ADOPTION OF A NEW STANDARD FOR CLASSIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVE ZONES AND THE NEED TO AMEND THE TECHNICAL REGULATIONS ON FIRE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
Authors: Карпов С.В. , Литвак А.М. 
Published: June 2024

Прекращено применение ГОСТ 30852.9–2002, не рассматривавшего взрывоопасную зону вокруг открытого огня и раскаленных поверхностей. В ГОСТ 31610.10-1–2022 введено понятие «зона NE», предполагающее наличие незначительной скорости утечки или пренебрежимо малое количество утечки, благодаря чему классификация «зоны NE» соответствует уровню невзрывозащищенного оборудования. Однако в Федеральный закон «Технический регламент о требованиях пожарной безопасности» от 22 июля 2008 г. № 123-ФЗ это понятие не введено, что вызывает вопрос, как в настоящее время обеспечивать соответствие классификации взрывоопасной зоны уровню взрывозащиты невзрывозащищенного газоиспользующего оборудования (например, газотурбинного двигателя с раскаленными поверхностями). В настоящей статье обращается внимание специалистов на необходимость введения в Федеральный закон от 22 июля 2008 г. № 123-ФЗ понятия «зона незначительной протяженности» для классификации зон в помещениях с невзрывозащищенным газоиспользующим оборудованием.

Federal Law 123-FZ dated July 22, 2008 "Technical Regulations on Fire Safety Requirements" took into account the requirements of GOST 30852.9-2002 for the classification of explosive zones in terms of the fact that they allow not to be considered as an explosive zone around an open fire and incandescent surfaces of equipment (leakage parameters are not taken into account). The State Standard GOST 30852.9-2002 has been terminated since July 1, 2023, and there has been enforced a new State Standard GOST 31610.10-1-2022 on classification of explosive zones, which is conceptually different in that it contains a new concept of “zone of insignificant extent” (NE zone). The NE zone assumes a low leakage rate or a very small amount of leakage, so that non-explosion-proof equipment can be used in the premise with it. At the same time, GOST 31610.10-1-2022 there is no requirement not to refer to explosive zones, areas near open flames and incandescent surfaces of technological equipment. The article sets the task to identify the physical essence of the concept of an explosive NE zone according to GOST 31610.10-1-2022, to assess its impact on the design of an automatic gas pollution control system. As an example, the classification of the zones in the premises of a gas turbine gas pumping unit with non-explosion-proof gas-powered equipment protected by gas analyzers of combustible gases is considered: - gas burners with an open flame; - gas turbine engines with hot surfaces. Based on the results of the analysis, the article provides recommendations that after the termination of GOST 30852.9-2002, it is necessary to: - change the design of the automatic gas pollution control system to limit leaks in a premise with a non-explosion-proof gas turbine engine; - make appropriate changes to the mandatory "Technical Regulations on Fire Safety Requirements", in connection with the adoption of the new GOST applied on a voluntary basis 31610.10-1-2022 (also including the concept of a “zone of insignificant extent” in the technical regulations). The absence of the concept of "NE zone" in "Technical Regulations on Fire Safety Requirements" raises the question of how, from 07 January 2023, to ensure the correspondence of hazardous areas classification to the explosion protection level for premises protected by combustible gas analysers with non-explosion-proof (e.g. due to open flames or glowing surfaces) gas-powered equipment.