SOLVING YOUR SHUTDOWN MAINTENANCE CHALLENGES
PressureHab’s hot work habitat solutions provide clients and partners the upper hand. Explore how our certified ATEX & IECEx Hot Work Habitats reduce downtime and avoid unnecessary shutdowns, thereby improving operational efficiency and outcomes.
PressureHab’s pressure-controlled hot work habitats are used when hot work is required in potentially explosive environments, such as Zone 1 and 2, rated hazardous areas of rigs or refineries. The fully automated Safe Stop control system ensures safety by limiting hot work to those times when there is no toxic or explosive gas. This prevents gases from entering the PressureHab and allows hot-work to continue inside the habitat.
UNDERSTANDING HAZARDOUS AREA ZONES
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) regulates equipment in an explosive atmosphere. IEC 60079-13 is the international standard for pressurised rooms (habits). Only pressurised shelters certified by a third party to standard IEC 60079-13 are legally allowed to operate in Zone 1 and 2 dangerous areas.
According to IEC 60079-10-1, “hazardous areas” (on account of explosive gases) are 3-dimensional areas in which explosive gas atmospheres may be present. These locations are called “hazardous places” in the U.S. Based on the frequency and duration of explosive gas atmospheres, hazardous areas can be divided into three zones:
Zone 0
- An area in which an explosives-gas atmosphere is continuously present for long periods or frequently
- 1000 hours or more per year (10%) flammable mix present
Zone 1
- An area in which an explosive gas atmosphere may occasionally occur during normal operations
- Between 10 and 1000 hours per annum (0.1%-10%) flammable mixture
Zone 2
- An area in which an explosive gas atmosphere is unlikely to occur in normal operation, but it may persist for a brief period
- A flammable mixture that is present for less than 10 hours per annum (0.01% to 0.1%)
Safe area (non-hazardous)
- An area that isn’t considered hazardous is one in which there is no explosive atmosphere.
- A flammable mixture that is less than 0.01% present for less than one hour per year (less than 1 hour/year)
EXPLORE OUR RANGE OF HOT WORK HABITATS
PressureHab Zone 1 & Zone 2 Pressurised Welding Habitat System
PressureHab’s pressurised welding habitat systems were designed to meet safety standards. A PressureHab is made from durable, fire-resistant fibreglass material. It can withstand welding and grinding sparks upto 550°C (1000°F) without additional internal cladding. To increase the fire resistance of the PressureHab to 750deg (around 1350deg F), the floor is tiled with our extra thick fibreglass panel. This allows red hot molten or slag to be contained within the PressureHab.
Our unique fibreglass panels of 1×1 or 1×2 metres are used to build a PressureHab welding shelter in any shape and around any obstacle. These panels offer superior protection for hot work and protect it from an explosive atmosphere. PressureHab panels are interlocked with a tong and groove system. They are held in place by a zipper on the outside and Velcro on the inside. They are interchangeable and modular, so no A & B panel system will be required.
CHOOSING THE HAZARDOUS ZONE YOU WORK IN
Zone 1 Safe-Stop™ Automatic Shutdown System
The Safe-Stop Zone 1 control system has been designed and 3rd party certified to IEC 60079-13 standard. It is used in conjunction with our highly resistant fire-welding habitats.
Safe-Stop creates a safe overpressure environment and constantly monitors the pressure differential between the inside and outside of the PressureHab as well as Oxygen, Hydrogen Sulphide and Methane levels in the airflow and inside the PressureHab.
The Safe-Stop System automatically turns off the power supply to the PressureHab when it detects a loss in differential pressure, high or low oxygen levels or hazardous gases. The Safe-Stop System will immediately shut down the power supply and airflow to the PressureHab if any hazardous gases, such as H2S or CH4, are detected in the air-feed.
Equipment that is certified IECEx or ATEX has a standardised marking that indicates its intended and certified use.
Zone 2 Safe-Work Habitat Control System
PressureHab’s safe-work Zone 2 control system is affordable and provides a safe working environment in Zone 2-rated hazardous locations. The Safe-Work Zone 2 control system has been 3rd party certified to IEC 60079-13 standard. It is used in conjunction with our highly resistant welding habitats. Safe-Work creates a safe overpressure environment and constantly monitors the pressure differential between the inside and outside of the PressureHab as well as Oxygen, Hydrogen Sulphide and Methane levels in the airflow and inside the PressureHab.
The Safe-Stop System will detect a loss in differential pressure, high or low oxygen levels, or hazardous gases within the PressureHab and immediately issue a visual & optic alarm (Beacon & Sounder) on both the MCU and well as the PCU. The Safe-Stop system will cut off the pressure to the PressureHab if any hazardous gases are detected (e.g., H2S and CH4). This system is integrated into PressureHab in the same manner as the Zone 1 Safe Stop system.
Equipment that is certified IECEx or ATEX has a standardised marking to indicate its intended and certified use.
BE SURE YOUR HOT WORK HABITAT SYSTEM IS SAFE
IEC 60079-13 Standard & Certificate for Pressurised Welding Habitats
Welding and fabrication pose additional risks to Oil & Gas installations. To mitigate this risk, the industry uses pressurised areas called welding habitats to isolate a potentially explosive area (Zone 1) from any hot work. The international IEC 60079-13 Equipment Protection by Pressurised Room “p” Standard regulates welding habitats.
Only certified welding habitat systems can be legally operated in ATEX and IECEx explosive environments.
All European equipment must have an E.U. Declaration of Conformity from the manufacturer. This E.U. Declaration of Conformity for Zone 1 welding habitats must be based upon a Notified Body-issued E.U. Type Examination Certificate for pressurised habitats (rooms). EN 60079-13 IECEx Certification is required for Zone 1 and 2 in most countries other than Europe (e.g., the UAE, Canada, and Australia). An IECEx Certificate issued by a Certification Body must be obtained for welding habitats in accordance with the IECEx 02 Certified Equipment Scheme or IEC 60079-13 standard.
Third-Party Certification
Ex Veritas has 3rd-party certified our market-leading Zone 1 & 2 ATEX & IECEx pressurised shelter systems to IEC 60079-13.
ExVeritas, an ATEX Notified Body (and an IECEx Certification Body), provides internationally recognized safety and certification services, including IECEx, CE Marking, and North American approval.
Only Zone 1 can be legally operated by pressurised rooms that have been 3rd party certified to IEC 60079-13.
Competent Habitat Engineers & Technicians
PressureHab has a three-tiered competency assessment and training program. This program ensures that our engineers and technicians are well-trained and have the skills and competency to operate and design our ATEX & IECEx Zone 1 & 2 Safe Stop and Safe-Work pressurized weld habitat systems.
Customer Training and Competency Assessment
See how PressureHab offers hands-on technical training and competency assessments to provide your staff the skills to manage your hot work habitat environment.
You can advance your staff’s performance at PressureHab’s Aberdeen training facility or any other client’s location, depending on your requirement.
The technical training packages are designed for operational staff and shutdown maintenance crew to include survey, design, construction, and operation of PressureHab 3rd party IECEx pressurized weld habitat systems.
Get in Touch
We would be happy to answer your questions on hot work habitats and saving costs.
Contact our Sales Team