As a certified partner, Spike Electric Controls is committed to decreasing lead times on C-UL & UL hazardous location products from 6-8 weeks (an industry standard) down to 2-3 weeks.
HOUSTON OCTOBER 28, 2020
Spike Electric Controls announces it has completed the requirements to become an ATEX & IECEx manufacturer equipment or protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. After an extensive yearlong process of audits, ISO 9001:2015 process audits, & training through DEKRA can now apply the ATEX or IECEx label to hazardous location electrical equipment. This is an expansion on the UL & C-UL hazardous location certifications that Spike Electric holds.
This was announced officially October 1st, 2020 and is expected to be in full operation January 1st 2020.
What this offers to the industrial electrical market is a business model that has never been created before. Offers substantial value creation potential within Spike, including growth opportunities to be leveraged from coupling Eaton Crouse-Hinds enclosures & other hazardous location products. Having the largest Eaton Crouse Hinds ECP enclosure inventory in the United States along with these certifications will bring a change to the hazardous location electrical market that it has never seen before.
Typical lead times on C-UL & UL hazardous location products that industry standard take 6-8 weeks are now being shipped in 2-3 weeks.
Drilling and tapping Crouse-Hinds ECP & EJB custom control panels for ATEX, IECEx, UL, & C-UL must be done by competent personnel. Due to Eaton’s extensive audits from the United Kingdom Spike has successfully trained its personnel to install, inspect, & maintain all certifications. Spike engineering team has been fully trained on how to design these hazardous location motor control solutions. There are not many companies in North America that can produce this type of equipment the major companies are multi-billion dollar corporations.
This is unique partnership that Spike has cultivated with Eaton Crouse Hinds to produce ATEX & IECEx motor control solutions that a C-UL & UL (underwriters’ lavatories) mark can be applied to in the Canadian & US markets.
What is ATEX?
ATEX is an acronym for ATmospheres EXplosible. This means hazardous, or potentially explosive, environments of various categories, both gaseous (petrochemical mainly) and dusty such as flour mills, saw mills and some food processing plants. The ATEX directives consists of two EU directives describing the minimum safety requirements of the workplace and equipment used in explosive atmosphere. ATEX derives its name from “Appareils destinés à être utilisés en ATmosphères EXplosives” (French for Equipment intended for use in EXplosive ATmospheres). (Wikipedia)
What is IECEx?
IECEx is the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres. It uses quality assessment specifications that are based on International Standards prepared by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). (iceq.org)
Evaluation and Testing:
Ordinary Location/Safe Area Requirements – Certification for risks associated with shock, fire and personal injury.
Hazardous Location/Explosion Protection Requirements – Certification based on area classification and explosion protection methods for either Division or Zone installations. A Hazardous Locations Certified product must comply with both ordinary location and hazardous locations requirements in accordance with U.S. UL and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and CAN Standards.
Production Control:
In accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Standards Council of Canada (SCC) regulations, four production inspections per year at a minimum.
What is a Hazardous Location?
Location where explosion or fire hazards exist due to the presence of flammable gases, flammable or combustible liquid-produced vapors, combustible dusts, or ignitable fibers or flyings.
How Are Hazardous Areas Classified?
Area Classification – Hazardous Locations are classified by the likelihood of an ignitable concentration of combustible material being present. There are two systems in place, including the traditional North American Division system as well as the alternative Zone system.
Hazardous location motor control systems Includes flammable gases, flammable liquid-produced vapors, and combustible liquid-produced vapors. Zone System Electrical Equipment Protection Techniques (Equipment Protection Levels) USA (UL Mark) Canada (CUL Mark) IECEx System Europe (ATEX).
Explosive Gas Atmospheres Class I Division System Includes flammable gases, flammable liquid-produced vapors, and combust
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Area Classification
Division 1: Where ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, vapors or liquids can exist all of the time or some of the time under normal operating conditions
Zone 0: Where ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, vapors or liquids are present continuously or for long periods of time under normal operating conditions.
Zone 1: Where ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, vapors or liquids are likely to exist under normal operating conditions
Division 2: Where ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, vapors or liquids are not likely to exist under normal operating conditions.
Zone 2: Where ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, vapors or liquids are not likely to exist under normal operating conditions.
Groups
Division 1 and 2:
A acetylene
B hydrogen
C ethylene
D propane
Zone 0, 1 and 2:
IIC acetylene & hydrogen
IIB+H2 hydrogen
IIB ethylene
IIA propane
Temperature Classifications
Division 1 and 2: Zone 0, 1 and 2:
T1 ≤450°C T1 ≤450°C
T2 ≤300°C T2 ≤300°C
T2A ≤280°C _
T2B ≤260°C _
T2C ≤230°C _
T2D ≤215°C _
T3 ≤200°C T3 ≤200°C
T3A ≤180°C _
T3B ≤165°C _
T3C ≤160°C _
T4 ≤135°C T4 ≤135°C
T4A ≤120°C _
T5 ≤100°C T5 ≤100°C
T6 ≤ 85°C T6 ≤ 85°C
Division System Electrical Equipment Protection Techniques
Div. 1 Area
Protection Techniques USA Canada
- Intrinsic safety UL 913 CSA 157
- Explosionproof UL 1203 CSA 30
- Purged/pressurized (Type X or Y) NFPA 496 NFPA 496
- Any Class I, Zone 0 technique See Zone 0 technique See Zone 0 technique
Div. 2 Area
Protection Techniques USA Canada
- Hermetically-sealed ISA 12.12.01 CSA 213
- Nonincendive ISA 12.12.01 CSA 213
- Non-sparking ISA 12.12.01 CSA 213
- Purged/pressurized (Type Z) NFPA 496 NFPA 496
- Sealed ISA 12.12.01 CSA 213
- Any Class I, Division 1 technique See above See above
- Any Class I, Zone 0, 1 or 2 technique See Zone technique See Zone technique
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About Spike Electric:
Spike Electric provides the quickest delivery of the highest quality manufactured electric gear. That means you get:
- Two-Week Turnarounds (or faster) on Most Orders
- High Quality Manufacturing
- A Manufacturing Partner for Years to Come
- High Quality Customer Service
How does that translate into value for you? That’s simple. Working with Spike Electric Controls means:
- Reduced Downtime
- Less Overtime for Your Staff
- Greater Operational Efficiencies
To find out more about our products, you can visit the following pages:
The highest quality at the quickest speed.
Spike can deliver the same name-brand electrical gear in a fraction of the time.
Why Choose A Spike Electric Product
Spike Electric provides the quickest delivery of the highest quality manufactured electric gear. We interact with our customers with high-quality customer service. That means you get:
- Two-Week Turnarounds (or faster) on Most Orders
- High Quality Manufacturing
- A Manufacturing Parter for Years to Come
- High Quality Customer Service
How does that translate into value for you? That’s simple.
Working with Spike Electric Controls means:
- Reduced Downtime
- Less Overtime for Your Staff
- Greater Operational Efficiencies
