At the painting facilities the main subjects which are depending on regulations; ensuring environmental safety in the explosive atmospheres, personnel security and compliance with environmental regulations.
Ensuring Personnel Security in Explosive Atmospheres
In accordance with the regulations concerning the precautions to be taken in explosive atmospheres by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security;
Employers are obliged to take precautions to prevent the occurrence of an explosive atmospheres, if it is not possible to prevent the occurrence of the explosive atmosphere, to remove the factors that will cause the explosion, to provide the health and safety of the workers.
The combination of explosive material, air (oxygen) and igniter power supply create an explosive atmosphere. If one of these three elements which are known as the explosion triangle is removed, the danger of explosion will be eliminated.
All precautions to ensure safety in explosive atmospheres is covered by the International ATEX Directives.
ATEX Directives are defined in the Regulation on equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres of the Ministry of Industry. The standards for explosive atmospheres must be compatible with these directives.
Because of the process, it is not possible to prevent the paint and air. For that reason precautions are taken for the power supply to ignite the explosion in the Painting Facilities. Filtration systems in the painting facilities are loom large in personnel health and precautions to be taken against explosion.
When evaluated for the subject of explosive atmosphere; not enough ventilation in the facility with suitable technique increases the explosion risk significantly.
There should not be an electric line, electrical panel, armature switch, socket or any electrical equipment in the Painting Facilities. All electrical components must be located outside of the facility.
All equipment must be ex-proof in accordance with the ATEX directive even if the electrical components of the equipment such as fans and lighting which are directly contact with the air in the facility are placed outside the facility.
The facility must have a sufficient ventilation system for the health of the personnel who will work in the Painting Plant.
The personnel who will make the paint application must wear suitable gloves, clothes and a filtered paint helmet according to the standards. Otherwise, operators can be damaged by solvent steam and additives in the coating material.
Don’t approach to the painting facility with any
material which is a power source to ignite the explosion. Welding should not be made, don’t smoke and non-ex-proof electrical equipment should not be operated In the area where the paint facility is located.
Environmental Health Standards in Painting Facilities
In order to obtain the work permit of the paint facilities which is established; it is necessary to design a project in accordance with the Regulation on Control of Industrial Air Pollution.
The aim of the Industrial Air Pollution Control Regulation is to provide that the operations carried out in the facilities do not harm the environment, provide the emission limit values specified in the regulation, control the air quality and the mass flow.
Emission: With burning the fuel and the similars; with synthesis, separation, evaporation and similar processes; collecting the materials and as a result of the other mechanical processes, it is indicated spanning air pollutants over from a facility to the atmosphere.
The emission values which are specified in the Industrial Air Pollution Control Regulation should be provided at the Painting Facilities. In order to obtain emission permits; it is necessary to send the polluted air to the filter unit and then filtered before discharging from the chimney.
The height of the chimneys from the roof is important for the fulfillment of the emission values and regulation requirement. Chimney heights are the definite rule that must be provided for obtaining the necessary permits. Special filter units are used to provide emission values and a healthy working environment.
The polluted air is brought to the filter with air ducts which are designed with proper diameter and thickness. The polluted air passing through the pre-filter and main filter groups is discharged from the chimney by a fan.
Çiğdem Arslan
Project Director
Sandblasting & Painting Systems
Alfatechnic Makina San. ve Dış Tic. Ltd. Şti.
