Non-sparking tools for working in places where sparks mean a potential danger of explosion. Where fire requires a special protection. Due to their magnetic features conventional steel tools are not suitable to be used in potentially explosive environments as explosive atmospheres or ignition sources can occur.
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For this reason Elora offers the “Non Sparking” product range which follows the ATEX guidelines 94/9/EG (“ATEX 95”) providing requirements for the use of equipment in potentially explosive environments. These guidelines form the basic regulations for the safety of employees during installation, operation and maintenance of potentially explosive facilities. Depending on their risk of explosion the ATEX guidelines distinguish six risk zones:
For areas that are potentially explosive due to flammable gases, vapors or mist, the following zones shall apply: For areas thar are potentially explosive due to combustible dusts, the following areas shall apply: Zone 0
Explosive atmospheres caused by mixtures of air and gases, vapours or mists are highly likely to occur and are present continuously, for long periods of time or frequently. Zone 20
Explosive atmospheres caused by mixtures of air and flammable dusts are highly likely to occur and are present continuously, for long periods of time or frequently Zone 1
Explosive atmospheres caused by mixtures of air and gases, vapours or mists are likely to occur. Zone 21
Explosive atmospheres caused by mixtures of air and flammable dusts are likely to occur. Zone 2
Explosive atmospheres caused by mixtures of air and gases, vapours or mists are unlikely to occur and if they do occur, do so infrequently and for a short period of time only. Zone 22
Explosive atmospheres caused by mixtures of air and flammable dusts are unlikely to occur and if they do occur, do so infrequently and for a short period of time only.
Non Sparking Tools ELORA Germany
Applications
Petrochemicals Fireworks Industry Mines Refineries Chemical Industry Defence Gas & Oil pipe lines Flour silos and mills Air Forces Power stations Breweries Navy Paint Manufacturing Alcohol processing industries Weapon & ammunition fabrication Plastic Manufacturing Destilleries Aerospace Industry Pharmaceutical Industry Fire-Fighters Automobile Industry
Non sparking tools are made of non-iron alloys (e.g. Beryllium-Copper or Aluminium – Bronze). These alloys are antimagnetic, non sparking and very corrosion-resistant. The chemical composition of the material as well as the way of heating, the accuracy of the casting moulds and a controlled solidification process determine the quality of the non sparking tools.
Property Application or Benefits Non-sparking Appropriate for explosive potential environments such as oil and gas works, petro-chemical plants. Non-magnetic safety Essential for equipments that require complete non-magnetic safety. Corrosion resistant Specially well suited for applications in corrosive environments like
encountered in marine works or fire-fighting applications. Forged after casting Provides higher mechanical properties and better finishing.
A sample for difference color
Technical properties
Aluminium-Bronze
(al-Br) alloy
Beryllium-Copper
(Be-Cu) alloy
Hardness 25-30HRc (229 ~ 291 Brinell) 35-40HRc (283~365 Brinell) Tensile Strength 782 N/mm² ~ 989 N/mm² N/mm² ~ N/mm² Extensibility ɗ > 5% ɗ > 1.0% Elasticity limit 450 ~ 550 N/mm² 840 ~ 880 N/mm² Magnetic 1.2 0
Advantages and Disadvantages
Aluminium-Bronze (al-Br) alloy Beryllium-Copper (Be-Cu) alloy Advantages
Non sparking
Explosion proof
Highly wear-resistant
Higher heat resistance than Beryllium-Copper
relatively light weight
More economic than Beryllium-Copper
Non sparking
Explosion proof
Highly wear-resistant
High hardness values
Relatively lightweight
Higher tensile strength than Aluminium-Bronze
Disadvantages
Lower tensile than Beryllium-Copper
Higher weight than Aluminium-Bronze
Non sparking tools are softer than usual tools.
The operation with these tools has to be carried out with accuracy and care.
Overstraining has to be prevented.
Only using non sparking tools as a protection measure in fi e endangered and explosion endangered areas is not enough. Please consider the instructions of local health and safety regulations for the protection of employees and accommodation.
Reworking:
Technical marking sheets are available on request for reworking (e.g. re-sharpen).
Chemical industries
Petro refine ies
Oil and gas carriages
Pipeline business
Drilling platforms
Fuel service (cleaning etc.)
Gas and electricity works
Varnishing
Federal armed forces, army
Civil defence and civil protection
Fire department
You can use it on all places where sparks create potential danger of explosion and fi e. For the activities which require the use (application) of a hundred percent non-magnetic and extremely rustproof tools.
