French firedamp mine equipment repair facility certification

Abstract

International audienceIn order to maintain the safety level of electrical equipment and diesel engines used in French coal mines susceptible to firedamp, INERIS and Charbonnages de France (CdF) have developed with the contribution of Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine a certification procedure for the workshops which repair such equipment. Due to the decreasing plan of CdF workers, the inadequacy of some manufacturers and the missing of some others, the use of external workshops for the repairing is more and more frequent. So, it is necessary for safety reasons to ensure that such repairs are conducted in optimal conditions. The aim of Saqr-ATEX certification is to ensure that the quality and the traceability of repaired equipment used in gassy coal mines give an equivalent safety level to the new equipment one. In order to be attractive for workshops, Saqr-ATEX is not only usable for ATEX coal mine equipment but also for ATEX equipment installed in every location where hazardous atmosphere could occur