BS EN 1127-2 specifies methods for explosion prevention and protection in mining by outlining the basic concepts and methodology for the design and construction of equipment, protective systems and components.
BS EN 1127-2 applies to Group I equipment, protective systems, and components intended for use in underground parts of mines and those parts of their surface installations at risk from firedamp and/or combustible dust.
BS EN 1127-2 specifies methods for the identification and assessment of hazardous situations that may lead to explosions and describes the design and construction measures appropriate for the required safety. This is achieved by
The safety of equipment, protective systems, and components can be achieved by eliminating hazards and/or limiting the risk, i.e.
Measures in accordance with a) (prevention) and b) (protection) against explosions are dealt with in Clause 6 of BS EN 1127-2; measures according to c) against explosions are dealt with in Clause 7 of this standard.
Measures in accordance with d) are not described in BS EN 1127-2 They are dealt with in EN ISO 12100:2010, Clause 6.
BS EN 1127-2 is applicable to any equipment, protective systems and components intended to be used in potentially explosive atmospheres. These atmospheres can arise from flammable materials processed, used or released by the equipment, protective systems and components or from materials in the vicinity of the equipment, protective systems and components and/or from the materials of construction of the equipment, protective systems and components.
As shot firing can release potentially explosive atmospheres, BS EN 1127-2 is also applicable to the equipment used for shot firing, apart from the explosives and detonators.
BS EN 1127-2 is applicable to equipment, protective systems and components at all stages of use.
Note 1: BS EN 1127-2 is not applicable to:
Note 2: The preventive and protective measures described in BS EN 1127-2 will not provide the required level of protection unless the equipment, protective systems and components are operated in line with their intended use and are installed and maintained according to the relevant codes of practice or requirements.
Note 3: Detailed information on specific equipment, protective systems, and components is contained in the relevant individual standards. Safety-relevant data regarding flammable materials and explosive atmospheres are required for the design and construction of the explosion protection measures.
BS EN 1127-2 on methods for explosion prevention and protection in mining is useful for:
Large parts of mines can be endangered at the same time by both firedamp and combustible dust and so it is inadvisable to subdivide the hazards into those which are caused by the gas atmosphere and those by the dust atmosphere. Therefore, measures for explosion prevention and protection shall cover both the hazards from firedamp and the hazards from combustible dust.
The necessity for the simultaneous presence of an explosive atmosphere and effective ignition source and the anticipated effects of an explosion as described in BS EN 1127-2 lead immediately to the three basic principles of explosion prevention and protection in the following order:
1) avoid or reduce explosive atmospheres
2) avoid any possible effective ignition source
3) de-energize equipment containing an ignition source when there is an explosive concentration.
Thus, BS EN 1127-2 helps you in the elimination or minimization of risk by applying one or more of the above prevention or protection principles.
BS EN 1127-2 provides you guidance on design and construction of equipment, protective systems and components by avoidance of effective ignition sources.
Overall, BS EN 1127-2 helps you ensure safety by risk assessment and risk reduction in mines by the implementation of explosion prevention and protection methods.
BS EN 1127-2:2014 supersedes EN 1127-2:2002+A1:2008. BS EN 1127-2:2014 includes some changes with respect to EN 1127-2:2002+A1:2008. These include:
EN 1127-2:2014