts of “two key areas and one major hazard,” then strict controls are required for major hazard sources. Strict supervision is also necessary for processes that are under close monitoring, as well as for chemicals used in large quantities. If it only involves the use of chemicals that are subject to strict supervision but in small quantities, with little solvent recovery, then reference should be made to the “Guidelines for Safety Inspections of Chemical (Hazardous Chemicals) Enterprises” (An Jian Zong Guan San [2015] No. 113) and the “Criteria for Identifying Major Safety Hazards in Chemical and Hazardous Chemicals Production and Operation Units (Trial)” (An Jian Zong Guan San [2017] No. 121). It is also necessary to determine whether proper design has been carried out, or whether design diagnostics have been performed, as well as to consider the number of actual operators on site. This requires communication among various parties. According to Document No. 116, and in line with the “Guiding Opinions of the State Administration for Work Safety on Strengthening the Management of Safety Instrumentation Systems in the Chemical Industry” (An Jian Zong Guan San [2014] No. 116), chemical enterprises and hazardous chemicals storage units that operate facilities related to “two key areas and one major hazard” must, based on comprehensive process hazard analyses (such as Hazard and Operability Studies), determine the functions of safety instrumentation systems and the requirements for risk reduction through risk analysis. They must also assess as soon as possible whether the existing safety instrumentation systems meet these risk reduction requirements. Based on the assessment, a management plan for the safety instrumented system and a regular inspection and testing plan should be developed. For safety instrument functions that do not meet the requirements, relevant maintenance plans and corrective action plans must be developed, with the assessment and improvement of the safety instrument system to be completed by the end of 2019. Of course, everything is done with safety as a priority; efforts are made to adopt automated process designs in order to avoid long periods of physical labor by workers on site.