Non sparking tools are softer than conventional tools so that they should be used with special caution and care. Overstraining is to be avoided. In case non sparking tools have to be reworked technical instructions can be provided on request. Please consider that the use of non sparking tools as a sole means of protection in explosive environments is not sufficient. For best possible protection of employers and equipment legal and corporate regulations have to be observed.
Do you need further non sparking tools that are not listed in our core range? Please do not hesitate to contact us.
Zone 0: An atmosphere were a mixture of air and flammable substances in form of gas, vapor or mist is present frequently, continuously or for long periods.
Zone 1: An atmosphere where a mixture of air and flammable substances in form of gas, vapor or mist is likely to occur in normal operation occasionally.
Zone 2: An atmosphere where a mixture of air and flammable substances in form of gas, vapor or mist is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does not occur, will persist for only a short period.
Zone 20: An atmosphere where a cloud of combustible dust in the air is present frequently, continuously or for long periods.
Zone 21: An atmosphere where a cloud of combustible dust in the air is likely to occur in normal operation occasionally.
Zone 22: An atmosphere where a cloud of combustible dust in the air is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for only a short period.
Inertization: The oxygen from the air becomes eliminated by the addition of inert gas (for example argon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide) so that an explosive atmosphere is avoided.
Explosion Atmosphere: Alloy of air and flammable gases, smokes, haze or dusts in atmospherical conditions, in which the combustion process passes on the hole unspent alloy after occurred combustion.
Explosive Area: Area, in which the atmosphere can be potentially explosive because of the local and operating relationship.
Normal Operation: Situation which takes place if the assets, protection systems and components reach their destined function within the scope of their design parameter
Use of non-sparking tools, their quality characteristics and the correct treatment As well as the basic questions of the spark safety, as the use, the quality characteristics and the treatment of non-sparking tools, the most different and partial mistaken ideas exist.
The most important aspects should be stressed in the following, to show also the non-professionals an applicable picture of the potential dangers and their correct abatement.These are only practical advices. The more complicated physical and technological questions can not be answered here.
1. Different mixtures can end in explosions, through sparks, which can occur by beating usual steel tools; including primarily mixtures of air and carbon disulfide, hydrogen, acetylene, ethylene oxide, carbonic oxide and hydrogene sulphide.
To work against the availability of such creations the development of flammable sparks has to be avoided in every case. The use of non-sparking tools is a very good measurement for this, but not the only one. It has to be amended through other wise precautions.
For more Non Sparking Tools Suppliersinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
Non-sparking tools, e.g. ENDRES-safety tools, are made of special alloys based of copper which do not make flammable sparks when beating or rubbing it. The tools are absolute sparkproof in all practical strains.
2. In very unfavourable circumstances also a non-sparking tool can produce indirectly flammable sparks. This is possible, if you are working on rusty steel surfaces . The danger becomes bigger as soon as a painting of aluminium is existent. The separation of spark building parts of metallic or mineral surfaces (e.g. cement) with a non-sparking tool happens the bigger the difference of the hardness between tool and treated material is.
The result is that non-sparking tools have to be made of less hard alloys; this demand finds its barrier in the using hardness of the different tool, which says that you can not surrender hardness by chisels; but a hammer, a wrench or a wrecking bar can be made of less hard material. So the guide lines for ENDRES-safety tools producing come to an agreement.
3. Because you can not switch-off the danger of explosion only by using non-sparking tools, you also have to make other precautions to achieve safety. First of all rusty or with light alloy
painted surfaces have to be sprinkled with a little bit of water or oil, if you did not abolished these rusts or paints before.
You have to look for good air ventilation in the room. Also the use of a working tent against external influences can also be practicable. Boxes, accessories and pipelines have to be filled with protective gas in every case.
You also have to pay attention to nothing falls down which can cause sparks; as a precaution you should sprinkle the floor. Also your working clothes should not have any steel parts, especially no cleats, steel of heel or something like this. To achieve the best safety all these point have to be considered.
4. It is a characteristic of non-sparking tools that the basic materials are more sensitive than those of steel tools. The use have to be more accurately and gentle than usually. If attritions appear it is convenient to check up the tool in time. Also every tool should be used only for that what it is made for.
So a chisel should not be used as wrecking bar and a usual wrench should not be used as striking wrench. ENDRES safety tools demand only small precautions by reworking. Regrinding should be made wet to avoid losing the hardness. Non-sparking tools made of copper-beryllium, e.g. spatulas, screwdrivers, pliers, etc. are not allowed to be grinded the same way as usual steel tools.
