Electrostatic charging is in many cases directly associated with industrial processes. It inevitably occurs and can cause fires and explosions. The decisive factor in the assessment of hazards caused by electrostatic charging is the probability of local and temporal coincidence of explosive atmospheres and dangerously high charges. Such a coincidence is most likely when the handling of a product leads both to dangerously high charging and to the formation of an explosive atmosphere. This applies in particular to the handling of non-conductive, flammable liquids such as hydrocarbons or other solvents or non-conductive flammable bulk materials. Examples of fires and explosions caused by static electricity as a source of ignition range from filling a canister with petrol to pneumatically transferring a combustible bulk material to a large silo. Other typical examples of accidents are the filling of dryers with solvent-moist product, the emptying of centrifuges and the emptying of flammable bulk materials from flexible bulk material containers (FIBC).

How can these ignition sources be avoided?

Ignitable discharges can be avoided by grounding all conductive parts. However, experience shows that the safe earthing of all conductive parts is not always as easy in practice as it sounds. A system weighing tons can be permanently and reliably connected to the equipotential bonding and thus earthed. But mobile objects, which must be grounded again and again by the personnel, represent a high danger potential, because often the application of the grounding clamp is forgotten or from comfort or time pressure simply not made. For this reason, good staff training and easily available, reliable technical equipment are essential. FOSBA supplies these devices, earthing cables, earthing clamps and earthing rollers.