DSEAR Verification | Explosion Safety Experts
Achieve Compliance and a Safe Workplace for New Facilities and Processes
DSEAR Regulation 7(4) requires that, before a workplace containing hazardous areas is used for the first time, its overall explosion safety must be verified by someone who is competent in the field of explosion protection as a result of their experience and/or professional training.
This usually takes place around the commissioning stage of a facility or process, but engaging with an expert at the beginning and throughout the project will mean costly issues and delays can be avoided. Our practical DSEAR experience makes us well placed to assist you in making sure your workplace is safe to operate by providing a pragmatic route to a safe and compliant start-up of your facility.
What is DSEAR Verification?
A DSEAR Verification (or DSEAR Verification of Overall Explosion Safety) is a legal requirement under Regulation 7(4) of DSEAR which must be performed before an installation is used for the first time. It applies to any installation where explosive atmospheres may be present. It’s purpose is as a final check on a process to ensure that hazards have been appropriately identified and mitigated to allow its safe operation, and that the facility can operate in line with the requirements of DSEAR.
DSEAR verification should be performed by someone, or a team, who are competent in the field of explosion safety. There is no qualification for DSEAR competency - there are many training courses available which give a high-level understanding, but will usually not allow someone to be able to conduct suitable DSEAR assessments or verifications. It is typically experience which determines competency in this area. It should be noted that the relevance of the experience to your process matters - someone who can verify a food and drink process may not be suited to verify a chemical plant, and vice versa.
A lot of verification activities will be carried out as part of normal commissioning processes. For example: measuring that actual ventilation flowrates meet or exceed the design specifications, testing that equipment is leak tight before introducing hazardous materials, performing an earth continuity check across the plant, etc. Where DSEAR verification differs is that it is focused on the fire and explosion safety aspects - this is where the Basis of Safety (BoS) is key. A clearly defined basis of safety allows the safeguards and mitigation measures put in place to control process hazards can be assessed. For example, if the basis of safety is control of ignition sources, then it will be critical to review the following documents to ensure the hazards have been controlled:
Hazardous Area Classification (HAC) - verifying that this has been conducted in line with recognised standards and/or guidance, suitable HAC drawings have been produced, and that all dangerous substances present have been considered
DSEAR Risk Assessment - verifying that ignition sources have been properly assessed, typically in line with EN 1127-1
ATEX Equipment Register - verify that all ATEX equipment has been suitably selected for the materials present and hazardous zones classified. Learn more about ATEX equipment selection here
ATEX Equipment Initial Inspection - verify that the ATEX equipment has been inspected by a competent person in line with the requirements of the manufacturer and EN 60079-14 / EN 60079-17
Earth Continuity Testing Records - verify that all equipment has been suitably earthed and tested
Procedural Controls - verify that suitable Permit to Work (PTW) or Safe Systems of Work (SSOW) are in place for non-routine tasks
Emergency Response Plans - verify that a suitable emergency response plan is in place which is in line with the requirements of Regulation 9 of DSEAR
Competency Records - verify that the personnel who have designed, installed, and commissioned the plant have suitable competency (e.g. check that ATEX equipment installers hold current CompEx certificates for the relevant modules relating to the selected equipment)
As you can see, there is a lot that goes into DSEAR verification! The process is made a lot simpler if a DSEAR expert has been involved in the project from the outset (typically at the conceptual design stage) so that hazards can be correctly identified and eliminated or mitigated well before the verification stage, where it is often too late to make changes without significant cost or delays.
There is no requirement to record the findings of a DSEAR verification; however, it is recommended and documenting that the process has been thoroughly reviewed and is safe to operate has many advantages. Our DSEAR verification process and report will identify any gaps in compliance and state whether the process is safe to operate, or provide a clear action list for achieving compliance.
DSEAR Verification Process
We take a systematic approach to DSEAR overall explosion safety verification to identify any critical gaps in compliance and ensure there is a clear basis of safety with appropriate documentation demonstrating this has been properly implemented.
Our verification process allows you to clearly demonstrate that DSEAR compliance has been achieved.
