Equipment Testing

At the GexCon test laboratories in Bergen and the large-scale test site at Sotra, facilities are available for gas- and dust explosion testing. These facilities are often used for the testing of equipment designed to either withstand the damage loading from gas and/or dust explosions or to protect against the consequences of such explosions. We also perform testing of non-electrical (i.e. mechanical) equipment that is intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Such testing of Ex-equipment is usually performed according to, but by no means limited to, the requirements and demands set by the European ATEX directive 94/9/EC and standards developed to support this directive.

Some examples of equipment tested at GexCon for their ability to withstand the effects of explosion loading:

• Blast walls
• Blast and fire doors
• Passive fire protection systems
• Pipe flange casings and valve protection casings
• Fire and blast resistant pipe penetration jackets
• Almost any device intended to survive and function during and/or after exposure to an explosion
• And many more

Examples of equipment used for the prevention and mitigation of explosions that has been and can be tested at GexCon:

• Explosion venting panels
• Explosion suppression systems
• Fire extinguishing systems
• Fast acting valves (as explosion isolation systems)
• Flame arresters
• Chemical barriers (as explosion isolation systems)
• Waterspray, deluge and water fogging systems

Examples of equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, that has been tested at GexCon:

• Surface treatment tools like grinders, cutters, and brushes
• Surface treatment techniques like sand-blasting and needle-picking
• Weld-cutters and drills
• Mixers and rotary agitators
• Pre-heating and pre-stressing equipment
• Hot-air guns and blowers

If you have any questions or would like advice concerning equipment testing at GexCon, please contact any of the following: