PMV Training

What is EEHA? Challenges and Opportunities

What is EEHA? Challenges and Opportunities

Dec 22, 2021


blog

Oil and gas industry, chemical plants and mineral processing industry has an explosive environment that increases the risk of ignition.

Hazardous Area

Hazardous Area is an area in which an explosive atmosphere is present, or may be expected to be present, in quantities such as to require special precautions for the construction, installation and use of (equipment) potential ignition sources.

Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Area (EEHA)

Electrical equipment to be used in hazardous area, must undergo a strict design, manufacturing and testing as per to the AS/NZS/IEC Standards. It is type tested by an independent testing and certification agency and issue a Certificate of Conformity providing assurance to end user that the Ex Certified Equipment, is safe to install and operate in hazardous areas.

Hazardous Areas Classification (HAC)

HAC is a process that determines degree and the extent of hazardous area. HAC helps to select appropriate electrical equipment in areas at risk of flammable substances igniting from a spark. HAC plan and elevation drawings are key to determine types of electrical equipment is safe to install in Hazardous Area.

Typically, an electrical engineer working with the client develops HAC and an EEHA certified Electrician selects, installs, and maintains EEHA.

 

Ex Certification required for working in hazardous areas

ANZ and IECEx certification for the electrical equipment, provide confidence that a product meets the defined transparent criteria in AS/NZS or IEC 60079 series of Standards.
Australian standard AS/NZS 60079 is harmonised with IEC 60079, so that the national certificate of conformity (ANZEx) is accordingly fully aligned with the international certificate of conformity (IECEx). Equipment certified to IECEx can therefore be used almost without exception in Australia without the need for further testing or hazardous area approvals.

Scope for EEHA certified technicians and fields to work in Australia

The careers for certified technicians are financially rewarding and professionally satisfying, for those willing to up-skill and enhance their careers after a Hazardous Area Electrical training. The electrical industry is rapidly growing and will continue to produce the need for qualified professionals, with electrical and instrumentation technicians being amongst the highest-paid trade professionals. The key for industrial electricians to stay gainfully employed is to acquire skills and knowledge that will continue to be in demand during the plant operation phase i.e., Electrical equipment in hazardous areas, Instrumentation and Control, High Voltage Switching Operations and Battery Storage etc.

Hazardous Area Electrical training provided by PMV in Australia

PMV offers several professional development courses for electricians, electrical engineers, and instrument technicians who have a keen interest in developing their skills of designing, installing, maintaining, and inspecting equipment to prevent hazards in the industry.

PMV provides students with a career pathway in Hazardous Area to the highest vocational qualification in Australia- UEE61222 Advanced Diploma of Engineering – Explosion Protection.

These courses meet the expectations of students who want to make a financially rewarding career in EEHA as a subject matter expert (SME) in the industry.

UEE42622 Certificate IV in Hazardous Areas– EEHA course by PMV provides the opportunity to study and practice installation and inspection of equipment, classification of hazardous area, standards of processing in a hazardous area, breakdown and maintenance of equipment, and testing procedures for protective equipment. This course is funded in Western Australia.

Demand for EEHA technicians

The mineral processing, chemical, fertiliser and oil and gas industry offer a variety of career opportunities in Australia after completing the EEHA course. Electricians and instrument technicians are the most common attendees, but the electrical engineers training who perform inspections is also common, well-known for high salaries, chance to travel the world, as well as working with cutting-edge technologies.

For more information on the courses, please visit – https://www.pmv.net.au/