EHS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM <G01_xxXXxxxx>

GUIDELINES Version <1.0>

Confidentiality: <CF / IP / PB /
SC>
MANAGEMENT OF EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES Status:
<draft/released/expired>

Management of Explosive Atmospheres

Table of Contents:

1. Objective...................................................................................................................................... 2
2. Scope of Application...................................................................................................................... 2
2.1. Scope .................................................................................................................................................2
2.2. Responsibilities.....................................................................................................................................2
3. Reference Documents................................................................................................................... 2
4. Terminology, Definitions, Abbreviations.........................................................................................2
5. Procedure..................................................................................................................................... 3
5.1. Elimination/Reduction/Isolation of ATEX...............................................................................................3
5.2. Identification of the ATEX areas at site...................................................................................................4
5.3. Removal of Ignition Sources in ATEX areas.............................................................................................4
5.4. Restriction on access to ATEX areas.......................................................................................................5
5.5. Restriction on works in ATEX areas........................................................................................................6
5.6. Signage of ATEX areas...........................................................................................................................7
5.7. Site Specific Risk Assessment.................................................................................................................7
5.8. Management of site emergencies.........................................................................................................7
5.9. Site specific Gas Safety Training.............................................................................................................8
6. Attachments............................................................................................................................................8

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OBJECTIVE

To define the minimum requirements in relation to the identification and management of areas where
Explosive Atmospheres are potentially present on site during the Construction, Erection, Installation,
Commissioning, Operational and Maintenance activities due to the introduction of an
explosive/flammable medium (natural gas, hydrogen or any other explosive means).

1. SCOPE OF APPLICATION

1.1. Scope

NORDEX SE Project Sites.

This guideline describes the minimum standard to be applied on all projects, however where any part of
this guideline conflicts with or is of a lower standard than local regulations, then the corresponding
section of the local regulation will apply.

1.2. Responsibilities

The NORDEX SE Project EHS Advisor shall ensure that this document is included in the Project
Management File, distributed accordingly and fully understood by the NORDEX SE Site EHS
Manager/Representative.

The NORDEX SE Site EHS Manager/Representative shall ensure that:

 This document is brought to the attention of the appropriate NORDEX SE Site Management,
Its Partners and Subcontractors
 Where local requirements are not met by this guideline, the guideline is amended to suit or
other suitable provisions are made

The management of NORDEX SE and its Partners will ensure that the workers, over whom they have
direct control, comply with this guideline and that subcontractors are managed accordingly.

All site supervisory personnel shall monitor compliance and report any breach of any guideline to the
appropriate manager.

2. REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

 NX-EHS-WI-005 Development of the Site Specific Emergency Procedure

 NX-EHS-GL-008 Permit to Work System
 IEC/EN 60079-10 Classification of Hazardous Areas

3. TERMINOLOGY, DEFINITIONS, ABBREVIATIONS

ATEX means: “Atmosphère Explosive”, This French Terminology is used to refer to the explosive
atmosphere

Explosive atmosphere means a mixture, under atmospheric conditions, of air and one or more
dangerous substances in the form of gases, vapours, mists or dusts in which, after ignition has occurred,
combustion spreads to the entire unburned mixture.

Effective Ignition Source: Event that can cause an explosion of the explosive atmosphere.

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LEL: Lower Explosive Limit means the concentration of flammable gas/vapour/mist in air, below which
an explosive atmosphere will not be formed.

UEL: Upper Explosive Limit means the concentration of flammable gas/vapour/mist in air, above which
an explosive atmosphere will not be formed.

An Atmosphere mixture is explosive only under a specific ratio of oxygen and combustible which are
defined by the explosive limits LEL and UEL.

Flashpoint: The lowest liquid temperature at which, under certain standardized conditions, a liquid gives
off vapours in quantity such as to be capable of forming an ignitable vapour/air mixture.

MIE: Minimum Ignition Energy means the smallest quantity of energy that can ignite a mixture of a
specified combustible with air or oxygen, measured as per a specific standard.

AIT: Auto Ignition Temperature means the lowest temperature at which it will spontaneously ignite in a
normal atmosphere without an external source of ignition, such as a flame or spark.

ATEX areas means: areas where there is a potential for presence of Explosive Atmosphere.

