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Author: Veress Árpád · Explosion-protection expertDAILY Ex - 11 NOVEMBER 2026
TODAY'S FOCUS: When the conditions change, does the protection still work? A new EU ATEX harmonisation decision, a fire at an Iranian offshore gas platform, a fatal maintenance incident in India and an attack affecting a major Russian export port lead today's edition. For Heads of Operations: Explosion protection must address more than equipment certification. It must remain effective during maintenance, utility failures, external damage and changes to the installation.
⚡ DAILY Ex | 11 NOVEMBER 2026
Explosion Protection | Operational Ex | Global Watch
TODAY'S FOCUS: When the conditions change, does the protection still work?
A new EU ATEX harmonisation decision, a fire at an Iranian offshore gas platform, a fatal maintenance incident in India and an attack affecting a major Russian export port lead today's edition.
For Heads of Operations: Explosion protection must address more than equipment certification. It must remain effective during maintenance, utility failures, external damage and changes to the installation.
⚖️ 1. EUROPE | New ATEX harmonised standard published for Ex n equipment
NEW REGULATORY DEVELOPMENT - 10 November 2026
The European Commission has published Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2480, updating the harmonised standards supporting ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU.
The decision introduces the reference to EN IEC 60079-15:2019 together with amendment A11:2026, covering equipment protection by type of protection 'n'.
The previous EN 60079-15:2010 reference is scheduled for withdrawal from the harmonised list on 10 May 2028.
Until then, the relevant presumption-of-conformity arrangements continue during the transition period. https://www.lovguiden.dk/en/det-offentlige/eur-lex-eu-tidende/2026-11-10-eu-adopts-new-harmonised-standard-for-ex-equipment-with-protection-type-n
Why it matters operationally: Manufacturers and certification bodies must review the applicable standard editions, technical documentation and conformity-assessment basis.
For existing installations, publication of a new harmonised standard does not automatically require replacement of previously compliant equipment.
Management action: Update the ATEX standards register and review new equipment specifications, certification projects and product modifications.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/2480/oj/eng
🔴 2. IRAN | Fire at South Pars offshore gas platform
CURRENT INCIDENT - 10 November 2026
A fire occurred at a platform in Iran's South Pars gas field.
According to Reuters, citing Iran's Fars news agency, the fire was contained.
The affected platform reportedly produces approximately 14.5 million cubic metres of gas daily.
The cause remains under investigation. A gas leak or operational incident was among the possibilities being considered, but neither was confirmed as the initiating mechanism.
Why it matters operationally: Offshore installations depend on coordinated gas detection, emergency shutdown, isolation, depressurisation and fire-protection arrangements.
Management action: Verify that emergency isolation and shutdown functions remain effective during loss of utilities or damage to process equipment.
https://www.reuters.com/world/fire-contained-irans-south-pars-gas-platform-fars-says-2026-11-10/
🔴 3. INDIA | Three maintenance workers die during tank inspection
CURRENT INCIDENT — Reported 10 November 2026
Three contract workers died while inspecting an external nano-filtration tank at an effluent-treatment facility serving a Tata Electronics factory in Hosur, Tamil Nadu.
Local authorities reported that the workers inhaled gas.
The treatment facility was operated by https://www.ecolab.com/nalco-water, part of https://www.ecolab.com/.
Investigations are underway. The precise gas composition and exposure circumstances were not established in the initial report. Reuters
Why it matters operationally: Tank inspection and maintenance can expose workers to toxic, oxygen-deficient or potentially flammable atmospheres.
This is a reported fatal gas-exposure incident, not a confirmed explosion.
Management action: Review confined-space classification, atmospheric testing, isolation, ventilation, permit-to-work arrangements and contractor supervision.
🔴 4. RUSSIA | Drone attack causes fire at major export port
CURRENT INCIDENT - 11 November 2026
A reported drone attack caused a fire in the port area of Ust-Luga, a major Baltic Sea export hub handling oil, petroleum products and other commodities.
Regional authorities reported three injured workers and damage affecting electrical infrastructure.
Reuters noted that the governor's account could not immediately be independently verified.
Why it matters operationally: External damage can simultaneously affect process containment, electrical power, communications and emergency response.
Engineering lesson: Hazardous-area installations must be assessed for credible loss-of-utility and emergency conditions, including the possibility of common-cause failures.
📘 5. IECEx | Inspection competence and certification scope
CERTIFICATION PRACTICE
The IECEx operates separate schemes for equipment certification, personnel competence and service facilities.
These certifications are not interchangeable.
For example, an IECEx-certified service facility must operate within its defined scope. Certification does not automatically authorise every type of Ex inspection, maintenance or repair.
