Explosion protected trucks have now changed – what’s new?

From November 2017, the way explosion protected forklifts, pallet trucks, reach trucks and other materials handling equipment are built has changed due to the EN1755:2015* update. 

Dave Waring, product manager for safety company Pyroban says: “The technical requirements have increased to an even higher level of safety and it affects ongoing maintenance requirements.”

It has taken Pyroban almost two years and significant investment to create new solutions and update products to ensure they comply with the new standard and achieve ATEX 2014/34/EU** compliance.

“In particular, safety related controls need to meet the latest functional safety requirements in all Zones,” adds Dave. “For example, we have achieved this on system6000, our gas detection solution for Zone 2, through PLc in accordance with EN ISO 13849-1***. This is now an important factor to consider when specifying an explosion protection conversion on a lift truck.”

New requirements include changes to plastic seats, tyres, enclosure design, assessment and Ex protection of mechanical components and sub-systems (pumps, drives, transmissions) among others.

For concise information about the key changes, download Pyroban’s EN1755:2015 white papers which details how this will affect suppliers and users alike.

*ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres

**EN1755 - ‘Safety of industrial trucks. Operation in potentially explosive atmospheres. Use in flammable gas, vapour, mist and dust’

***EN ISO 13849-1 - Safety of machinery -- Safety-related parts of control systems -- Part 1: General principles for design