Hazardous Area Maintenance

Electrical equipment for hazardous areas (EEHA) maintenance refers to the specialised upkeep of electrical installations located in environments where explosive atmospheres may be present. These atmospheres can take the form of flammable gases, vapours, or combustible dusts.

In such environments, all electrical installation and maintenance work must comply with additional technical standards beyond the general AS/NZS 3000 wiring rules. These supplementary requirements ensure that the work is not only fit for purpose but also safe in potentially explosive conditions.

Typical hazardous areas requiring EEHA maintenance include, but are not limited to:

• Ex d equipment maintenance, such as lubrication of flame paths and ensuring all bolts are secure and uniform.

• Periodic static earth testing of static control and equipotential bonding equipment, to confirm a high-integrity earthing system with low-resistance connections.

• Replacement of failed or unsafe electrical parts in accordance with equipment certification.

• Maintenance of Ex-rated lighting systems.

• Servicing of ventilation power and control systems that form part of an Ex “v” installation.

• Updates and amendments to Hazardous Area Verification Dossiers.

• Auditing of intrinsically safe circuits and apparatus.

• Auditing of hazardous area electrical installations.

In Australia, electrical installations in hazardous areas are governed by various state electricity acts, which regulate the installation and maintenance of such equipment. The primary technical reference is the Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 3000, commonly known as ‘the wiring rules’. This standard includes specific requirements for hazardous area electrical installations designed to ensure safety in explosive environments.

It is important to note that some electricity suppliers will refuse to connect mains power to a site unless a current, complete Hazardous Area Verification Dossier is available.