At Zero Industries, we're committed to keeping our clients informed about important changes in hazardous area standards. Today, we're examining a significant development in IEC 60079-14 Edition 6.0 regarding gas detection systems and their role in hazardous area safety.
Enhanced Flexibility in Gas Detection Systems
The new edition introduces important language around gas detection systems in Clause 6.11, stating that "Gas detection systems may be used as part of control measures to enable the use of equipment in hazardous areas where that equipment might not meet other requirements of this document."
Practical Applications in Hydrogen Systems
This change is particularly relevant for hydrogen electrolyzers. Consider a typical setup where you have:
A gas housing enclosure on the load side of the electrolyzer
Multiple valves and actuators within the enclosure
An integrated detection system
The new standard provides flexibility for end users to implement gas detection as part of their control measures. If the system detects an issue, it can automatically shut down operations, preventing non-electrical equipment from becoming an ignition source within a potentially hazardous area.
Hierarchy of Controls in Hazardous Areas
When we examine hazardous areas through the hierarchy of controls lens:
Elimination and substitution are typically not options (if they were, you wouldn't have a hazardous area)
Engineering controls become our primary defense
Administrative controls provide additional layers of safety
Personal protective equipment serves as the final defense
The new standard's language supports this hierarchy by allowing gas detection systems to serve as an engineering control, elevating safety measures above purely administrative controls or PPE.
Design Considerations
While this flexibility is valuable, it shouldn't be seen as a default solution. Consider it when:
Certified equipment isn't available for a specific application
Additional safety overlays are needed
Integration with other systems is required, such as:
Building Management Systems (BMS)
Fire detection and suppression systems
Other proprietary safety systems
The key is developing a design philosophy that considers how these systems interface together to create a safe, effective solution for your specific application.
Looking Forward
While this standard hasn't yet been modified for national variation in Australia and New Zealand, understanding these changes helps us prepare for future developments. At Zero Industries, we're excited about the flexibility this provides in designing safer solutions for our clients while maintaining rigorous safety standards.
For more information about how these changes might affect your operations or to discuss your hazardous area safety needs, contact our team at Zero Industries.
Comments