Inspection - measures against static electricity

Reducing risks from static electricity

In production plants and process environments, electrical charge can build up in poorly conductive or non-conductive materials. If static electricity discharges as a spark in the presence of an ignitable atmosphere or material, it can cause a fire or explosion.

Bureau Veritas independently investigates where potentially hazardous situations may arise and assesses the measures taken to limit electrostatic charging and discharge.

Measures against static electricity

Limiting the build-up of static electricity reduces the risk of spark discharge. Depending on the process, measures may include:

• earthing and equipotential bonding of relevant conductive parts;
• maintaining humidity at an appropriate level where this is effective and compatible with the process;
• using suitable antistatic materials or process additives.

Earthing and equipotential bonding are important areas of attention within this inspection service.

Inspection methodology

During the inspection, Bureau Veritas collects and assesses relevant information about the installation and the process. We consider, among other things:

• installations, pipework and equipment where charging, accumulation of charge and discharge may occur;
• areas and spaces with a gas or dust explosion hazard;
• liquids and solids used in the process;
• the rates at which substances are transported or processed;
• existing measures against electrostatic charging;
• measurements on the installation, with particular attention to the available equipotential bonding.

Using the collected information, the normative documents applicable to the situation, relevant reference sources and company information, we assess whether hazardous situations may arise from electrostatic charging, the accumulation of charge and discharge.