Press Information / News Release 10/18/2018

Cooper Crouse-Hinds (UK) Ltd, Unit G, Quinn Close, Seven Stars Industrial Estate, Whitley CV3 4LH

Press Contact: Dean Palmer, Tel: 01780 753 000, Email:

New Guide Outlines Facts, Risks and Measures to Prevent Dust Explosions

A free, informative guide is now available, which outlines the facts, risks and steps required by Industrial companies to help prevent dust explosions in their plants. The guide is particularly useful to owners, engineers and senior managers, who are responsible for health and safety and who source electrical equipment for hazardous areas within the plant.

The eight-page guide, published by explosion protection electrical equipment specialist Cooper Crouse-Hinds, provides an introduction to the subject of dust explosions, including why and when they can occur; the latest European dust standards; safety measures; who is responsible for equipment safety; dust explosion facts and statistics; and ignition data on a wide variety of dust types, including food dusts, metals and chemicals.

Graham Doran, Sales and Marketing Director at Cooper Crouse-Hinds (UK) Ltd comments: “Around 2,000 dust explosions occur in the EU each year, which is staggering. Companies affected by potential dust explosions include manufacturers of sugar, coal, cocoa, flour-based products, milk powder, tea, grain, fodder and tobacco, as well as wood and metal processing companies. When it comes to sourcing electrical equipment for areas where there is a risk of dust explosions, many companies in these sectors are not fully aware of the latest relevant European Standards.”

In particular, from December 2006, the new standard EN 61241-0 was introduced, which together with EN 61241-14 obliges the owner of a plant to use products that conform to these strict standards. Changes in the latest standards relate especially to impact strength of housings; electrostatic discharge capability of the housings; and ageing resistance of the plastics used.

Doran continues: “A dust explosion requires only three things: air, combustible dust and a source of ignition. This means many companies and equipment are affected. Mixers, filling hoppers, conveyor systems, mills, silos, dust extraction plant, kilns and drying systems are all affected here. Also, if combustible dusts are left to gather on hot surfaces, such as an overheated electric motor, smouldering fires can occur. These can cause an explosion when the dust is kicked up, for example, if somebody opens a nearby window. This type of explosion can be very dangerous because the initial shock wave resulting from the explosion kicks up more dust, which triggers a kind of chain reaction through the plant, often resulting in mass destruction of equipment and buildings, as well as being a risk to human life. With the introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter Act in 2007, this is a particularly worrying time for UK-based companies.”

Cooper Crouse-Hinds provides a comprehensive range of explosion-protected electrical equipment, including fluorescent light fittings, emergency lighting, switches, terminal boxes, control stations, portable lamps, connectors and plugs.

For your free copy of the guide, or for a copy of the new full range dust catalogue entitled “Catalogue Dust-Ex 712: dust explosion-protected luminaries and apparatus”, please contact Cooper Crouse-Hinds’ UK sales office on 02476 308930 or email

Notes to Editors:

Cooper Crouse-Hinds (UK) Ltd

As part of the Cooper Industries Group, Cooper Crouse-Hinds (UK) Ltd is the number one company in the field of explosion protection. Committed to technological progress, the company develops and manufactures a range of products that cover all the requirements currently placed on modern, explosion-protected, electrical installation technology, including illumination, safeguarding, signalling, controlling, instrumentation and distribution of electrical energy in potentially explosive atmospheres. In the company’s production plants in Germany, England and Spain, the company manufactures a wide range of products for explosion protection.

Cooper Crouse-Hinds supplies products that comply with all the latest directives and standards – worldwide. In addition to systems and components built to ATEX Directives and European Standards, the company also provides solutions that have been certified to both IEC and NEC standards. Moreover, the company also has a large number of other national approvals, e.g. for Eastern European countries, China and North America. With Cooper Crouse-Hinds you can get all you need from one source.

Editorial Enquiries to:

Dean Palmer, Director,
SilverBullet PR Ltd, The Lodge, 1 Wothorpe Road, Stamford,
Lincolnshire, PE9 2JR.
Tel (office): 01780 753 000

Tel (Mobile): 07703 023 771

Email:

Web:

Editorial Enquiries:

Dean Palmer, Director, SilverBullet PR Ltd, The Lodge, 1 Wothorpe Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2JR

Tel: 01780 753 000 E-Mail: Internet: