52
Electrostatic Requirements
The phx42™ analyzer must be carried within a backpack in normal use. It shall be
ensured that this backpack complies with the electrostatic requirements of IEC 60079-0
to prevent electrostatic charging of the equipment contained.
Static electricity occurs commonly in industry and daily life. Many of the effects are
harmless and either pass completely unnoticed or are simply a nuisance, but static
electricity can also give rise to a hazardous situation. In such situations, the hazard can
generally be reduced by charge relaxation. Hazards caused by electrostatic charge
include ignition and / or explosion of flammable atmospheres, see IEC 60079-0 and EN
13463-1.
In addition, static electricity can introduce operational problems during manufacturing
and handling processes, e.g. by causing articles to adhere to each other, or by
attracting dust. Static electricity is generated by:
a) the contact and separation of solids e.g. the movement of conveyor belts, plastics film, etc.
over rollers, the movement of a person;
b) the flow of liquids or powders, and the production of sprays;
c) induction phenomena, i.e. objects reach high potential or become charged due
d) to being in an electric field.
The accumulation of electrostatic charge can give rise to hazards and problems in a
wide range of industries and working environments, and to ignition and explosion
hazards particularly in chemicals, pharmaceuticals, petroleum and food processing
industries. Because of the large number of industrial processes that could be involved it
is not possible to give detailed information relevant to all of them. Instead, please refer
to IEC/TS 60079-32-1-2013 document which describes the problems associated with
each process and provides guidance on how to avoid them. This information should
enable the plant operator to take whatever precautions could be necessary to avoid
ignitions of potentially flammable atmospheres and electrostatic shocks (i.e. conductive
floors, dissipative footwear, protective clothing and gloves).”
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