Protection of staff against the risk from dangerous substances that can cause fires or explosions is a key driver behind the pan-European ATEX legislation and the UK-specific DSEAR regulations.  DSEAR requires the employer to classify areas where hazardous explosive atmospheres may occur into zones based on their likelihood and persistence. 

To meet this requirement, Frazer-Nash Consultancy offers a range of services which include site surveys, development of company H&S guidance, electrical and mechanical equipment reviews, asset registers, leak analysis and modelling, ventilation design, explosion and blast prediction, and operational guidance on mitigation methods including the use of leak detectors. These services are based on many years of experience in defence, oil and gas and industrial applications.

Utilising our experience in electrical and mechanical engineering, engineering design and our industry-leading analysis skills, Frazer-Nash is able to bring a practical understanding to DSEAR and ATEX assessments.  Frazer-Nash's experience, which includes mechanical, electronic, fluid flow, explosion analysis and safety case development in a wide range of regulatory environments allows us to provide a comprehensive and integrated service.

For further information on our safety engineering and analysis capabilities, please complete the form on the Contact Us page.

Services

The range of services covers the complete requirements of DSEAR and ATEX assessments. Examples include:

• Site walkdowns
• Development of H&S guidelines for companies working with explosive atmospheres.
• Review of suitability of electrical and mechanical equipment within hazardous areas.
• Development of equipment asset registers to allow employers to control equipment within hazardous areas.
• Analysis of explosive atmosphere radii in accordance with industry guidance.
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling of hazards to provide substantiation, e.g. for modified hazardous zoning where industry guidance is overly onerous or non-applicable.
• Modelling and guidance on hazardous area mitigation methods, including ventilation design and use of leak detectors.
   

Team Based Approach

We operate a team-based approach to DSEAR and ATEX assessments using a group of experienced electrical and mechanical engineers. DSEAR and ATEX recommendations can become burdensome for employers if undertaken without the experience to identify when industrial practice is reasonable and appropriate. This can result in unyielding adherence to guidance documentation. We undertake pragmatic risk assessments, taking into consideration both industrial guidance and engineering experience. We have the domain knowledge to suggest where appropriate analysis or plant modifications could demonstrate lower levels of risk to personnel. Such recommendations can help to reduce the cost associated with improvements required for DSEAR and ATEX compliance.
 

Standards

Frazer-Nash works to an approved set of standards and industrial guidance when conducting DSEAR and ATEX assessments. These cover various commercial environments, including:

• BS EN 60079
• European Directive 94/9/EC
• European Directive 99/92/EC
• European Directive 98/24/EC
• Energy Institute Industrial Guidance IP15