4. PROCEDURE

4.1. Elimination/Reduction/Isolation of ATEX

In order to reduce as much as possible the potential for creation of ATEX, Engineering solutions are
considered at design stage in order to:

 Eliminate as far as reasonably practicable the sources of emission of ATEX (by reducing the number
of weak points on a gas line for instance);
 Reduce as far as reasonably practicable the risk of creation of ATEX during commissioning, operating
and maintenance conditions, by maintaining atmosphere mixture below 10% of the LEL through
either natural ventilation and/or forced ventilation system or replacement of oxygen by an inert gas
in some specific processes (gas line purging with nitrogen); this includes:

 Prohibition of flammable gas release to the atmosphere for the purpose of cleaning fuel gas
piping,
 Prohibition of flammable gas venting or purging indoors
 Prohibition of flammable gas venting or purging outdoors where fuel gas may form a
flammable atmosphere in the vicinity of workers and/or ignition sources.

 Reducing the extent of ATEX areas and the exposure of the personnel by engineering solutions such
as detection of gas leakages and safe plant shut down.

When such control measures are not fully effective to completely eliminate the presence of ATEX,
additional control measures are required at site.

4.2. Identification of the ATEX areas at site

The ATEX areas identified and calculated by the Engineering Department, or other competent third
party, shall be provided to the site management team prior to any introduction of potential sources of
ATEX.

The ATEX areas can be classified into three categories:

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 Zone 0: An area in which an explosive mixture is present continuously or for long periods;
 Zone 1: An area in which an explosive mixture is likely to occur in normal operation;.
 Zone 2: An area in which explosive mixture is not likely to occur in normal operation and, if it does
occur, is likely to do so only infrequently and will exist for a short period only.
If potential emission of explosive mixture is identified on site during construction activities (e.g. storage
of flammable gases in compressed gas cylinders), a temporary ATEX area classification has to be defined
according to local standards.

The NORDEX SE Site EHS Department shall review the information and establish in cooperation with the
NORDEX SE construction and commissioning department a barrier plan of the ATEX areas to segregate
non-ATEX areas from ATEX areas. Under no circumstances people should be allowed to access in ATEX
areas 0 and 1 during normal operation.
Temporary barricading shall be in place (earthed fences or equivalent) in case the permanent fences are
not yet in place and not planned to be in place as part of the permanent design. If the ATEX area is to be
accessed by a permanent ladder or equivalent, the access mean has to be equipped with a lock-out
device to prevent unauthorized access.

Access to ATEX areas shall be therefore strictly restricted to authorised personnel.

4.3. Removal of Ignition Sources in ATEX areas

Any effective ignition sources shall be identified and removed from any ATEX areas prior to the
introduction of the source of ATEX. As part of it, a complete technical survey has to be conducted prior
to first introduction of flammable medium.

An ignition source can be categorised as follow:

 Lighting strikes;
 Open flames. This varies from a lit cigarette to welding activity;
 Mechanically generated impact sparks;
 Mechanically generated friction sparks. The combination of materials and speed determine
the effectiveness of the ignition source;
 Electric sparks. For example a bad electrical connection or a faulty pressure transmitter. The
electric energy content of the spark determines the effectiveness of the ignition source;
 High surface temperature;
 Electrostatic discharge. Static electricity can be generated by air sliding over a wing, or a non-
conductive liquid flowing through a filter screen;
 Radiation;
 Adiabatic compression. Air is pumped into a vessel and the vessel surface heats up.

In addition to the solutions defined by the Engineering Department (earthing, electrical equipment
designed to remain safe for use in ATEX areas, etc.) the following minimum rules shall apply inside the
ATEX areas:
 Smoking is strictly prohibited;
 Naked flames are strictly prohibited;
 Hot Works are strictly prohibited inside ATEX areas. If such works have to be carried on, the
area has to be cleared from any combustible, by safe LOTO process. Particular attention has
also to be paid to hot works within 10 meters from the edge of the identified ATEX area. They
should all be subjected to a Permit-To-Work supported by risk assessment. ;
 Presence of mobile phone is strictly prohibited, only intrinsically safe mobile phone for the
category of the ATEX are authorized upon agreement from NORDEX SE EHS Department;
 Normal radios are strictly prohibited, only intrinsically safe radios for the category of the ATEX
are authorised upon agreement from NORDEX SE EHS Department;
 Prohibition to use CO2 fire extinguisher in the explosive mixture;
 Use of antistatic tools for all works on the system near a source of ATEX,

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Special attention has to be paid during operations inside ATEX areas to prevent, or at least
identify/reported:
 Any unfortunate damage that may occur to fixed equipments, as they may lose their safety
characteristics regarding explosion risks (e.g. damage of connector of an explosion-proof
apparatus),
 Miss-replacement of equipment: 2 apparatus with same shape and colour have not
necessarily the same characteristics regarding ATEX safety,
 Any deviation in reassembly of systems after works (e.g. earth link between flanges not
reconnected after modification of pipe).

