Hi

I'm currently sourcing Safety Showers (x2) for a plant that is currently being commissioned, however I seem to find myself up against a brick wall when it comes to finding UK regs that have more than a fleeting reference to emergency showers. I'm aware that we (the UK) seem to follow the American National Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment (ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2009), however with this not being a UK standard are we to follow it to the letter?

I ask because I'm currently being quoted £15k for the supply of 2x showers (ATEX rated which isn't helping the price!) which seems rather expensive, and I'm trying to reduce costs without falling below an acceptable standard in either safety or quality.
The unit I am looking at has a guaranteed 15 minutes of tepid water which meets ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2009, however units are being sold in the UK by reputable retailers with lower flow times (6-7 mins) where they state that the shower meets ANSI Z358.1-2004, so is this also an acceptable standard?

Any thoughts / input gratefully received, the safety of the guys on the plant is and always will be my priority; however I don't want to waste thousands by over-engineering the showers!

Alan

I can also agree with your findings, I came up against a similar problem when I had to source some safety showers for a project I worked on last year.

I only found the standard you mention.

Quite surprisingly as, PH2 has mentions, there doesn't appear to be a British Standard for a full body emergency shower.

As previous, provided any water electrical heaters are outside of the Zoned areas, then just from the mechanical point of view I think you will struggle to get certified ATEX rated showers.

I think I'm pretty experienced with ATEX issues, but I'm always prepared to learn more!!

Only had cause to look into safety showers on the example last year for this particular type of problem at an oil refinery - but to find an ATEX rated shower I would be interested to hear about.

As I'm sure you are aware ATEX is primarliy concerned with electrical equipment in hazardous areas. Just a shower head and pipework is obviously just a fixture/mechanical item.

Are there any electrical sounders/lights/alarms fitted on the showers you are elooking at?

BS EN 13463-1:2009 'Non electrical equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres' is a standard that looks like it should be applied to the showers. Its a method for assessing such equipment, as the title suggests.

However what is your source of ignition on the showers to make them ATEX rated? - the most obvious would be the heat induced by the warm water (it only needs to be 30-40*C - we are not talking domestic showers at 60-70*C) - so the Temperature Class would be T6 at most for the max surface temperature of 85*C.

Methanol flash point is about 12*C so there could be a problem there.

This risk could be minimised by safe routing of the water pipes and insulating the pipes.

Why is it not possible to put the showers outside of the zoned area? Unless at high pressure, the zoned area is not likely to be more than a few meters in radius.

The only other source of ignition would be mechanical friction and sparks as any mechanical valves/handles are moved - but as the internal workings of the shower will be wet and/or probably made of brass, copper then this seems an unlikely source of ignition.

BSEN 1127-1 covers the identification of ignition sources when assessing equipment.

Interested to hear what you find out, as no doubt I might get asked again at some point.

Haa Haa yes came across this one, great fun when testing them!

I'm at the other end of the spectrum, with suppliers pushing ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2009, makes me wonder just what we are supposed to be working to!

Alan