Explosion proof industrial fans and ventilation equipment are a common need for hazardous duty environments. Many facilities may wonder if they need explosion proof fans and how they are made to reduce fire and explosion risks. We will explore these common questions and other information you should know about explosion proof industrial fans and blowers in this article.
Industrial Fans and Ventilation Systems for Hazardous Environments
Many industrial environments face challenges keeping their facilities safe. There are many potential hazards in industrial buildings. For instance, one issue many industries face is the risk of fires and explosions due to flammable or combustible materials. Some facilities have combustible dusts floating in the air, such as metal dust, coal dust, grain dust, plastic dust, or chemical dust. In other cases, substances may produce fumes or vapors that can also be combustible, such as hydrogen, ethylene, hydrocarbons, fuels, and solvents.
If your facility is classified as hazardous due to fire or explosion risks, then it’s important to choose the right industrial fans and ventilation equipment for the job. The equipment you choose can have a huge impact on safety in your facility. In fact, many codes, like those from the NFPA, require the use of spark resistant (explosion proof) fans and other ventilation equipment. This helps reduce the risks of fires and explosions if your facility deals with flammable or combustible materials.
When to Use Explosion Proof Industrial Fans and Ventilation Components
There are many types of facilities that may need explosion proof fans. They include:
- Grain storage and processing facilities
- Chemical production facilities
- Paint booths
- Paint and solvent storage facilities
- Ammunition storage and manufacturing facilities
- Oil refineries
- Fuel storage facilities
- Petrochemical facilities
- Food processing facilities
- Marine vessels
This is because these environments may have combustible materials in the air stream. The risk is that some industrial fans and ventilation equipment could potentially produce a spark, which can ignite these materials and lead to large fires or explosions. Therefore, any time that a spark from a fan might create major safety hazards due to combustible materials in your facility, you need explosion proof solutions.
Explosion proof industrial fans and ventilation equipment are actually known as spark resistant. They are designed and manufactured to avoid creating sparks. While they are typically more expensive, many industrial facilities require them due to their processes. Our ventilation specialists can help you determine whether you need explosion proof industrial ventilation equipment after a thorough consultation for your building.
How are Explosion Proof Industrial Fans Made?
Explosion proof or spark resistant fans are engineered and fabricated in ways that reduce the risk of creating sparks in the industrial ventilation system. There are several ways to achieve this. One of the first things fan manufacturers look at is the material. Ferrous metals like steel are more likely to produce a spark. Therefore, explosion proof industrial fans and ventilation equipment may use non-ferrous (no iron content) metals instead, such as aluminum, brass, or non-ferrous alloys.
In addition, another way to reduce the risk of sparks coming from industrial fans is to design the fan in a way that minimizes the risk of rotating components coming into contact with stationary components, since contact between stationary and moving components can be an ignition source.
Types of Spark Resistant Industrial Fans and Ventilation Construction
Depending on the methods used to reduce the risk of spark, explosion proof fans can fall into a few different categories. These categories are laid out by AMCA for spark resistant fan construction.
Type A spark resistant fans offer the most protection. These types of industrial fans use non-ferrous materials for all parts of the fan that come into contact with the air stream. Also, they use designs that prevent rotating components from colliding with stationary components.
Type B fans offer medium spark protection for your industrial fans and ventilation systems. These fans use an impeller made of non-ferrous metals and often feature a spark resistant rub ring. In addition, the fan design helps reduce the risk of contact between rotating and stationary components.
Type C offers the least spark resistance of the categories. This rating only requires that the fan’s design reduces the risk of rotating and stationary components from coming into contact with each other. Often, they use an aluminum rub ring to help keep the fan shaft and fan housing separate.
Using TEFC XP Motors for Fans
Of course, motors for industrial fans and ventilation equipment may also pose a spark hazard. In hazardous industrial facilities, it’s also important to consider the fan motor’s design and materials used. Our team often recommends fans with TEFC XP motors to help reduce fire and explosion risks in your facility. TEFC XP stands for totally enclosed, fan cooled, explosion proof. These motors don’t allow outside air inside the motor housing. However, in the event that there is a spark or explosion inside the motor, the motor enclosure is designed to contain the event without igniting flammable gases or particles surrounding the motor.
Selecting the right TEFC XP motor for an application means knowing the classification requirements for division, class, and groups. The division classification requires knowing if a flammable agent may be in the air surrounding the motor during normal or abnormal operating conditions. The class classification requires knowing if the flammable agent is a gas, particle or fiber. The group classification identifies the principal flammable agent that mat be present surrounding the motor.
Where to Get Explosion Proof Industrial Fans and Ventilation System Equipment
If you need explosion proof industrial fans and ventilation solutions, our team is here to help. Our ventilation specialists help create safe industrial ventilation systems. We create systems based on your facility, processes, and needs using products from trusted manufacturers. We are your trusted source for explosion proof fans and ventilation equipment.
Eldridge Fan Products
Our team uses industrial grade fans from Eldridge Fan with explosion proof options to help you create safe, successful environments for your facility. Eldridge Fan offers light duty, heavy duty, and marine duty fans to provide safe, cost-effective ventilation and cooling. All fans are built using over 75 years of knowledge and expertise and tested with the latest technologies.
Industrial Ventilation System Solutions from Eldridge – Creating Successful Environments Since 1946
Our team at Eldridge creates successful environments for people, processes, and products. We offer solutions for ventilation, cooling, and noise control for industrial ventilation systems for a wide range of industries. Our experts use years of knowledge and experience for ventilation design. We also use the latest software and technologies to custom design industrial ventilation systems ideal for your needs. We use products from top names in the industry for your ventilation system needs. Shop for panel fans and exhaust ventilators through our website today or reach out to request a quote for ventilation system design, installation, or maintenance.