NORDEX SE EHS Department and Management Team shall identify the properties of the source of ATEX
to identify the Minimum Ignition Energy and Auto Ignition Temperature of the ATEX.

Depending on such properties, electrostatic risks can be assessed and associated control measures can
be established as follow:
 Mandatory use of antistatic overalls for workers in ATEX area, depending on the category of
the ATEX and the MIE of the ATEX;
 Mandatory use of conductive shoes, depending on the ground conditions;
 Prohibition for removal of clothes;
 Prohibited use of synthetic clothes.

4.4. Restriction on access to ATEX areas

Any person required to access an ATEX should have attended the Relevant Safety Training

Access to the ATEX areas shall be authorised only upon issuance of an Access Permit.

ATEX areas shall only be accessed with the use of a gas monitor to measure the explosiveness of the
atmosphere.

Should any abnormal presence of ATEX be identified, the ATEX area shall be immediately evacuated until
clarification on the reasons of its presence.

4.5. Restriction on works in ATEX areas

All works to be carried out in ATEX areas shall be carried out under an Access Permit / Permit-to-Work
upon validation of the risk assessment / method statement by NORDEX SE EHS Department of the
proposed work.

Any person working in the ATEX area shall have attended the Gas Safety Training.

Any tool, plant and machinery shall be of appropriate conception to be used in the category of ATEX
area.

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4.6. Signage of ATEX areas

ATEX areas shall be identified with suitable signs installed on each face of the ATEX fences to restrict
access to the area

Prohibition signs shall be equally installed:

Should one of the previous signs been not used in local regulations, additional relevant signs will be
posted.
Nature of gas and classification and name of area need to be posted at each entrance

4.7. Site Specific Risk Assessment

NORDEX SE EHS Department in cooperation with the Discipline Department in charge of the introduction
of the source of ATEX shall develop a site-specific risk assessment related to identify any necessary
control measures additional to the one established in this guideline. Any deviations to the established
guidelines shall also be justified on the ground of the result of the risk assessment. The NORDEX SE
Project Manager and NORDEX SE Site Manager shall validate such risk assessment.
The risk assessment shall be then distributed to all parties at site to ensure that any task specific risk
assessment integrate any of the control measures required due to the exposure to any of the ATEX.

4.8. Management of site emergencies

The local authorities that might intervene in case of emergency involving an ATEX shall be notified in
advance of the presence of such source of ATEX to ensure the appropriate response is provided in case
of catastrophic failure. This might include but would not be limited to the:

 Fire brigade;
 Hospital;
 Police;
 Army (in case of remote areas);
 Council;
 Enforcing EHS authority (depending on the regulatory requirements).

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The site emergency plan shall be updated to incorporate the necessary actions required due to the
presence of ATEX. It shall clearly stipulate:

 Roles and responsibilities to raise the alarm at site;

 Point of contact to raise the alarm to the local authorities;
 System used to organise the evacuation;
 Assembly points;
 Means to raise the alarm (emergency number and radio).

DO NOT EXTINGUISH A LEAKING GAS FIRE UNLESS LEAK CAN BE STOPPED

All protection systems (e.g. fire protection, detection system) defined by Project Engineering have to be
fully operational or installed prior to the introduction of flammable gas or liquid in an area or
equipments. Exception to this rule has to be validated by Project Manager after definition of sufficient
mitigation measures detailed in a specific risk assessment conducted with Site EHS manager and Site
Manager.

4.9. Site specific Gas Safety Training

Site EHS manager shall prepare a site-specific Safety training including site rules and regulatory
requirements related to the presence of ATEX. Such training shall be then delivered by the NORDEX SE
EHS Department prior to the introduction of the source of ATEX on site.

Attendance to the ATEX training is mandatory prior to authorise any person to access/work in an ATEX
area. A system to identify easily each trainee has to be implemented by site.

The EHS induction shall also be updated to refer to introduction of ATEX areas at site.

5. ATTACHMENTS

None

End of Document

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