We have prepared a comparative analysis of some brands of explosion protection system manufacturers. The information is current as of July 2023.
Classification of explosion protection devices
Equipment to prevent an explosion and minimise its effects is divided into two types:
- Active explosion protection. Its devices are equipped with early explosion detection sensors - optical and pressure detectors. These transmit a signal of an incipient accident to the control controller, which in turn gives the command to activate the protection.
- Passive explosion protection. The devices are triggered by the mechanical effect of the explosion energy - usually overpressure.
The systems are also classified according to the method of technical explosion protection. There are four main types.
Explosion Resistant Containment. This is a method of passive protection whereby production equipment is designed to maintain its integrity when exposed to overpressure.
Machines and devices for operation in explosive atmospheres in the territory of the EAEU countries are certified according to the technical regulation TR TS 012 / 2011. ATEX standards are applied in the EU. According to these documents, explosion-protected equipment is labelled with the Ex symbol. The letter d denotes a flameproof enclosure.
Explosion suppression. This is a method of active explosion protection where an increase in pressure or temperature results in the release of an explosion suppressing agent - water, powder, gas. Examples of devices: HRD cylinders, HRD systems.
Explosion cut-off. This method uses a barrier that prevents flames and shock waves from spreading to adjacent process equipment. Explosion cut-off devices can be active or passive. Examples: valves, HRD systems.
Explosion release (explosion dischargers). This is a method of passive explosion protection in which overpressure and flames are vented to the environment to prevent the equipment envelope from being destroyed. Examples of devices: panels, doors, flame arrestors.
We will compare devices of three explosion protection methods without an explosion-resistant enclosure. Our aim is to show you the offers on the market for the existing operating conditions. The topic of design and construction of a hazardous facility should be treated separately.
Main brands for comparison
We have selected five industry leaders whose products are well-known in the European market.
STIF
French company established in 1984. Produces explosion valves, explosion discharge panels, flame arrestors, hazard monitoring systems.
STIF supplies more than 60 countries:
- metal and plastic elevator buckets
- lift belts
- safety components for bucket elevator
- compression couplings for pneumatic conveyor systems
- pipeline system for gravity flow
- hatches and inspection doors
- pressure/vacuum safety valves for silos
- explosion protection equipment
The company declares loading and unloading equipment as its speciality.
Adix Ingeniería S.L.U.
Spanish company established more than 20 years ago. Specialised in explosion prevention and explosion protection in the sectors:
- agrarian;
- food;
- chemical;
- pharmaceutical;
- petrochemical;
- electric power;
- woodworking.
Adix manufactures explosion discharge panels, plemegasifiers, chemical explosion suppression and explosion isolation systems, explosion isolation valves, and explosion isolation panels. The company also provides engineering services.
REMBE
The German manufacturer has been in business since 1973. It has eight subsidiaries and a wide international network of official distributors worldwide. The product catalogue includes:
- rupture discs;
- HRD systems;
- HRD barriers;
- flameless explosion venting devices;
- explosion venting doors and panels;
- valves;
- gate valves;
- controllers;
- grounding devices for protection against static electricity;
- detectors
REMBE not only applies the ATEX standards, but as a leading European manufacturer is also involved in their discussion and development.
Fike
Fike Corporation was founded in 1945. The main production is located in the USA, but factories are also located in Wales, Belgium and Canada. The company has representative offices in Dubai, UAE and Malaysia.
The corporation specialises in fire and explosion protection products. In 1955, it patented a rupture disk and in 1973 a remote-controlled fire extinguishing apparatus.
The catalogue includes:
- explosion venting panels;
- HRD systems;
- HRD barriers;
- flameless explosion venting devices;
- explosion venting panels;
- flap valves;
- electronics for explosion detection and control systems;
- spark detection and suppression system.
Fike Corporation has its own testing laboratories.
RSBP spol. s r.o.
The Czech company RSBP spol. s r.o. has been operating since 1992 and specialises in explosion and fire protection of industrial equipment.
The catalogue includes:
- HRD systems;
- HRD barriers;
- explosion venting doors and panels;
- gate valves;
- check valves for explosion localization;
- comprehensive protection of bucket elevators.
RSBP has its own test site where it tests all its products. In addition, the company provides engineering services and trains personnel in the field of explosion protection.
IEP Technologies
American manufacturer. Since 1956, the company has been dedicated to improving safety in the process industries.
The product catalogue includes:
- HRD system;
- explosive discharge panels;
- flame arrestors;
- return and non-return explosion localization valves;
- detectors
VST Engineering
Czech engineering company VST has been providing services in the field of dust explosion prevention and protection of industrial equipment against dust explosions since 1997.
