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Grounding control system

Electrostatic grounding is a basic and mandatory measure for protection against static electricity in explosion hazard zones.

applicable in explosion hazardous areas and are used to ground conductive elements of technological installations.

Technical solutions of electrostatic grounding allow the discharge of electrostatic charges from tank cars, railroad tank cars, IBC tanks, metal containers, drums, carts and other technological equipment (e.g. mixers) or their instrumentation components, which can become electrified and pose a serious danger. A selection of them monitor grounding status in real time.

There are two most important product groups:

  • systems designed for monitoring and ongoing control of grounding status,
  • grounding clamps (also known as clamps, pliers, pincers, earthing clamps, crocodiles) equipped with single- or two-wire cables – used for dissipation of electrostatic charges.

Electrostatic discharge is one of the potential ignition sources of explosive atmospheres. In view of this hazard should not be ignored by plant services and business owners. By implementing appropriate electrostatic safeguards, the following can be avoided or reduced among others:

  • the danger associated with the possibility of fire and/or explosion in the industrial facility or on its premises (which can occur enough when the energy of the electrostatic discharge reaches a value at least comparable to the minimum ignition energy of the flammable substance/agent (MEZ) occurring or likely to occur in the area),
  • disturbances in the course of ongoing technological processes affecting the quality of manufactured products products and resulting necessity of technological breaks generating additional costs,
  • mishaps endangering the health and life of plant personnel.
In view of the consequences of the above risks, the costs associated with the implementation of electrostatic protection are negligible.

Electrostatic protection (a.k.a. anti-electrostatic, anti-static) measures are designed to are aimed at eliminating hazards arising from the generation and accumulation of electrostatic charge. In particular, they should be implemented in enterprises where there are zones of danger of explosion and which, among other things:

  • implement processes such as, for example, batching, mixing, pouring, transferring products flammable,
  • receive explosive liquid substances or bulk materials (such as sugar, flour) via tanker trucks / dump trucks / railroad tank cars (processes of loading/unloading).
We cooperate with both industrial services (including health and safety, fire protection, technological departments representing the following industries: chemical, petrochemical, cosmetics, paints and varnishes, food, paper, energy, electronics or printing plants), as well as with designers of industrial facilities.

  • Protecting the health and lives of personnel during their duties by preventing accidents caused by electrostatic discharge phenomenon
  • Significant impact on the appropriate level of safety and working conditions
  • Protection of plant property by reducing the risk of ignition of flammable atmosphere as a result of the jump of an electrostatic spark electrostatic spark, the consequence of which can be a dramatic fire or explosion
  • Safety and reliability of processes carried out in the daily operation of enterprises industrial
  • Fulfillment of the obligation to implement protection against static electricity in potentially explosive atmospheres explosion, which results from the requirements of the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU, ATEX USERS 199/92/EC and current national regulations

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Grounding of the tank

The EKX-4 system is designed to secure unloading stations by monitoring the grounding status during the filling or emptying of road tankers in EX zones. The system has an object recognition function that calculates electrical capacity. If an incorrect connection of the grounding clamp or loss of grounding is detected, the system does not allow the process to start or continue.

A system dedicated to the controlled discharge of electrostatic charges from metal rail tank cars during unloading or loading with flammable materials, with a process lock function. Although rail tank cars stand on metal, grounded tracks, many of them have various types of insulators, such as non-conductive bearings.

The EKX-4 rail tank car grounding control system significantly minimizes the risk of sparks and subsequent fire/explosion in potentially explosive atmospheres and complies with the latest national and international regulations.

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EKX-4 2-POLE process installation grounding control system

The EKX-4 2-POLE conductive parts grounding monitoring system is designed for emptying and filling IBC tanks and metal drums/tanks, as well as for transferring, dosing, and mixing flammable substances.

The system's monitoring unit is equipped with appropriate contacts which, in the event of a lack of grounding, stop the technological process (the motor or pump is switched off) and activate a light and sound signal.

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Grounding control system for flexible BIG BAG EKX-FIBC bags

The EKX-FIBC system is designed to discharge electrical charges and monitor the grounding status of flexible Type C Big Bags during operations involving combustible dusts. The system is equipped with potential-free contacts that start the bag filling process or interrupt it if grounding is lost during filling.

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SEK3 marine tanker grounding control system

As with road and rail tankers, marine tankers carrying flammable products are exposed to the risk of fire/explosion during unloading and loading.

In order to minimize the risk of sparking that may occur during the connection of metal loading arms and fuel transfer, the SEK3 grounding control system has been specially designed for tankers.

Due to the extreme environmental conditions at unloading docks, the SEK3 system has a specially reinforced stainless steel housing with a high IP rating and a wide temperature range.

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EX grounding clamps

Certified grounding clamps (ATEX) are made of stainless steel and have sharp teeth that enable reliable dissipation of electrostatic charges even when there is heavy contamination (deposits) on the grounded elements. Clamps (also known as terminals, pliers, tongs, grounding clamps, crocodile clips) come in various sizes (length, clamp opening width).

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Grounding wires

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Timm Bite Smart LED battery-powered grounding control system

The revolutionary Timm Bite Smart LED allows you to quickly and easily check whether the grounding connection is completely safe in potentially hazardous areas.

The innovation of this device lies in its ability to be used in areas where, due to the lack of access to power, it is impossible to use a traditional grounding control system, or where a traditional solution is disadvantageous for economic reasons.

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