USCG: OCS Group Trains USCG in Hazardous Areas
OCS Group visited the US Homeland Security and US Coast Guard (USCG) in Port Arthur, Texas last week to educate about electrical equipment in hazardous areas. OCS Group discussed the importance of competency and skills regarding offshore area classification. Determining the hazardous area classification is essential to identify and classify the sources of release of flammable vapors and gases, to specify the electrical apparatus applicable to a specific hazardous zone and to preventing catastrophes caused from poor maintenance and installation procedures of hazardous area equipment.
OCS Groups Technical Authority: Paul Clark delivering Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Locations training at U.S Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Texas City.
There are new requirements regarding IECEx certified equipment for hazardous areas will become effective as of 2nd of April, 2018. The USCG students received training on the existing regulations for electrical equipment, equipment testing, standards and certification and how this newly effective requirement will affect operations. All such equipment must be certified or listed in accordance with either National Regulations or the International Electrotechnical Commission System (IECEx Scheme). The IEC extended list of protection concepts were discussed which listed the types of protection methods and basic concepts of protection according to IECEx for electrical equipment that is to be operated or installed in hazardous areas. The USCG also received an overview of Cable Glands and Accessories (Ex d, Ex e, Ex i), and API RP 505 ‘preferred’ symbols for classified locations.
Want to learn more about US Coast Guard (USCG) New Electrical Regulations? Read our blog here.
For more information
Independent safety science companies like UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and OCS Group can offer guidance and assistance to manufacturers, operators, suppliers and builders in the gas and oil equipment field, to ensure that they understand – and are ready to meet – these and other new regulatory demands. UL has been providing hazardous location assistance to companies since 1915 and is accredited as an IECEx System Ex Certification Body (ExCB) and Ex Testing Laboratory (ExTL) for IEC hazardous locations standards. Recently OCS Group and UL signed a collaboration agreement to see both companies provide the world’s best IECEx related services.
Contact OCS Group at (281) 393-4704
