What is a good size for an explosion venting panel or an explosion vent panel?

Due to manufacturing costs, always try to make your vent size rectangular explosion panel not a round explosion panel, it’s cheaper.  If your vent calculation requires 1.4m2 of actual vent area, you should not request a vent that size 1m x 1.4m2!  Costing about 1,500 euro as a special plus a spare.  It is too big, expensive and will fatigue earlier.  Look at the smaller more frequently used sizes, e.g. 305 x 610mm= 0.18m2 <280 Euro, 586 x 920mm = 0.54m2 <370.00 Euro or 920 x 920mm. 0.84m2 < 580.00 Euro.  If you buy more of the smaller sizes you can get a bigger quantity discount and you can carry minimum spares across your total facility.

Contact Declan Barry for more information in Exploision Hazards.

Explosion Venting Panels versus Explosion Doors ; Pros and Cons?

A vent panel or a venting panel once it fires has to be thrown out; a vent door can be self reclosing probably requiring only new seals.  The explosion venting door once it closes will retard the ingress of oxygen to fan the fire but be aware it may require integrated vacuum breakers.  If you’re using a CO2 extinguishing agent to inert the fire especially on a silo, there is no point in using a vent panel as the agent will just be drawn out like a chimney, making the CO2 useless.  Cost versus intended purpose; always do a thorough risk assessment and ask your supplier.
If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me and I will be happy to respond.
Declan Barry.

Are explosion venting panels the cheapest way of achieving ATEX compliance?

If you are lucky enough to have placed your plant or process near a wall or safe venting area then a venting panel is the cheapest way to protect your plant.  For 300 to 500 euro plus a small short explosion duct you can protect your plant and comply with ATEX.  If you have located the equipment in the middle of a busy work place and you cannot use explosion prevention measures, then you may have to consider, Flameless venting, Explosion Suppression or Containment never forget the needs for Explosion isolation!