In establishments where cereals, legumes, peanuts, cocoa, flour, grains and derivatives, starch, hay, milk and egg powder, coffee, sugar, etc. are transported, processed and stored, dusty atmospheres can be generated with the risk of fire and explosion.
The powders produced during the transport, handling and storage of these substances are dangerous; typically have explosive atmosphere ignition temperatures between 350°C (sugar) and 470°C (grain), and the level of risk depends on particle size and specific gravity (they can remain suspended in the ‘air for relatively long periods generating a serious explosion risk). The places of processing or storage of these substances must be classified according to the risk of explosion, in zones 20, 21 and 22.
Usually zone 20 is constituted by the internal volume of silos, process machines and transport. Zone 21 is immediately adjacent to the loading and unloading areas (conveyor belts and hoppers). Boundary volumes in transport machines, process and storage places, where dust can occasionally become part of the atmosphere, are zones 22; also the places where powders can be deposited in a layer and therefore produce, occasionally, explosive atmospheres.
Count on us
