First IECEx Ex h Tank Ventilation Fans Manufactured in Australia
Earlier this year, Oceania Engineering Services (OES) became the first manufacturer in Australia to build an independently certified centrifugal tank ventilation fan to Ex h, the international standard covering non-electrical (mechanical) equipment used in explosive atmospheres.
The fans were manufactured in Perth under licence from our specialist UK industrial fan partner, Woodcock & Wilson (W&W). W&W was the first industrial fan manufacturer in the world to achieve IECEx certification for non-electrical fans and remains the only manufacturer offering both independently certified ATEX and IECEx fan systems. OES has brought that product into local manufacture through our longstanding partnership with W&W and the extension of our existing IECEx Quality Assessment Report to include manufacture of the Ex h fan range.
Under this arrangement, OES manufactures the fans in Perth using W&W’s certified design, drawings and manufacturing controls, within OES’s audited IECEx quality system. The original W&W design controls and quality requirements remain unchanged.
The first two fans manufactured in Perth were a TVF-575 and TVF-800, the smallest and largest models in the W&W Tank Ventilation Fan (TVF) range. Both have since been supplied for use on Prelude FLNG.
Bringing the W&W Fan Range into Australian Manufacture
The TVF-575 was initially produced to confirm that the W&W design could be manufactured locally in accordance with the applicable certified drawings, manufacturing controls and IECEx quality requirements. The completed fan was displayed at Energy Exchange Australia in March before being supplied to Prelude FLNG.
The TVF-800 was manufactured for the same asset for a non-standard 400V 60Hz electrical power supply. These two fans confirmed the local manufacturing process for both the smallest and largest fans in the TVF range.
Local manufacture gives Australian operators and project teams direct access to OES during equipment selection, manufacture, inspection and delivery, while retaining W&W’s established fan design and certification.
What Ex h Covers
Ex h applies to non-electrical equipment intended for use in explosive atmospheres under ISO/IEC 80079-36 and ISO/IEC 80079-37. For a fan, the potential ignition sources are mechanical rather than electrical and can include hot surfaces, friction, impact or static discharge.
The standards bring the relevant non-electrical protection methods under the Ex h marking. The specific protection method is defined in the certified documentation rather than being shown as a separate suffix in the equipment marking.
For the TVF-575 and TVF-800, the applicable protection method is constructional safety. The ignition hazard assessment and mechanical design address matters including bearing selection, running clearances, guarding, impeller construction and earthing.
Both fans are rated Zone 1, Ex h Gb IIB T4 and are covered by IECEx certificate SIR17.0076X. They are manufactured in 316L stainless steel for service in an extreme offshore environment.
Independent Certification and Design Compliance
An ignition hazard assessment can be used to demonstrate that a mechanical item has been designed with the relevant ignition risks in mind. Independent certification goes further by placing the design assessment and its supporting documentation within a third-party certification scheme, together with ongoing oversight of the manufacturer's quality system.
For operators and EPCs, independent certification provides verifiable evidence that the equipment has been assessed through a third-party certification scheme. ATEX allows manufacturers to self-certify non-electrical equipment for Category 2G (Zone 1) applications. IECEx does not allow self-certification.
The Broader Tank Vent Fan Range
The W&W Tank Vent Fan range includes models between the TVF-575 and TVF-800, as well as configurations intended for different gas groups and project requirements. Custom units can also be engineered to order.
A IIC option is available for hydrogen applications.
For Australian projects, W&W Ex h certified fans can now be manufactured in Perth under the OES IECEx quality system. The product remains a W&W design, manufactured under licence by OES for the local market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ex h certification mean for a fan
Ex h is the marking for non-electrical equipment assessed under ISO/IEC 80079-36 and ISO/IEC 80079-37 for use in explosive atmospheres. For a fan, the assessment addresses potential mechanical ignition sources and the design measures used to control them.
For more information on our IECEx certified fan solutions, please click here.
Who designed and certified the fans
Woodcock & Wilson designed the Tank Vent Fan range and holds the Ex h certification for the product. OES manufactures the fans in Perth under licence, using the W&W certified design and the manufacturing controls included within OES's audited IECEx quality system.
For more information on our industrial fan partner Woodcock & Wilson, please click here.
Why do the Australian manufactured fans carry IECEx but not ATEX
Primarily, ATEX is a European certification scheme and Australia does not formally recognise ATEX, particularly the non-electrical side. Where a project requires ATEX marking, the TVF’s will continue to be manufactured by Woodcock & Wilson in the UK.
Are TVF’s suitable for hydrogen applications
While the two fans described here are IIB rated for an oil, gas and marine application, a IIC option is available, still within IECEx certification.
Where are the fans manufactured
The fans described in this article were manufactured by OES in Perth, Western Australia, under licence from Woodcock & Wilson.
Discuss an IECEx Fan Requirement
OES can assist with selection and local manufacture of W&W Ex h fans for offshore, LNG and other hazardous area applications. The required duty, hazardous area classification, materials, power supply and certification basis should be confirmed for each project before a fan is selected.
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