Static Survey Assessment
Static Survey Assessment
Enquire about Static Survey AssessmentMitigate the possible effects of an explosion and fire hazard in your workplace by eliminating the ignition hazard posed by static discharges.
Electrostatic discharges pose a significant ignition hazard when used with flammable substances (gas, vapour & dust) and can lead to fires and explosion.
Static discharges can also pose an occupational personnel hazard, lead to electronic component failure and manufacturing product problems.
Why you Should use CMSE Consulting to Manage your Static Generation Risk
By carrying out an a thorough inspection of your plant and measuring electrostatic surface voltage measurements, our consultants will identify the sources of static generation and potential deficiencies or lack of controls that may lead to static generation.
You will also receive a comprehensive report that will provide you with the details of:
- Assessing your existing static control measures (engineering & organisational)
- Reviewing the properties of the processes which may generate static
- Measuring potential static generation voltages and calculating hypothetical MIE’s
- Determining additional basis of safety that need to be implemented
- Recommendations and actions required to prevent static generation in your workplace
If you need help, assistance or interested in finding out more, please contact our Consultants; Gary Horgan garyhorgan@cmse.ie or Yolanda Gomez yolandagomez@cmse,ie for more information.
Defining Electrostatic Discharge
Electrostatic discharges is a generic term for sparks. All electrostatic sparks in air occur because the high potential (voltage) gradients across a charged surface is sufficiently high to ionise the air in its vicinity. This leads to a conducting path through the air across which the charge (spark) causing the potential gradient can transfer. Charge accumulation occurs when the rate of charge generation exceeds the rate of charge dissipation to earth. The hazard of charge accumulation usually increases with area volume.
Determining the Conditions Required for Static Electricity to be a Source of Ignition
- The rate of charge generation must exceed the rate of charge dissipation,
- The effective energy must exceed the minimum ignition energy of the flammable atmosphere,
- A static discharge must coincide with a flammable atmosphere,
- A locally ignited flame must propagate in to the surrounding flammable atmosphere.
Identifying the Types of Electrostatic Discharges
- Spark discharges occur between two ungrounded and charged conductors. Minimum Ignition energy (MIE) ~ 100 mJ
- Brush discharges occur between insulating material & conductor or two insulating. MIE < 3 – 4 mJ
- Propagating brush discharges occur between two insulators. Energy dissipated can be very high. MIE >1000 mJ – it will ignite most of flammable atmospheres
Determining What Exactly will be Measured
At each test location the following is measured and recorded with a calibrated handheld +/- 2Kv Ultra High Impedance Electrostatic Voltmeter:
- Polarity of static charge (positive or negative)
- Electrostatic surface voltage (volts)
- Max Voltage (volts)
- Min Voltage (volts)
- Ambient Temperature (°C)
- Relative humidity (%)