Posted to News on 18th Oct 2006, 16:21
Fenner's Ex-rated products now available from Wyko
Fenner gearboxes and gearmotors have recently been awarded certification by Baseefa for use in ATEX Zones 1 and 2 (gas) and Zones 21 and 22 (Dust) atmospheres, allowing Wyko to provide off-the-shelf drive systems to customers in the processing, offshore and other industries where Ex certification is required.
Fenaflex couplings and spacer assemblies have also been certified for use in ATEX Zones 1 and 2, thereby removing the danger of igniting or re-igniting explosive gas atmospheres. Engineers can now source drives for designing pumping and other process systems that meet EU ATEX 94/9/EC CE marking requirements without entire assemblies requiring new certification, thereby saving both time and expense on projects.
Both the popular M, C and F series of Fenner standard gearboxes, and the new high-efficiency K series gearmotors are all now Ex compliant. Baseefa certification allows them to be used in Group II environments ('surface equipment operating in potentially explosive atmospheres'). ATEX Group II covers Zones 1 and 2 created by flammable gases, vapours or mists, and Zones 21 and 22 for dust atmospheres, making them suitable for use in pump sets and other drive systems across a broad range of hazardous processing industries.
All units are supplied with CE Mark, name and location of the manufacturer, designation of series or type, serial number, year of manufacture, Ex symbol and equipment group/category. ATEX 94/9/EC (also known as ATEX 95 or ATEX 100A) and the need for CE marking are enforced in all EC member states. Compliance is compulsory for designers, manufacturers and suppliers of electrical or non-electrical equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres created by the presence of flammable gases, vapours, mists or dusts.
Providing an essential link between motor/gearbox and pump, Fenaflex tyre couplings and spacer couplings are also now available with ATEX approval for use in Zone 1 and 2 potentially explosive atmospheres. Reducing vibration and providing protection from shock loads, the latest Fenaflex tyre couplings feature FRAS (Fire Resistant Anti-Static) rubber tyres, which avoid the build up of static electricity that could be a source of ignition; they are made of fire-resistant rubber that prevents re-ignition.
Both units can be fixed using the Fenner Taper Lock bush system that is also ATEX approved for this application, providing secure mounting and long-term easy disassembly. The units are currently used in literally hundreds of thousands of pump sets in chemical and petrochemical processes, which still account for the majority of ATEX applications.
Fenner products are available from both independent stockists and at any one of the 170 Wyko branches located throughout the UK.
