Explosion Protection
Engineering solutions for controlling explosion risks and protecting industrial equipment and personnel.
Explosion protection in industrial processes
Explosion protection is a critical field of industrial safety engineering applied in processes where combustible dusts, flammable gases, vapors, or fine particulate materials are present.
Its purpose is not to prevent ignition, but to ensure that, if ignition occurs, the resulting explosion effects — pressure, flames, and dust dispersion — remain controlled and non-destructive, protecting personnel, equipment, and facilities.
Effective explosion protection limits overpressure, prevents flame and pressure propagation, and reduces the consequences of both primary and secondary explosions.
Applications
Why explosions occur in industrial systems
An explosion risk arises when combustible dust, gas, or vapor is mixed with air within explosive concentration limits and comes into contact with an ignition source.
In enclosed or partially enclosed equipment such as silos, filters, cyclones, conveyors, and duct networks, ignition leads to a very rapid pressure rise. If this pressure is not relieved in a controlled manner, severe structural damage may occur.
In addition to the initial event, secondary explosions may develop when deposited dust is lifted by the first explosion and ignited, significantly increasing the destructive effect.
Typical ignition sources include:
-
Mechanical sparks
-
Hot surfaces
-
Friction and overheating
-
Electrostatic discharge
Explosion protection systems are designed to achieve the following objectives:
-
Limit explosion overpressure
-
Safely release combustion products
-
Prevent flame and pressure propagation through interconnected equipment
-
Protect personnel, equipment, and installations
Directives and certifications
Explosion protection devices must comply with European and international safety standards to ensure reliable operation in explosive atmospheres.
Explosion protection solutions
Explosion protection requires a combination of passive and active safety devices, selected according to:
-
Process characteristics
-
Dust or gas properties
-
Equipment geometry and volume
-
ATEX zone classification (Zone 20 / 21 / 22)
The solutions below are designed to control explosion effects, prevent flame and pressure propagation, and reduce ignition risks in industrial systems.
Engineering approach to explosion protection
Explosion protection is addressed as a system-level engineering task, not as the selection of a single device.
Our engineering approach includes:
-
Analysis of process conditions and explosion risks
-
Evaluation of combustible material properties and ATEX zoning
-
Selection of certified venting, isolation, and monitoring devices
-
Integration of explosion protection into aspiration, filtration, and conveying systems
Each solution is adapted to the specific equipment geometry, operating conditions, and installation constraints, ensuring compliance, reliability, and long-term operational safety.
