Pyroban has advised that the explosion proof modification of a forklift truck should have the written approval of the original truck manufacturer in order to comply with international standards and best practice
“The current edition of ISO 3691-1:2011, transposed into European standards in 2012, clearly states that with regards to safety, unauthorised truck modification is not permitted and that no alterations should be made without the prior written approval of the original truck manufacturer,” confirms Steve Noakes from Pyroban.
“There is a planned update to the EN version of the standard which appears to “soften” this requirement due to a challenge regarding anti-competitiveness. However, the underlying principle to control the process of modifying fork trucks for special applications should still be taken seriously.
This is particularly important when trucks are modified to meet the ATEX Directive, as the overall of the truck could be affected by the significant wiring changes, additional weight and changes to the control systems required in the conversion. It means that whilst a forklift may comply with ATEX or other Ex standards, it may not comply with this international standard, unless there is written consent from the original truck manufacturer. There may be a significant safety impact introduced by the modification which the Ex conversion company had not considered”
Pyroban has focused significant resource on gaining approval from all leading manufacturers of materials handling equipment to carry out explosion proof modifications. The company has agreements in place with OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) for the conversion work undertaken and has many standardised explosion proof forklift designs already approved with a number of leading brands based on their latest technologies.
“We have processes in place to ensure conformity and are regularly audited in all our factories by truck manufacturers,” says Steve. “The risks are too great to do it any other way. I believe the safety risks associated with operating equipment in potentially explosive atmosphere demands tight control over how fork trucks are modified; the requirement to obtain written OEM approval is a key element to this control.”
Explosion proof conversions typically involve re-engineering the truck so that there are no sources of ignition from, for example, arcing and sparking components, hot surfaces or even static from the seat. A multitude of potential ignition sources found on a standard forklift could cause an explosion in a hazardous area.
“No forklift manufacturer should agree to a complex modification without a complete understanding of how the alteration will be made, the processes that will be followed to ensure the final conversion meets the OEM expectations, and also the level of support available after the converted truck is in service.”
For more information about Pyroban visit www.pyroban.com, tel: +44(0)1273 456800.
