.svg)
.jpg)
The Explosion Protection Document (EPD) is a regulatory requirement for all companies exposed to risks associated with the formation of explosive atmospheres (ATEX).
Regulatory context
DRPCE was initially introduced by Directive 1999/92/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of December 16, 1999 on minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres. It was subsequently transposed into French law by Decree no. 2002-1553 of December 24, 2002.
Today, the regulatory requirements for the DRPCE are mainly contained in articles R.4227-52 to R.4227-54 of the French Labor Code.
Bonds
As a reminder, the employer must identify and assess the risks present in the company, including those linked to the formation of explosive atmospheres.
The results of this assessment must be recorded in the DRPCE and incorporated into the DUERP (document unique d'évaluation des risques professionnels).
The employer takes the necessary measures to ensure safe working conditions. To this end, the employer must prevent the formation of ATEX. If, due to the nature of the activity, the formation of ATEX cannot be prevented, measures must be taken to avoid their ignition, and to mitigate the harmful effects of the explosion. These measures must be detailed in the DRPCE.
The contents of the DRPCE are laid down in regulations and must include :
- Identification and assessment of exposure risks ;
- Description of technical and organizational measures to eliminate the risk of ATEX occurring or, if it does occur, to limit its effects;
- Description and classification of ATEX zones;
- The procedures and rules by which workplaces and equipment (including alarm systems) are designed, used and maintained to ensure the safety of workers and installations (maintenance plan, inspections, safety instructions, etc.);
- The list of work performed in accordance with written instructions from the employer, or subject to the issue of a work permit, or performed by an authorized person;
- The aim, measures and implementation procedures for the general coordination of ATEX risk prevention measures when workers from several companies are present in the same workplace.
This document, and in particular the procedures to be applied and the written instructions for risk prevention, must be drawn up before any work is carried out in the areas concerned, and updated whenever there is a significant change in premises, equipment or work organization. Preventive measures must be adapted to each specific situation.
As with the Single Risk Assessment Document, employee representatives are consulted on the DRPCE and its updates.
The approach
The DRPCE is a central element of explosion risk management. It brings together your entire ATEX risk prevention approach, providing a comprehensive overview of your risk analysis and the measures in place.
It is based on a thorough understanding of the processes, substances and equipment at risk, and the control measures to be implemented.
The following steps can be taken:
- Make an inventory of the combustible products stored/used according to their state (liquid, gaseous...), their quantity, as well as their characteristics (flash point, explosive limit, granulometry...);
- Evaluate the risks of ATEX generation from these combustible products in normal operation or in the event of an anomaly (this means establishing foreseeable malfunction scenarios for equipment at risk);
- Establish ATEX zoning based on the table below;
- Identify possible sources of ignition (including electrostatic discharge);
- Assess the extent of the foreseeable consequences of an explosion.
- Identify, implement and monitor preventive measures to reduce the probability of ATEX and ignition sources (including worker training and risk signage);
The DRPCE can be drawn up in-house or with the help of external expertise.
When regularly updated, the DRPCE can be used to monitor the action plan for matching electrical and non-electrical equipment.
To find out more about drawing up a DRPCE and managing ATEX risks :
- Non-binding guide to good practice Directive 1999/92/EC "ATEX" (explosive atmospheres) https://op.europa.eu/fr/publication-detail/-/publication/c23f5429-1632-4b61-9eb1-a6c0e60828e0
- ED 945 : Implementation of regulations concerning explosive atmospheres (Atex) Methodological guide https://www.inrs.fr/media.html?refINRS=ED%20945