March 2022 VISION!
Published 11 Apr 2022
Welcome to our industry bulletin – VISION.
So what is VISION?
VISION is our monthly round-up of industry news, projects, videos, technical tips, training information, webinars and career opportunities from Thorne & Derrick. Take a moment to Follow Us on LinkedIn to receive future VISION.
PROJECTS & NEWS
UKEX CERTIFICATION AWARDED TO EXHEAT FX SERIES
EXHEAT Industrial recently announced that they have successfully been awarded the UKCA (UK Conformity Assessment) marking in compliance to the new UKEX Scheme.
The new UKEX certificate covers the FX series, which includes the FX Enclosure Compact Heaters and FXT Thermostats. With the recent transition from the previous CE marking, EXHEAT Industrial is proud to be the first enclosure heater manufacturer who holds the UKEX certification.
Thorne & Derrick stock and distribute an extensive range of heating equipment from EXHEAT Industrial Ltd, to safely heat hazardous areas whilst ensuring reliability and high performance. Together with EXHEAT, Thorne and Derrick can provide a heating solution for almost any situation with their UK manufactured range of process and industrial heaters.
Substations – What’s the risk?
Thorne & Derrick have assisted with a number of ATEX requirements for substations & battery rooms to provide safe heating, lighting and power distribution where required.
UK DNO’s detail safe working procedures and rules in their Document Manuals to be followed when working on alkaline or acid substation batteries and storage rooms located within primary network medium/high voltage substations.
Image Credit: ABB
Lead-acid type batteries release potentially explosive hydrogen gas when charging – this is the primary explosive risk associated with medium/high voltage substations. Consequently, these worksite locations are classified as Hazardous Area Zones according to the ATEX Directive. The main dangers to personnel carrying out work or testing batteries and chargers are electric shock, explosion or burns arising from the ignition of flammable gas.
Hydrogen when mixed with oxygen, is a highly explosive substance that is odourless, colourless and lighter than air. Where effective ventilation is not in place, a build-up can occur. In extreme circumstances there have been cases of battery room explosions as a result of ineffective battery room ventilation.
Battery Rooms require ventilation and a maintained temperature range to optimise charge capacity, operating life and prevent against explosion. The likelihood of an explosion occurring in a battery room depends on the number of batteries, the charge rate, the size of the room and the ventilation available.
Thorne & Derrick provide ATEX Compliant electrical equipment, including ATEX Fans for Portable Ventilation in Hazardous Areas, to maintain the temperature of battery rooms and prohibit the built-up of hydrogen gas. We also provide heat loss calculations to ensure the correct heaters are specified and meet ATEX certification requirements, and lighting designs to ensure lighting is designed in line with regulations.
Other ATEX Approved solutions include:
- Crowcon | Gas Detectors (Hydrogen & Oxygen)
- Technor | Enclosures & Control Equipment (EX Certified & Flameproof)
- Roxtec | Cable Transits & Sealing Systems
- CMP | Flameproof & Hazardous Area Cable Glands
Portble Lighting Solutions
This month, T&D have assisted with the specification and supply of a large quantity of Portable ATEX Torches to an established end user.
The R-55H Torch, manufactured by Wolf Safety Lamp Company is a rechargeable LED torch with mains adaptor (100 – 230V AC) and charger. The right angle safety torch is ATEX and IECEx certified , using the latest technology to give excellent performance, robustness and reliability for safe use in Zones 1 and 2 potentially explosive gas and 21 and 22 dust atmospheres.
Used personally by staff on site, the torches attach easily to clothing with a high strength clip to enable hands free use, in addition to enhanced grip and comfort to be held even with gloved hands. The lightweight ergonomic design enables staff to carry out maintenance and general work while in darkness; while also ensuring excellent safety.
ATEX & IECEX certified, Wolf portable lights give safe and portable hazardous area lighting in extreme conditions – this includes Torches, Headtorches, Handlamps, Tank Lighting, Floodlights and lighting for potentially explosive atmospheres and confined spaces.
Bristol Visit
Josh Thomson, our recently qualified apprentice, made his first trip to the Bristol offices this month!
Thorne & Derrick occupies two locations across Chester-Le Street and Bristol; the latter of which has a multi-million pound stock capacity. The aim of the trip was to formally meet the rest of the team and to observe how they operate in the offices and warehouse. Josh thoroughly enjoyed his trip and now has more knowledge about how orders are processed by the team.
“I was amazed by the large amount of stock and the wide range of products that we hold in the warehouse. It wasn’t until I visited and saw it first-hand that I realised how big the facility is. It was interesting to watch how the team process, pack and ship orders so quickly.”
The Exstream Portable Ventilation Fan Stocked By Thorne & Derrick
INDUSTRY EVENTs
FAKE PRODUCTS & CERTIFICATES – HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM?
Thorne & Derrick are thrilled to announce that they will be exhibiting at the return of the one-day ‘Hazardex in the Regions’ events for 2022! On the back of exhibiting at HazardEx 2021 last year, Terry and the team will be showcasing a range of products that help to improve safety, increase reliability and optimise productivity in explosive atmospheres.
We can now also confirm that Terry McDonald will be delivering a conference paper at Ellesmere Port on the 18th May 2022. Thorne & Derrick over the years have listened closely to their customers and extensively researched the market to bring their clients fully compliant and correctly certified hazardous area solutions for the safe use in explosive atmospheres. Terry will discuss just how big of a problem fake product and certificates are in the industry.
