Often clients are unsure of where they are on the DSEAR or ATEX compliance journey and/or which direction to take to gain compliance in the most cost and time effective way. One of the initial activities that we usually carry out with new or existing clients with new processes, equipment or systems, is a DSEAR /ATEX Gap Analysis Study.

The DSEAR /ATEX Gap Analysis Study involves a HACC consultant attending site and usually carrying out the following tasks as a guide, but these differ depending of client’s business, nature and size as well as the process, equipment and complexity of systems under investigation:

• View the existing process or facility (i.e. site visit & walk down), review client’s documentation including process detail and diagrams (i.e. General Arrangement (GA), Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) & Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID)), operating and maintenance procedures, inspection and calibration procedures, if available.
• If the process is at design stage, the necessary design documentation and drawings, with the appropriate client personnel, if available.
• Review any Fire and Explosions Protection Strategies/Concepts including any Explosion Protection Documents (EPDs), if available.
• Safety Management Systems (SMS), Permit to Work (PtW) systems including Hot Work Permits (HWP), Management of Change (MOC), if available.

In addition, the HACC consultant will meet and discuss potential compliance avenues and any challenges the consultant or the client envisages towards compliance whilst on site. The main deliverable of the DSEAR Gap Analysis Study is a report outlining the current compliance status, the extent to achieve compliance, and the most cost and time effective route to obtain DSEAR or ATEX Compliance, with clear recommendations, for the client.