Biogas Safety first!

Annexes
Special measures to prevent
danger during work where
sparks are generated
The following certificate of competence is present
(e.g. welder’s certificate for welding work on gas pipes):
.............................................................................................................
Removal of flammable objects and materials, including dust deposits, within a radius of ...... m
(also in adjacent rooms = vapour-proof? Empty conduits, cable ducts, doors, ventilation ducts?)
Biogas removed from vulnerable areas?
Covering over at-risk flammable objects next to and beneath the workplace.
Safe sealing of openings, pipes and passages to adjacent at-risk areas and tanks
connected in the gas system.
Removal of potentially flammable cladding and insulation materials.
Establishment of equipotential bonding (antistatic set) and humidification.
CAUTION: Particular attention to be paid to small secondary fires caused by welding beads
and angle grinder sparks.
Elimination of risk of explosion in tanks and pipes by
inerting of pipes with N 2
or CO 2
?
Protective ventilation, active ventilation significantly below LEL
Fan output: .....................................................................m 3 /h
Space to be ventilated:.....................................................m 3 volume
Vent tube (spiral ventilation hose) ................................... m long
(distance from fresh air intake point to Ex zone/gas outlet point)
Venting/extraction of gases (only use explosion-protected/ATEX blowers, e.g. to be loaned from fire brigade)
Clearance measurement with a gas detector (e.g. multi-channel gas monitor) by an expert: battery charged,
checked and ready for operation, etc.?
Measurement of atmosphere in working area with adequate safety distance, e.g.
CH 4
< 0.5%; O 2
> 20%, CO 2
< 0.5%, H 2
S < 10 ppm, NH 3
< 5 ppm
Provision of a fire watch with extinguishing equipment.
First response equipment for
fighting incipient fires
Fire extinguishers (note: if possible keep several different extinguishing agents ready!)
water
foam
CO 2
ABC dry powder BC dry powder
water hose (connected) with spray nozzle?
Permission
The listed safety measures are to be implemented.
The relevant regulations on industrial safety and health, hazardous materials and accident prevention (in Germany:
BetrSichV, GefStoffV, TRGS 529 and DGUV) must be observed. In particular DGUV Regulation 113-001 (formerly BGR
117-1) applies to inspecting and working in tanks, digesters, pits, shafts and narrow spaces below ground level.
........................................... .......................................................................................... ..........................................................................
Date Signature of responsible employer/operator of biogas plant Signature of person carrying out the work
63