This European Technical Report applies to bucket elevators that may handle combustible products capable of producing potentially explosive atmospheres of dust or powder inside the bucket elevator during its operation. The precautions to control ignition sources will also be relevant where the product in the bucket elevator creates a fire risk but not an explosion risk.
For the purposes of this report, a bucket elevator is defined as an item of bulk material handling equipment that carries material in powder form or as coarse products such as whole grain, wood chips or flakes, in a vertical direction by means of a continuous movement of open containers.
This Technical Report specifies the principles of and guidance for fire and explosion prevention and explosion protection for bucket elevators.
Prevention is based on the avoidance of effective ignition sources, either by the elimination of ignition sources or the detection of ignition sources.
Explosion protection is based on the application of explosion venting, explosion suppression or explosion containment and explosion isolation rules specifically adapted for bucket elevators. These specific rules may be based on agreed test methods.
This European Technical Report does not apply to products that do not require atmospheric oxygen for combustion.