Heating above 250°C should be avoided as the using characteristic will be lost and the tool only has the hardness of copper, which means that it can not be used any more. Because of this these tools should be grinded only wet.
The wet grinding prevents the breathing of dust and smokes of copper-beryllium, which could cause sanitary problems. In usual use the tools made of copper-beryllium are not dangerous. An accurate consideration of all these advices advises for every user of non-sparking tools in their own interest because only then the biggest safety can be reached and a long life of the tools can be ensured.
Non-Sparking tools after treatment
To rework Endres Safety Tools correctly and with success you have to check first of which metal alloy the tool is made. Tools made of Special-Bronze are yellowish coloured (differences on the surface because of the atmosphere’s influence, chemicals and heatings are possible). Tools made of Copper-Beryllium are more reddish coloured and stamped with “CuBe” on the surface.
1. Endres Tools can be resharpen with forging, welding and with cutting remove. Those aftertreatments should be better done in our company because the tools have to get a hardness test or heat-treatment.
Forging usually happens between 785 °C and 900 °C; the best temperature for this is 880°C. These temperature limits have to be noticed exactly. The tools have to dry slowly in the air and not with deterring.
Welding on or welding for repair happens with the addition of same material.
Also by cutting remove no special precautionary measurements have to be kept. Therefore you can use the same tools and machines which you use for conventional tools made of steel. Regrind working should happen with very good colding (e.g. water).
2. Endres Tools made of CUBE should be resharpen with a lot of care. The smoke and the dust are toxic and carcinogenic. Also, copper loses its quality if it is heated up with too high temperature and could have only properties of usual copper if it is heated up too much. You have to cool down the material carefully and you should avoid to get a heating over 250°C.
If you always keep the material wet when you sharpen it, there will be no danger. If it is possible you always have to wear a dust-mask and gloves and you should avoid contact with skin and eye Another important point is, that CUBE, if it is overheated, can loose its alloying attributes!
After this its attributes would be the same like general copper!
a) Afterforging of tools made of CUBE can not be recommended, because forging needs to have longtime operating experience in additional softening treatment. Please ask us if forging is realizable in specific case
b) By machining, especially by forging, you have to cool down really carefully, and you have to avoid in every case heating over 250°C. The cutting tools have to have a chip angle of approx. 0°, as long as the treatment is done in hardened condition
Non-sparking tools are made of non-ferrous metals, which means they are iron-free alloys. Meaning they are also non-magnetic tools. These tools can be used when working on hospital equipment, such as MRI machines.
Everything You Need To Know About Non-Sparking Tools
What are non-sparking tools?
Non-sparking tools have two unique features. First, non-sparking tools, as their name suggests, do not produce sparks. This makes them perfect for work involving flammable conditions. The second unique feature is due to the fact that they do not contain iron. This type of tool is made of non-ferrous metals, which means they are iron-free alloys. Meaning they are also non-magnetic tools. These tools can be used when working on hospital equipment, such as MRI machines.
What are non-sparking tools made of?
These great tools are made of several different alloys.
● Aluminum-copper is a lightweight alternative to many of the heavier copper-based alloys. While not as strong as beryllium alloys, this alloy retains its properties.
● Plastic tools are not only at the top of everyone's must-have list, but they are definitely non-magnetic and they never spark.
●Beryllium copper is the strongest and hardest copper alloy, boasting a tensile strength of - MPa. Beryllium copper tools are a must for the toughest jobs.
●Bronze is electrically conductive but does not spark. These tools have a long history in mechanical engineering and combat and are an excellent addition to any toolbox.
●Brass tools are a bit more expensive, they are durable, and have an aesthetic sheen to them. These tools can be stained, but this does not diminish their quality.
What are non-sparking tools used for?
If you are a young professional craftsman or welder looking to build a practical tool kit for yourself, then non-sparking tools are essential. There are many projects that require you to work in highly flammable areas or on magnetic equipment that could yank tools from your hands. Safety should always come first when it comes to situations that endanger humans. Working with flammable materials or powerful magnetic equipment is stressful enough, even without the constant threat of explosion.
What is the most important thing to know about “non-sparking” tools?
Non-sparking tools also produce what are sometimes called "cold sparks". These cold sparks have very low heat and do not ignite carbon disulfide, which has the lowest ignition point of any substance known to man. Therefore, while "spark-free" tools reduce the risk of sparking, they do not eliminate the possibility of sparking. The name "non-sparking" is misleading because these tools are capable of producing sparks: the term "spark-reducing tools" better describes these tools.
