Lift & Engineering Services in co operation with International Lift Equipment were recently given an opportunity to develop a goods lift for the Petrol Chemical Industry, to meet the stringent Atex EU directive 94/9EC requirements and operational procedures, coupled with the design of lift configuration to suit the clients loading and unloading procedures.

The Atex directive was achieved by using intrinsically safe components that have inherently high safety levels, which prevents the power in any circuit from reaching impermissible high temperatures and causing ignition sparks or light arcs, which may have ignition capability and could create an explosion if hazardous gases or mixtures are present.

The lift design incorporates a four guided twin ram, reeved configuration with reinforced lift car walls and floor, all designed to withstand the horizontal forces imposed on the lift car and guides, when paletted chemical drums are manoeuvred in and out by the fork lift trucks.

On site engineers had to operate under a complex control procedure imposed by the petrol / chemical industry, these included specific permits to work and air monitoring before entering site. Throughout the project a safety engineer was positioned outside the lift shaft when our personnel were working in the lift shaft i.e. Atex deem the lift shaft as a confined working space.

Compliance with the Atex directive is a legal requirement since the 1st July 2003, and jointly Lift & Engineering Services Ltd and International Lift Equipment Ltd are capable of offering a product to meet this legislation.
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