01 Aug 2024

New Guide for Users of Ex-Rated Equipment

THE ASSOCIATION OF ELECTRICAL and Mechanical Trades (AEMT), which represents a membership of specialists in the repair, maintenance, and servicing of rotating electrical machinery and associated businesses, has published the latest in a series of guides for those working with electromechanical equipment.

The 'AEMT Introduction to Ex Repairs' has been designed to help users of Ex-rated equipment understand explosion protection techniques, the complexities of repairing Ex-rated equipment, and the critical roles of responsible personnel.

Initially created for member service centres to share with their customers to help educate and inform them on getting their ex-equipment repaired responsibly, the guide is freely available to download from the association's website (bit.ly/AEMTExRepairGuide).

The guide covers several areas related to the repair of Ex-rated equipment, including proper maintenance and repair techniques and the consequences of not carrying them out, as well as an introductory overview of key legislation and standards involved. Explosion protection techniques and some of the differences in design between Ex- and non-Ex-rated equipment are also explained.

From a repair perspective, the guide outlines the complexities of repairing Exrated equipment alongside key roles and responsibilities of both the equipment user and the repair technicians. It also covers the importance of documentation and traceability, including what needs to be recorded and for how long.

Finally, the guide explains the benefits of choosing a repair facility from the AEMT's Ex Register and outlines the requirements the repair facilities need to meet to be included on the register.

The 'AEMT Introduction to Ex Equipment Repairs' joins previous guides, 'The AEMT Guide to Minimising Downtime', 'The AEMT Guide to Minimising Total Cost of Ownership of Motors', and 'The AEMT Guide to Ecodesign Regulations for Electric Motors (2021)', all of which are available to download from the association's website at bit.ly/AEMTGuides