About The Author:
Terry McDonald is Sales Manager at Thorne & Derrick and joined the company in 2005 as a graduate technical sales engineer. He has headed their Hazardous Area sales division since 2014. Terry has many years of experience working with Tier 1 and 2 COMAH sites in the UK, as well as clients around the world. He is a passionate supporter of innovation, sharing best practice & knowledge with the aim of improving safety & compliance within the industry. T&D recently won the Hazardex 2021 Best Customer Service award.
NEPIC
NEPIC HOSTS BP, NET ZERO TEESSIDE & EAST COAST CLUSTER UPDATE EVENT
On Thursday 10th March, Terry McDonald (Business and Development Manager) was delighted to join the Net Zero Teesside Event, ran by NEPIC with bp, Net Zero Teesside and East Coast Cluster. They provided an update to member companies about the projects they are leading on Teesside.
Representatives and NEPIC members gathered at the Wilton Centre, where bp detailed their involvement around the Net Zero Power Plant at Teesworks, decarbonisation projects and the CO2 Capture pipeline and subsea network. Over 60 member companies were in attendance, discussing the potential opportunities available and shared best practice.
“The NEPIC Cluster connect was a great opportunity for bp to share details of the upcoming projects in Teesside and to engage with local contractors and stakeholders.”
NEPIC thank everyone who attended for their continued support.
Cluster Connect
This month, Natalie Lundie (Supply Chain & Marketing Lead) attended her first virtual Cluster Connect ran by NEPIC.
Virtual Networking via NEPIC
Cluster Connect – Developing strong cluster connections
Cluster Connect is the place to catch up with NEPIC news, promote your developments and network with your target audience. NEPIC’s monthly meeting brings you together with fellow members to give you the opportunity to facilitate introductions and share business information.
Special thanks to the presenters:
– Loganair Limited
– Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
– Northstar Ventures UK
Thorne & Derrick are a member of NEPIC, which is a not-for-profit organisation that supports the needs and interests of the chemical-processing sector in the North East of England. Thank you to NEPIC for running the networking event and we look forward to getting back to the face-to-face soon.
Let’s Meet
Thorne & Derrick welcomed Andy Oliver from Raytec to their offices for training and a live product demonstration of their NEW Mid-Power range of lighting.
Launching in May 2022, the new Mid-Power luminaires provide users with great flexibility and are ideal for a wide range of applications. The SPARTAN Mid-Power Flood and Bay luminaires will be fully certified for Zone 1/21 and Zone 2/22 hazardous areas, including ATEX, IECEx and UKCA.
Raytec SPARTAN Mid Power Lighting Range – Launching May 2022
T&D are Distributors and Stockists for a range of ATEX Light Fittings from Raytec – using LED technology for the illumination of hazardous area locations and potentially explosive atmospheres. Our working relationship spans several years, helping clients to improve safety, efficiency and maintenance costs together with our hazardous area lighting design service to support the upgrade of fluorescent lighting to LED. Consultation and technical advice as well as installation training and support helps us to ensure the client not only receives the correct product for the application but that they can safely and successfully install it, without fail.
➡ Contact Thorne & Derrick Sales Team for the complete range of Hazardous Area Lighting & ATEX Lights manufactured by Raytec.
In The News
ExxonMobil oil refinery in Montana rocked by explosion
Date: 26th March 2022
Location: Montana
Plant: ExxonMobil Oil Refinery
A large explosion rocked an ExxonMobil oil refinery in Montana on the night of the 26th March, sparking a massive blaze at the site, reports said. The blast happened around 10 p.m. at the refinery in Lockwood, just outside of Billings.
The explosion prompted a massive response from several agencies and the cause of the blast is under investigation. No injuries have been reported, according to Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder.
The Billings Fire Department said it was responding to a “structure fire” at the industrial plant.
The video below shows flames as first responders battle a fire following the explosion at the ExxonMobil refinery.
Read the full news article here
Terminology Explained
Every industry has its own language, terms and acronyms. Below is a selection of the common terms in use in the Explosion industry today and how they are employed in current directives.
This month’s selections focus on combustible dust/powder and KSt & Pmax characteristics.
KSt and Pmax are considered two of the most important parameters to characterize dust material combustibility. KSt provides insight into the rate of pressure increase during a dust explosion event. Pmax provides insight into the maximum achievable pressure generated during a dust explosion event.
Different powders can be compared with each other with respect to their explosion severity, and powders can be classified into groups, called St classes, as follows:
| Powder Class | Kst value [bar.m/s] | |
| St0 | 0 | Does not explode |
| St1 | 1 to 200 | Weak explosion |
| St2 | 201 to 300 | Strong explosion |
| St3 | >300 | Very strong explosion |
VISION! BY,
EXPERTS IN EQUIPMENT FOR EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES
LEADERS IN ATEX INNOVATION TO THE HAZARDOUS AREA INDUSTRIES
Thorne & Derrick are leaders in the development and distribution of Product Innovations that deliver significant improvements to clients plant, people and operational safety in the explosive atmosphere industries.
Your proactive problem solvers experienced in succession planning for the replacement of obsolete, non-conformant and legacy equipment in hazardous areas.
Your first-choice provider of innovative and competitive solutions to ensure ATEX & IECEx Compliance for Hazardous Area Electrical, HVAC & Process Instrumentation Equipment to UK and international projects.
Control Panels | Plugs | Isolators | Enclosures & Junction Boxes | Lighting | Control Stations | Motor Starters | Heat Trace | Gas Detection | Flame Detection | Process Instrumentation | Process Heating | Ventilation Fans | Security Access Control