Why it matters operationally: Contractor approval must be based on the work actually performed, the applicable protection concepts and demonstrated personnel competence.
Management action: Check certification scope, competence, procedures and technical release documentation before authorising Ex work.
🔬 6. RESEARCH | Using incident data to identify dust-explosion weaknesses
2026 RESEARCH - NOT BREAKING NEWS
A study published in Digital Chemical Engineering in March 2026 examined how data analytics can identify recurring contributors to combustible-dust explosions.
The researchers combined natural-language processing, self-organising maps and Bayesian networks to analyse incident reports.
The work identified important safety drivers, including ignition-source control, inherently safer design, process-safety management and safeguard effectiveness. https://tlooto.com/paper/149824360605
Why it matters operationally: Repeated minor defects may indicate a developing systemic weakness even before a major incident occurs.
Management action: Analyse inspection findings, near misses and maintenance records collectively—not only as individual defects.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dche.2026.100298
📅 7. UK | Hazards 36: Barrier assurance and emerging technologies
UPCOMING EVENT - 17–19 November 2026
Hazards 36 takes place next week in Manchester.
The programme includes more than 100 technical presentations covering barrier management, battery energy storage, hydrogen, ammonia, carbon capture, digitalisation and lessons from major accidents. https://www.icheme.org/training-events/hazards-process-safety-conference/
Why it matters operationally: Emerging technologies introduce operating conditions that may not be adequately addressed by existing process-safety assumptions.
Management action: Identify where new technologies require updated ignition-source assessments, protective functions or operating procedures.
https://icheme-images.azureedge.net/training-events/hazards-process-safety-conference/programme/
▶️ OPERATIONAL Ex USE CASE
THE SOLVENT TRANSFER PUMP - WHEN THE SEAL-FLUSH SYSTEM FAILS
PRACTICAL | Illustrative scenario
A chemical facility transfers flammable solvent using a centrifugal pump.
The pump has an Ex-certified motor and a mechanical sealing arrangement designed to prevent excessive leakage and frictional heating.
A dedicated seal-flush system maintains the required operating conditions.
During production, the seal-flush flow decreases.
The pump continues operating normally.
There is no visible leakage.
The motor temperature remains acceptable.
Can production continue?
Not automatically.
Reduced seal-flush flow may cause inadequate lubrication, increased frictional heating or accelerated seal deterioration.
Depending on the seal design and process conditions, these failures may introduce an effective mechanical ignition source or lead to a flammable release.
The Ex motor certificate does not establish the suitability of the complete pumping arrangement under seal-flush failure conditions.
Required decision: Engineering must determine whether the seal-flush system is a safety-critical part of the explosion-protection arrangement.
Where its performance is necessary to prevent an effective ignition source, the required minimum flow, monitoring, response time and protective action must be established.
Owner: Maintenance Manager, supported by Mechanical Engineering, Process Engineering and the Ex Responsible Person.
Required evidence: Seal manufacturer's operating limits, mechanical ignition-source assessment, seal-flush design basis, monitoring and shutdown requirements, and verification records.
STOP criterion: Do not continue operation where the conditions required for safe seal performance cannot be demonstrated.
Performance measure: 100% of safety-critical seal-support failures investigated and resolved before return to service.
▶️ TODAY'S CRITICAL Ex QUESTION
A centrifugal pump transferring flammable solvent has an Ex-certified motor. Its mechanical seal requires continuous flushing to control frictional heating. The flush flow decreases below the manufacturer's minimum. What is the correct Ex decision?
A. Continue because the motor remains Ex-certified.
B. Continue until visible leakage occurs.
C. Initiate the specified protective response and verify the mechanical ignition risk before continued operation.
D. Increase pump speed to restore seal circulation.
Correct answer: C.
A mechanical seal may become an effective ignition source before visible leakage or motor overheating occurs.
The complete pumping arrangement must remain within its assessed operating conditions.
⚡ DAILY Ex | CLOSING THOUGHT
Today's developments highlight three different challenges.
A new harmonised standard changes the technical framework used to demonstrate equipment conformity.
Industrial incidents demonstrate how maintenance, external damage and utility failures can challenge operating safety.
And everyday machinery depends on supporting systems that may be essential to maintaining explosion protection.
For Heads of Operations, the critical question is not simply whether the equipment is certified. It is whether the complete installation remains protected when something changes or fails.
A certified motor does not protect a failing mechanical seal.
A gas detector does not guarantee isolation.
An inspection report does not replace competent engineering judgement.
Explosion protection must work under the conditions in which the installation actually operates-not only under the conditions originally assumed.
That is Operational Ex.