The following explosion protection systems are available in the company's catalogue:
- unidirectional and bidirectional valves (ANTIDIDET Dumper)
- HRD Barrier and HRD System (ANTIDET Barrier)
- explosion venting membranes (ANTIDET Relief);
- flameless explosion venting devices (ANTIDET FQ Relief)
Parameters for comparison
We have selected the main characteristics of explosion protection devices that reflect their performance properties:
- dimensions and geometry (shapes), so that you can assess compatibility with your equipment;
- material of construction — affects the service life and cost of the device;
- Kst is the explosion hazard index of combustible dusts and the main parameter that reflects the explosion protection class of the equipment;
- operating conditions are outdoor temperatures, pressure, type of dust;
- certification according to European standards — shows according to which regulatory requirements the safety of the explosion protection device has been confirmed;
- additional options — these are separate "chips" from the manufacturer, which favourably distinguish its products from similar devices.
All comparisons of these parameters are notional, but will help you to better orientate yourself in the market. The specific explosion protection device is selected according to the prevailing operating conditions.
Comparison tables of explosion protection equipment from different brands
Here are the benchmarking data for the four types of devices.
Table 1. Explosion discharge panels
| Comparison parameter | STIF (VIGILEX range) | Adix (BCP, BCD, BRD, BRH, BRP, BRS, BTP) | REMBE (EGV, EDP, ODV, ODU) | Fike (EXV range) | RSBP | IEP Technologies (GE, KE, GT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geometry (shapes) | 6 species: rectangular; flat and domed | 7 species: rectangular, round, trapezoidal; flat and domed | 6 species: rectangular, round; flat and dome-shaped | 5 species: rectangular, round; flat and dome-shaped; there are separate solutions for the food and pharmaceutical industry, bucket elevators | 6 species: (5 panels + 1 door): rectangular, round; flat and dome-shaped; there's a three-layer version | 4 species: rectangular, round; flat and dome-shaped |
| Material | panel - stainless steel; gaskets - silicone, graphite | stainless steel panel gaskets - silicone, rubber, ceramic | panel - stainless steel; gaskets - EPDM, silicone, foam rubber | - | panel - stainless steel; gaskets - EPDM, silicone, Teflon | panel - stainless steel; gaskets - EPDM, silicone, klinger, ceramic |
| Operating conditions (temperatures; rarefied or overpressurised) | -40°С +80°С; 50 mbar; 200 mbar; 200-500 mbar; 150 mbar | -25°С +60°С; 20-500 mbar | -40°С +180°С; low to full vacuum; cyclic pressure; high pressure | -20°С +60°С; variants for cyclic pressure and vibration available | operating temperatures up to 240°C there are variants for sparse or high pressure, cyclic pressure | -40 °C +120 °C can be set to a Pstat level of up to 0.5 bar even at elevated process temperatures. |
| Additional options | Bacteriological barrier; rupture sensors; thermal insulation; discharge duct; high-temperature silicone and graphite gaskets | Magnetic explosion detectors; break signalling cable; silicone, rubber, ceramic gaskets | EGV HYP insulated ventilation panel for food and pharmaceutical industries | Mechanical overload protection; integrated top frame for easy mounting | Opening indicator; intrinsic safety relay; thermal insulation | Rupture sensors, thermal insulation, mounting frames |
| Certification according to European standards | Ex II GD; EN 14 491; EN 14 994; EN 14 797; EN 1127.1; EU certificate: INERIS 15ATEX0001X | EN 14 797:2006 EN 14 994:2007 | EC type examination certificate No FSA 04 ATEX 1538 X | NFPA68; EN 14 797 | EN 14 797 2014/34/EU | The products comply with EU ATEX standards (2014/34/EU) and meet FM, OSHA, NFPA 654 and NFPA 69 requirements. |
Table 2. Flameless explosion venting devices
| Comparison parameter | STIF (VIGIFLAM VQ range) | Adix | REMBE (Q-Box, Q-Rohr) | Fike (FlameQuench) | RSBP (FLEX) | IEP Technologies (IV8) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions, mm | 170×470; 270×458; 300×500; 305×610; 350×650; 490×590; 610×610; 457×890; 586×920; 645×1130; 920×920; 1130×1130 | 350х244×280; 496х552х583; 880х578х603; 1000х1050х1083; 537х415х468; 670х615х652; 1000х716х745 | Diameter: ø200 mm to ø800 mm; individually up to 1400 mm 305 x 610; 586 x 920; 180 x 420; 205 x 610 | For the FlameQuench™ II range: 330×597; 483×667; 565×800; 635×902; 724×902; 826×1467; 984×2191; 1175×2242; 1264×2242 | Diameter: ø300 mm to ø800 mm; 225×675×265; 305×625×335; 390×710×420; 390×710×635; 540×890×900; 666×1000×1130; 996×1198×1660; 315×580×485; 315×879×633; 445×1075×633; 505×1286×705; 625×1385×1020; 815×2215×1020 | 586x920 (23x36) 457x890 (18x35) 350x890 (14x35) 305x610 (13x24) 979x990x1023 (38x39x40) 824x806x993 (32x32x39) 686x648x993 (27x25x39) 659x608x712 (26x24x28) |