Non-metals such as wood, leather and plastic are suitable for some tools, such as spatulas, scrapers or spoons, without the risk of frictional sparks.
Non-sparking tools provide fire and explosion protection in environments where there is concern about sparks igniting flammable solvents, vapors, liquids, dust or residues.
Follow these guidelines to reduce the risk of explosion and fire
1.Ensure that all "non-sparking" tools are kept clean and free of ferrous or other contaminants that could impede the non-sparking characteristics.
2.Select the proper size tool for the task (e.g., wrench opening to nut). Proper fit will help prevent the tool from slipping and reduce the chance of sparking.
3.Do not use non-sparking hand tools in direct contact with acetylene, which may form explosive acetylenes, especially in the presence of moisture.
4.Use local or mechanical ventilation systems, as appropriate, to remove hazardous materials, dust and vapors from the workplace.
5.Non-sparking tools require more frequent reconditioning. Normal safety procedures such as providing eye and face protection, adequate suction and dust collection facilities should be followed when grinding non-sparking tools.
Remember, there is no such thing as a truly non-sparking tool. On any job where flames are used or sparks are generated, make sure that an explosive atmosphere is not created. Such atmospheres include flammable vapor-air mixtures and organic dust clouds, such as flour or coal dust. Isolation, ventilation and decontamination are ways to ensure a safe working environment. Explosion meters are used in the workplace to protect people working in hazardous environments.
If you are interested in obtaining these tools, feel free to contact us for more information.
How To Use Non-Sparking Tools Safely?
Every professional working in the oil and gas sector knows the importance of having dedicated hand tools to reduce the risk of accidents in the workplace. The safety of workers is a major concern in every industry, which is why they choose fire-resistant tools and help to avoid fire and explosion situations.
Investing in sparkless tools may be the best way to ensure workplace safety.
Nonsparking tools, often also referred to as "spark reduction," "spark resistance," or "flame retardant," are used in working environments containing flammable gases, vapors, dust, residues, and liquids. They prevent sparks, thus eliminating the danger of fire and explosion.
Important advice: thoroughly clean all non-sparking tools after use and make sure they are free of any iron contaminants or rust that can damage the non-sparking properties of the tools.
Also, it is important not to use tools in direct contact with acetylene in the presence of main moisture, as this can lead to the formation of highly dangerous explosive acetals.
Also, don't forget to sharpen all flameproof tools regularly, following safety procedures such as protecting your face and eyes and using the appropriate tools to collect the powder.
Finally, it is vital that the site is ventilated to remove potentially harmful powders and vapors from the atmosphere.
There are some simple rules you can follow to ensure the persistence of the tool and minimize potential hazards in the workplace.
The sparkless insulated tool has unique characteristics that make it suitable for use in environments containing flammable materials. By helping them do their jobs safely, they make the jobs of professionals working in industries like oil refineries and coal mines easier.
Tools that are properly cleaned and protected from contamination will have a long service life, which will also reduce their non-sparking ability. When safety is required in industrial work environments, sparkless tools are preferred.
Workers make extensive use of non-sparking tools in areas prone to explosive and explosive hazards. Explosions usually occur as a result of flying sparks, and traditional steel hand tools are largely responsible for this danger. The use of steel hand tools usually causes friction. Sparks created by friction can cause a greater proportion of fires and explosions. As a result, the need for non-sparking tools has become increasingly important, leading to the wider use of hand tools made of non-ferrous materials.
The fact that hand tools made of non-ferrous materials can significantly reduce the risk of fire caused by sparks has led to an unprecedented demand for these non-sparking tools. Nonsparking tools are made of nonferrous materials such as alloys of copper, brass, bronze, nickel, beryllium, and aluminum. Hand tools with non-iron components are relatively soft compared to those containing iron.
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A) Ensure proper cleanliness: hand tools must be kept clean so that they do not accumulate dust and eventually rust on them. Rusty tools are more likely to cause sparks, which can cause unexpected fires and explosions.
B) Routine maintenance: Regular maintenance of tools can not only improve the service life of tools but also improve some efficiency.
C) Store hand tools in a well-ventilated space: It is essential to store hand tools in a cross-ventilated space so that the tools do not accumulate moisture and dust over a period of time. It has been observed that dust buildup in vulnerable environments can lead to unstable sparks and fires.
D) Carefully comply with the user manual: strictly comply with the user manual provided by the manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and pay for notes.
E) Crucial checks: Monitoring the environment proactively from time to time is another thing that can ensure that a potentially hazardous situation hasn’t developed.