Step 1: Data Request
We’ll request information about your process. This information will usually be contained within the following documents:
SDSs
P&IDs / PFDs
DSEAR Risk Assessment
Hazardous Area Classification
HAC Drawings
HAZID, HAZOP, LOPA, or other PHA studies
ATEX Asset Register
ATEX Initial Inspection Records
Emergency Response Plans
Commissioning Records
Training Records
Step 2: Review Basis of Safety
For each unit operation, the basis of safety will be determined. The following basis of safety categories are typically used:
Inherently Safe Design
Prevention of the Formation of an Explosive Atmosphere
Control of Ignition Sources
Exclusion of Personnel
Explosion Mitigation
We verify that the basis of safety is suitable, and review the documentation which supports it’s implementation. We also typically conduct a site visit to gather further information and view the process(es).
We record the findings in a tabulated report format which references each document reviewed, providing a clear audit trail and evidence of compliance.
Step 3: Perform Gap Analysis
Where any gaps in the documentation supporting the basis of safety are identified, these are clearly highlighted using a traffic light system and a recommendation is generated detailing how to close the gap and achieve compliance.
Our recommendations are designed to be specific and standalone, meaning that they can be read and actioned without referring to the main report.
An Excel action tracker is provided, forming a standalone list where owners can be assigned. This is designed to be shared with key project stakeholders to facilitate swift close-out.
If no gaps are identified, then our report will state that the facility is safe to operate in line with the requirements of DSEAR.
Step 4: Review Action Close Out
We will review the actions taken against the recommendations and state whether the action has been adequately addressed.
This allows actions to be closed, and provides a full document trail demonstrating that the facility is safe to operate in line with the requirements of DSEAR.
DSEAR Verification Deliverables
For each DSEAR Verification assessment, you will receive the following deliverables:
DSEAR Verification Report which contains:
A clear process description, including photos for clarity
Summary of the dangerous substances present and their explosive material properties
Fully referenced list of the documentation reviewed as part of the verification
The Basis of Safety (BoS) of each process, and a summary table clearly showing if the BoS is valid, and if it has been achieved and evidenced
Recommendations to remedy any gaps in compliance or safety identified
A clear statement if the facility is safe to operate, or what actions need to be completed before safe operation
DSEAR Verification Action Tracker - an Excel sheet which allows the recommendations to be assigned owners, deadlines, and tracked
DSEAR Verification - FAQs
What is DSEAR verification?
A DSEAR Verification (or DSEAR Verification of Overall Explosion Safety) is a legal requirement under Regulation 7(4) of DSEAR and applies to any installation where explosive atmospheres may be present. It’s purpose is as a final check on a process to ensure that hazards have been appropriately identified and mitigated to allow its safe operation, and that the facility can operate in line with the requirements of DSEAR.
Is DSEAR verification a legal requirement?
Yes, under Regulation 7(4) of DSEAR, workplaces with potentially explosive atmospheres must be verified as safe before first use by a person or team competent in the field of explosion safety.
When is DSEAR verification required?
DSEAR verification is required before a new installation where explosive atmospheres may be present is brought into service for the first time - it is usually carried out around the commissioning stage of a project.
What does DSEAR verification involve?
DSEAR verification is essentially a check that the process is safe to operate in line with the requirements of DSEAR. It involves verifying that the hazards have been appropriately identified, that risks have been effectively mitigated, and that the facility is compliant to operate in line with DSEAR.
A lot of verification activities will be carried out as part of normal commissioning processes. For example: measuring that actual ventilation flowrates meet or exceed the design specifications, testing that equipment is leak tight before introducing hazardous materials, performing an earth continuity check across the plant, etc. Where DSEAR verification differs is that it is focused on the fire and explosion safety aspects - this is where the Basis of Safety (BoS) is key. A clearly defined basis of safety allows the safeguards and mitigation measures put in place to control process hazards can be assessed.
Who can carry out DSEAR verification?
DSEAR verification should be performed by someone, or a team, who are competent in the field of explosion safety. There is no qualification for DSEAR competency - there are many training courses available which give a high-level understanding, but will usually not allow someone to be able to conduct suitable DSEAR assessments or verifications. It is typically experience which determines competency in this area. It should be noted that the relevance of the experience to your process matters - someone who can verify a food and drink process may not be suited to verify a chemical plant, and vice versa.