Let's Go West -- Aber Wie (but how)?

On February 23 and 24, 1999, UL HazLoc engineering staff and PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt) HazLoc engineering staff presented a joint symposium on how to export European explosion-protected equipment into North America.

"Let's Go West - Aber Wie?" was offered at PTB's facility in Braunschweig, Germany. Approximately 72 representatives from 50 German HazLoc manufacturers attended.

Both UL and PTB HazLoc staff made presentations. Also, a member of the Presidium (Executive Committee) for PTB, a representative from the German Ministry of Economics, and a representative from a leading US/German HazLoc manufacturer presented insights.

An overview of the structure of the North American hazardous locations system was presented by Paul Kelly, UL Hazardous Locations. UL's presentation also included the following technical topics:

• Converting European "EEx" Certificates Into North American "Ex" Certificates
 presented by Kerry McManama, UL Hazardous Locations 

• Converting European "EEx" Certificates Into North American Division Certificates presented by Ed Briesch, UL Hazardous Locations

As a follow-up to the 1999 joint symposium, on May 22 - 24, 2000, UL and PTB HazLoc engineering staff presented a series of joint workshops. These workshops were offered in conjunction with the ACHEMA 2000 show in Frankfurt, Germany, and provided a forum for more hands-on technical discussions regarding North American protection methods and their associated European counterparts.

The following was the schedule for these PTB/UL Workshops presented by Ed Briesch, Ben Schaefer and Mike Slowinske, UL Hazardous Locations:

Ongoing plans include additional follow-up workshops involving PTB and UL HazLoc engineering staff that will further expand on specific methods of European and North American explosion protection.

For additional information regarding the 1999 symposium, 2000 workshops or other up-coming workshops, please contact hazloc@ul.com.