Is competency a standard?

Building on my previous article I thought I would take the opportunity to examine aspects of IEC TS 60079-44 and other established standards such as IEC 60079-14 and IEC 60079-17.

Parts 14 and 17 detail the knowledge, skills and competencies of the Designer, the Electrician and Technician, the Technical Person with Executive Function and the Skilled Personnel assigned to inspection and maintenance activities. In Part 44 they are defined under several specified roles namely, design, installation, maintenance and inspection.

With the recent removal of the term Responsible Person from Parts 14 and 17 and the additional clarity provided in Part 17 under the term Technical Person with Executive Function (TPEF), then aspects of both fall under the roles of ‘Responsibility for specific Ex compliance functions’ and ‘Management (accountable administration)’. There is also clear overlap when you consider the other defined roles of ‘Testing on installed Ex equipment’ and ‘Commissioning’.

Part 44 also defines different roles not covered under Parts 14 and 17, and these include overhaul and repair activities (covered in IEC 60079-19), facility operation, procurement, training instructors and assessors of competency. These additional roles are all important when you consider the activities that are either directly or indirectly associated with working in areas or location with explosive atmospheres.

Let’s look at one of the roles in more detail. The Designer is clearly seen as one of those lynch pin roles key to the safety and lifecycle of an installation. Considering the example of a chemical processing plant, the designer will likely have to consider aspects of the overall plant design and its associated hazard analysis and risk assessment including hazardous area classification. Company or site-specific specifications as well as industry specific standards may also require consideration. It’s also worth considering that other standards may be relevant such as IEC 60364 (recognised in the UK as BS 7671) for electrical installations or IEC 60204 for electrical safety of machinery.

The designer will also be influential in other roles defined in Part 44. For example, clearly defining the specification of equipment, any cable and consumables will ensure that mistakes are avoided by the procurement team.

Annex A of Part 14 defines the knowledge and skills requirements of the designer. It goes on to state that the Designer must be able to understand and prepare the necessary documentation as specified in the verification dossier including the preparation of installation information/records.

Under Part 14, the competency of the Designer must be verified and attributed based on sufficient evidence such that the person has the necessary skills required for their scope of work, can act competently across a range of activities and has the relevant skills supporting competency.

What about Part 44? It states that the design of installations in hazardous areas should be carried out by those who understand the various types of protection, installation practices, relevant rules and regulations as well as the general principles of area classification. With respect to the role of the Designer, one important aspect covered is that the requirements listed are not exclusive to an electrical installation. As Part 14 is applicable to electrical installations and Part 44 is based on the competency of persons it includes both electrical, non-electrical and software systems applicable to the operation of a facility in a hazardous area.

Parts 44 lists typical design tasks such as:

• The correct selection of Ex equipment and interconnecting systems based on the area classification and using documents such as IEC 60079-14
• Ensure that the any parameters identified during the preliminary area classification are included in the design and installation documents
• Preparation of construction or installation drawings with supporting detail as may be required.
• Preparation of specifications for procurement.

In terms of any evidence of competency it includes but is not limited to:

• Understanding of the area classification and environmental conditions on which to base the design of systems and selection equipment that are appropriate
• Demonstrating the practical skills necessary for the preparation and compilation of relevant design, procurement, installation, inspection, testing, and maintenance information and documentation for the applicable concepts of protection and systems involved
• Understanding the specific techniques employed in the selection and installation of Ex Equipment

There is of course additional information partially covered by my previous article, which helps frame what competency is, how it is applied and importantly how it is managed and recorded.

So where does this leave us? Confused; possibly? Part 44 is only a technical specification whereas Parts 14 and 17 are well established standards used by the vast majority of industry. So, what do you use? The logical answer at this moment in time is likely a hybrid approach where all three can be referenced where applicable to ensure that personnel who work on or engage in activities in explosive atmospheres can be deemed competent in the role(s) assigned to them.