| Geometry (shapes) | Curved, radius on request; flat ventilation panels | Parallelepiped; additional shapes and sizes on request | Cylindrical; curved; spherical | Curved; flat panel; cylindrical | Curved; flat panel; cylindrical | Cylindrical |
| Material | Coated mild steel body; mesh - stainless steel; panel - stainless steel with silicone gasket | Low carbon steel, stainless steel or aluminium | Stainless steel or steel | Stainless steel | Stainless steel | Stainless steel, EPDM or silicone, Coated carbon steel |
| Kst | ≤ 500 | ≤ 250 | ≤ 400 | ≤ 300 | ≤ 300 | ≤200 |
| Operating conditions | Pred ≤ 0,5-2,3 bar Pmax ≤ 10 bar Pstat ≤ 0,1-0,5 bar | Pred ≤ 0,5 bar Pmax ≤ 10 bar | Pred ≤ 0,1-2 bar Pstat ≤ 0,1-0,5 bar Pmax ≤ 9 bar | Pred ≤ 1 bar | Pred max ≤ 1,9 bar | Pred, max 1.2/1.5 bar Pstat 0.10 bar +/- 10% Pmax ≤9.9 bar |
| Additional options | Rupture sensor included; protective cover; pressure sensor on request | Process flanges; spare set of screens | Sound attenuating filter; connection flanges; integrated signalling unit | - | Protective cover; intrinsically safe relay | Protective cover |
Table 3: Explosion-Pressure Valves
| Comparison parameter | STIF (VigiFLAP) | Adix (NOVEx range) | REMBE (Q-Flap RX™) | Fike (DFI) | RSBP (B-FLAP I) | IEP Technologies (IsoFlap) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kst | up to 250 | up to 440 | up to 300 | up to 479 | - | up to 300 |
| ATEX labelling | II D; zone 20 | Ex D | St1 и St2 | II D | St 3 | St1 и St2 |
| Dimensions | Diameter: from ø160 mm to ø800 mm; minimum installation distance 3-7.2 m | Diameter: from ø71 mm to ø1000 mm; minimum installation distance 3-13 m | Diameter: from ø140 mm to ø1000 mm | Diameter: from ø100 mm to ø800 mm | Diameter: from ø100 mm to ø800 mm | Diameter: from ø100 mm to ø1000 mm; minimum mounting distance 1.5-5.6 m |
| Operating conditions (temperatures; pressure; maximum dust concentration) | Organic, synthetic and metallic dusts with unrestricted concentrations; working pressure up to 500 mbar; operating vacuum up to -800 mbar; -30 °C to + 70 °C | Organic and metallic dust with concentration < 500 g/m3; -20 °C to + 80 °C | Organic and metallic dust with concentration < 100 g/m3; -20 °C to + 80 °C | Organic and metal dust | All types of dust, including dust with low MIE and MIT values | All kinds of dust |
| Installation features | horizontally or vertically | horizontally or vertically | horizontally | - | horizontally or vertically | horizontally |
| Additional options | Sensors indicating closure in case of explosion or overpressure | Wear sensors; proximity sensors; dust layer detector | Integration of monitoring function to extend the service interval | - | Inductive position switch; flap surface contamination signalling; J-Box (terminal block); intrinsically safe relay; mating flanges | - |
Table 4. Explosion protection systems HRD
| Comparison parameter | STIF | Adix | REMBE (Q-Bic) | Fike | RSBP | IEP Technologies (eSUPPRESSOR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type of explosion suppression (chemical or water) | - | Chemical - sodium bicarbonate | Chemical - environmentally friendly QXP™ extinguishing powder | Chemical - fire extinguishing powder. Suitable for the food industry | Chemical and water | Chemical |
| Kst | - | up to 250 | - | - | - | - |
| Labelling | - | Ex D | Ex II 1/- D Ex II 1/2 D | - | St 3 | Ex D |
| Certification according to European standards | - | EN 14 373:2005 | Certificate of Verification type ATEX EC No GEX 19 ATEX 1002 X | NFPA69 EN 14 373 | EN 14 373 | SIL2 certificate; Certificate of Verification ATEX type: EPS 18 ATEX 1 187 X |
| Additional options (locking; special geometry nozzles, etc.) | - | Accessories for installation: hoses, cylinder holders | Hygienic mounting material; special SJX™ nozzle system for optimum distribution of extinguishing powder | Standard, telescopic and short stroke nozzles for better distribution of extinguishing powder. HRD Lockout Assembly prevents accidental discharge during cleaning or maintenance | Nozzles with special geometry (flare atomisation) | Temperature compensated cylinder pressure control; Can be installed on existing IEP flanges and can be replaced by all members of the IEP family; Built-in LEDs to indicate the status of the suppressor |
Bottom line
As can be seen from the tables, there is no absolute leader in the market for explosion protection devices. Each manufacturer has its own strengths that distinguish it from the others.
Experts determine which explosion protection system is suitable for your production site in the project documentation, after studying the conditions at the specific plant. The principle "the most expensive = the best" does not work in this area.