In hazardous environments where a single spark can trigger an explosion, flameproof stackers play a vital role in safe material handling. These stackers significantly reduce ignition risks by containing any sparks or flames that may occur. In this detailed guide, we explore why Avcon’s flameproof semi electric stackers are a standout choice for your flammable areas.
What are Flameproof Stackers?
A flameproof stacker is a specialised type of stacker designed for safe operations in potentially explosive environments where flammable gases, vapours, dust, or chemicals are present.
Flameproof stackers are built so that any sparks, heat, or flames generated inside the equipment remain fully contained, preventing them from igniting the surrounding atmosphere and eliminating the risk of explosions.
Our flameproof semi electric stackers, constructed from durable mild steel and stainless steel, ensure safe, reliable, and efficient handling of goods in areas where there is a potential risk of ignition or explosion.
What are the key features of flameproof stackers?
Flameproof Stackers have several specialised safety features that make them suitable for operations in hazardous areas:
Flameproof enclosures
Our flameproof semi electric stackers have flameproof enclosures for all electrical components, including motors, control systems, displays, batteries, and LED lights.
These enclosures are specifically designed to contain any internal sparks or flames that might occur during normal operation or equipment faults, preventing them from propagating to the surrounding hazardous atmosphere.
Non Sparking Mechanical Design
The flameproof semi electric stackers have non-sparking mechanical designs specifically engineered for flammable environments. Their critical components, such as drive systems, lifting mechanisms, and structural elements, are designed or treated to prevent spark generation during operation.
The forks and mechanical components may be fully enclosed in stainless steel protective layers to eliminate ignition risks from friction or collisions.
Temperature Monitoring Systems
Advanced temperature monitoring systems are integrated into flameproof stackers to prevent overheating that could create ignition sources. These systems continuously monitor the temperature of critical components, including motors, controllers, and electrical systems, providing automatic shutdown or alerts when temperatures exceed safe operating limits. The monitoring systems help maintain component temperatures below the ignition temperature of surrounding hazardous substances, ensuring safe operation even during extended periods of use.
Conductive Tires
Conductive tires are a mandatory safety feature that provides continuous electrical grounding, allowing static electricity to dissipate safely to the ground. These specialised tires have conductivity ratings below 10^6 Ω, significantly reducing the risk of static discharge that could ignite explosive atmospheres.
Antistatic Fabric Covers
Antistatic fabric covers are used on various components to prevent static electricity buildup during operation. These covers feature conductive materials or treatments that dissipate electrostatic charges, maintaining surface resistivity at safe levels.
What are the applications of flameproof stackers?
Flameproof Stackers are mostly used in flammable areas where flammable gases, vapours, dust, or chemicals are present. To understand the applications of flameproof stackers, it is essential to comprehend how these hazardous areas are classified.
Hazardous locations are categorised into different zones based on the likelihood of explosive atmospheres occurring.
Zone 1 represents areas where explosive atmospheres consisting of air mixed with flammable gases, vapors, or mist are likely to occur occasionally during normal operations. This includes situations during maintenance, repair work, or equipment leakage.
Zone 2 areas are locations where explosive atmospheres are not likely to occur during normal operations, but if they do happen, they will only last for a short time. These zones have a lower risk compared to Zone 1 but still require specific safety measures.
Flameproof Stackers are used in both types of hazardous locations. They are suitable for operations in areas like:
Chemical Manufacturing Plants:
Used to safely handle and transport raw materials, chemicals, and finished products where explosive vapours may be present. Flameproof stackers reduce fire and explosion risks during material movement in these highly sensitive areas.
Pharmaceutical Industry:
Handling solvents and chemicals involved in drug manufacturing requires explosion-proof material handling equipment. Flameproof stackers ensure hygiene as well as safety compliance in such environments.
Oil & Gas Sector:
In refineries, storage, and processing units where hydrocarbon vapours and gases can ignite easily, flameproof stackers enable safe pallet handling and stacking without sparking risks.
Paint and Rubber Manufacturing:
These industries use volatile organic compounds that create explosive atmospheres. Flameproof stackers serve to transport containers and drums safely, preventing sparks and fires.
Food Processing and FMCG Warehousing:
Flameproof stackers are employed in units dealing with flammable cleaning agents, alcohols, and powders, where both safety and hygiene are critical considerations.
Textile and E-Commerce Warehouses:
Where packaging materials and some chemicals can pose flammable risks, flameproof stackers provide safe and reliable material movement solutions.
Government and Defence Organisations:
For safe handling in classified and hazardous locations, these stackers meet the strict safety regulations required.
Maintenance of flameproof stackers
We provide dedicated maintenance support and annual maintenance contracts (AMCs) for flameproof stackers as part of their service offering. routine inspections, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and replacement of worn components to maintain safety standards and operational efficiency.
We provide specialised maintenance for flameproof stackers, addressing the unique requirements of explosion-proof motors, flameproof enclosures, and non-sparking mechanical assemblies for Zone 1 and Zone 2 hazardous areas.
Their qualified technicians possess expertise in hazardous area equipment and follow strict protocols for:
- Checking the integrity of flameproof electrical enclosures,
- Ensuring all mechanical parts remain non-sparking and clean,
- Verifying wiring, switches, and controls retain their flameproof characteristics,
- Routine lubrication and cleaning to prevent ignition risk.
Our maintenance services are structured to minimise operational downtime, uphold safety regulations, and maximise equipment life—even in the most demanding hazardous environments.
Why choose Avcon semi electric flameproof stackers over other flameproof varieties?
Our semi-electric flameproof stackers use electric power only for lifting and lowering, while manual movement reduces electronic components. This means fewer parts to service, lower maintenance, and minimised spare inventory, which makes them highly valuable in safety-critical operations.
Unlike fully electric models, they are not battery-powered, eliminating risks of battery failure, overheating, or charging in hazardous zones. Manual movement also limits the chance of unmonitored electrical faults during transit, ensuring safe and continuous operation.
Therefore, Avcon Semi electric stackers provide the best balance of safety, usability, and regulatory compliance.
Conclusion
In explosive and hazardous environments, using the right material handling equipment is crucial for safety and efficiency. Avcon’s flameproof semi electric stackers offer an unmatched combination of safety, reliability, and ease of maintenance, specifically designed for Zone 1 and Zone 2 hazardous areas. Their unique design minimizes ignition risks while delivering smooth operation and durability across diverse industries. With dedicated maintenance support and strict adherence to safety protocols, Avcon ensures your operations remain safe, compliant, and productive. Choose Avcon flameproof semi electric stackers for peace of mind and dependable performance in the most challenging flammable environments.
