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Author: Veress Árpád · Explosion-protection expertDAILY Ex - 14 OCTOBER 2026
Today's focus: Explosion protection during cleaning, maintenance and changing operating conditions. A newly published international Ex standard for mining machinery, two European technical events beginning today, and recent research into battery-recycling hazards lead this edition. Today's Operational Ex message: A cleaning or maintenance activity can introduce hazards that were not present during normal production.
⚡ DAILY Ex - 14 OCTOBER 2026
Explosion Protection | Operational Ex | Global Watch
Today's focus: Explosion protection during cleaning, maintenance and changing operating conditions.
A newly published international Ex standard for mining machinery, two European technical events beginning today, and recent research into battery-recycling hazards lead this edition.
Today's Operational Ex message: A cleaning or maintenance activity can introduce hazards that were not present during normal production.
▶️ 1. NEW ISO/IEC 80079-38:2026 - MINING MACHINERY
NEW STANDARD | International - 2 October 2026
The International Electrotechnical Commission has published ISO/IEC 80079-38:2026, Edition 2.0.
The standard addresses explosion-protection requirements for Group I equipment and machinery assemblies used in underground mines.
It covers equipment with EPL Ma and Mb and supplements IEC 60079-0.
The new edition replaces the 2016 publication.
Why it matters operationally
Mining machinery combines electrical and non-electrical ignition hazards.
Motors, transmissions, bearings, braking systems, hydraulics and mechanical interfaces must be considered together.
A certified electrical component does not establish the explosion protection of the complete machine.
Management action: Review the new edition when specifying, purchasing or modifying underground mining machinery.
https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/79914
▶️ 2. COLOGNE - CAN WATER BECOME AN IGNITION HAZARD?
CURRENT EVENT | Germany - 14 October
The European Process Safety Centre technical meeting begins today in Cologne.
One particularly interesting presentation is titled:
“Water as an ignition source: explosion during high pressure cleaning.”
The programme also addresses LPG pressure-relief events, rupture discs and explosion protection for small production units.
Why it matters operationally
Water is normally associated with cleaning and firefighting.
However, high-pressure cleaning can introduce electrostatic, mechanical, chemical and process-related hazards, depending on the equipment and substances involved.
The specific mechanism behind the conference case has not yet been established from the published programme.
Operational lesson: Cleaning methods must be included in the ignition-hazard assessment.
▶️ 3. POLAND - EXPLOSION PROTECTION AT SYMAS
CURRENT EVENT | 14–15 October
The SYMAS and Maintenance exhibitions begin today in Kraków.
RSBP is presenting industrial fire and explosion-protection technologies.
Its portfolio includes active explosion suppression and isolation systems for interconnected processing equipment.
Why it matters operationally
Consider a dust collector connected to several production machines.
An explosion inside the collector may propagate through the ductwork unless effective isolation is provided.
Explosion venting or suppression protects equipment. Explosion isolation helps prevent propagation.
Both functions must be assessed for the actual installation.
https://www.rsbp.cz/en/general-information
▶️ 4. USA - FATAL COKE OVEN EXPLOSION INVESTIGATION
DOCUMENTED INCIDENT LEARNING | Final report: 10 August 2026
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board published its final investigation into the August 2025 explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works in Pennsylvania.
Two workers died.
The investigation resulted in recommendations addressing pressurized-water valve cleaning, equipment siting, process-safety governance and procedures for cleaning equipment containing flammable gases.
The CSB's public register currently lists seven recommendations as open.
Why it matters operationally
Maintenance activities must be assessed against the actual process conditions.
Cleaning procedure → isolation → pressure control → material compatibility → ignition hazards → competent authorisation.
The fact that an activity has been performed successfully before does not establish that it is safe.
https://www.csb.gov/united-states-steel-corporation-clairton-plant-coke-oven-explosion-/
▶️ 5. RESEARCH - BATTERY RECYCLING AND BLACK MASS
RECENT RESEARCH | USA - September 2026
Researchers at Michigan Technological University investigated hazardous emissions from burning lithium-ion battery black mass.
Their study, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, found that higher battery states of charge increased particulate emissions.
Metallic contamination also intensified ignition and increased aerosol concentrations.
The experiments involved black mass produced from charged batteries and ignition initiated by water contact. Digital Commons
Why it matters operationally
Battery-recycling facilities must consider more than conventional combustible-dust explosions.
Material reactivity, residual energy, toxic emissions and fire escalation can interact.
Engineering lesson: A dust-handling system designed for conventional powders cannot automatically be assumed suitable for battery black mass.
https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p2/2809/
▶️ 6. ATEX / IECEx - KEEP CERTIFICATION AND LEGAL REQUIREMENTS SEPARATE
REGULATORY WATCH | European Union
The European Commission's harmonized-standards framework for Directive 2014/34/EU has a consolidated version dated 1 October 2026.
This remains the relevant legal reference for identifying standards that provide a presumption of conformity under the EU ATEX equipment framework.
A newly published IEC standard does not automatically become an EU harmonized standard.
Why it matters operationally
For international procurement, distinguish:
IEC publication → IECEx certification basis → EU harmonisation → national market requirements → installation acceptance.
These are connected but different questions.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2022/1668/2026-05-05/ces
▶️ 7. OPERATIONAL Ex USE CASE - HIGH-PRESSURE CLEANING
PRACTICAL |
A chemical-processing vessel requires cleaning.
Maintenance introduces a high-pressure water-cleaning system.
The vessel is isolated from production.
The cleaning equipment operates correctly.
But has the complete hazard assessment been reviewed?
Potential concerns include residual flammable substances, incompatible chemicals, electrostatic charging, unexpected pressure and inadequate isolation.
Before authorising the work: Verify the cleaning method, material compatibility, isolation arrangements, atmospheric conditions, equipment suitability and competence of the personnel.
Operational lesson: Equipment that is safe during production may present different hazards during cleaning.
▶️ 8. COMPETENCE & INSPECTION - WHO VERIFIES THE PROTECTION?
GOOD ENGINEERING PRACTICE |
An explosion-isolation system has been maintained.
A detector has been replaced.
A suppression container has been serviced.
The equipment is returned to operation.
But who verifies that the complete protective function remains available?
Maintenance completion is not necessarily functional verification.
The required acceptance process should follow the manufacturer's instructions, applicable standards and the site's documented protection-system requirements.
▶️ TODAY'S Ex QUESTION
“Which maintenance or cleaning activities introduce ignition hazards that are absent during normal production?”
Select one critical machine.
Review its normal operating conditions, cleaning procedure, maintenance activities and return-to-service requirements.
Then ask:
Has each operating mode been included in the explosion-protection assessment?
Are the necessary controls documented?
Who verifies their effectiveness?
Who authorises the machine to return to operation?
DAILY Ex | CLOSING THOUGHT
Explosion protection is often designed around normal production.
But the most demanding conditions may occur when production stops.
Cleaning, maintenance, repair and restart can introduce different substances, equipment, personnel and ignition sources.
Operational Ex must cover every relevant operating condition—not only the one for which the production line was originally designed.
The Head of Operations owns the responsibility for ensuring those conditions are controlled.