Welding Habitat System
Equipped with pressurization, containment, and ATEX certification, we have delivered over 13 million hours of safety assurance.
Oil & Gas Welding Habitat
Safeprotex provides fully certified ATEX welding habitats, designed for use in hazardous environments, including those classified as Zone 1 and Zone 2. Once deployed, these habitats support all types of hot work operations, ensuring safety in environments where explosive risks are prevalent.
In industries such as the oil and gas sector, offshore drilling platforms, and oil fields—where hazardous gases create a potential explosive atmosphere—the risk associated with performing hot work is significantly heightened. The presence of explosive materials makes it crucial to manage the risks effectively.
Safeprotex’s welding habitat system utilizes positive pressure hot work habitats combined with an advanced gas control system. This engineered solution provides the most effective risk management and mitigation measures for welding or cutting operations in hazardous areas.
Furthermore, all components of Safeprotex’s welding habitat system have been fully certified under ATEX standards, ensuring maximum safety and compliance.
PRESSURIZATION
The gas control system creates a pressurized habitat, maintaining positive pressure inside. This prevents hazardous gases from entering during hot work, ensuring a safer working environment in potentially explosive areas.
CONTAINMENT
The habitat system sheets are made of flame-retardant fabric that meets both ATEX and UL standards. These materials help contain sparks and welding slag, preventing them from escaping and reducing fire risks in hazardous zones.
ATEX Welding Habitat System
The Welding Habitat System is a modular, high-performance solution designed to protect workers and equipment in hazardous welding environments. Pressurized welding habitat provides a safe, enclosed space for welding operations, effectively containing fumes, sparks, and heat, while ensuring compliance with stringent industry safety standards.
This ATEX habitat is specifically engineered for working in hazardous conditions, especially in the oil gas industry where hazardous gases and potentially explosive atmospheres are a constant concern. Whether you’re working in hazardous environments or performing hot work habitat tasks in areas like the North Sea, this system is engineered for optimal safety and performance.
Key Features:
- ATEX and IECEx certified for explosive atmospheres and hazardous areas.
- Modular design for flexibility in setup, making it ideal for welding habitat systems in potential explosive atmospheres.
- High-temperature resistance with silica fabric and fiberglass fabric.
- Abrasion resistance with fiberglass fabric, ensuring durability during welding operations.
- Advanced fume extraction and ventilation system for working in hazardous environments.
- Fireproof, spark-proof, and self-extinguishing features for optimal safety in hot work habitat systems.
System Components
Frame Structure
The frame structure of the Welding Habitat System is constructed from high-strength aluminum alloy, offering durability and stability even in high-temperature environments. This modular, collapsible frame allows for easy transportation, setup, and adjustments to meet various space requirements. The lightweight yet robust frame supports the entire system, ensuring safety and longevity, particularly in hot work habitats where workers are exposed to extreme conditions, such as welding operations in potential explosive atmospheres.
Enclosure Fabric
The enclosure fabric is made from silica fabric and fiberglass fabric, which are known for their excellent heat resistance and abrasion resistance. The silica fabric can withstand temperatures up to 1300°C (2372°F), making it ideal for high-heat environments such as welding operations. The fiberglass fabric is utilized for its mechanical strength and durability, preventing damage from sparks and abrasions during extended use in hazardous environments. This combination of fabrics is crucial for creating a pressurized habitat for welding, especially in welding habitats located in regions like the North Sea, where explosive atmospheres are common.
Coatings
The coatings applied to the fabric include silicone, PVC, and vermiculite coatings, each offering unique advantages:
- Silicone Coating: Provides water resistance and chemical protection, ensuring the integrity of the fabric in wet or hazardous conditions, ideal for hot work habitat systems.
- PVC Coating: Offers moisture protection and enhances the fabric’s durability in oil gas environments where water or chemical exposure may be frequent.
- Vermiculite Coating: Used internally to provide insulation and fire resistance, further enhancing the fireproof properties of the system, especially in potentially explosive areas.
Ventilation System
The ventilation system includes a fume extraction and airflow system that helps to ensure safe air quality inside the habitat. The system is designed to remove hazardous fumes and gases generated during the welding process, providing a safer environment for workers in hot work habitats. This system ensures a positive pressure within the habitat, further preventing the infiltration of hazardous gases from the outside.
Safety Features
Safety is a top priority, and the Welding Habitat System includes multiple layers of protection. The hotwork habitat system is fireproof, spark-proof, and includes a fire suppression system to reduce the risk of fire outbreaks. The explosion-proof design ensures that the system is safe to operate in environments where hazardous gases or potentially explosive atmospheres may be present.
Customization Options
Welding Habitat Panels within the system can be customized to meet specific operational requirements and environmental conditions. Here are the available options:
Material Options:
- Silica Fabric: For environments requiring high-temperature resistance, capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1300°C (2372°F).
- Fiberglass Fabric: For environments with moderate temperature exposure, offering excellent durability and mechanical strength, ideal for work areas where extreme temperatures aren’t as prevalent.
Coating Options:
- Silicone Coating: For environments requiring moisture protection and resistance to certain chemicals, commonly found in oil gas and other hazardous environments.
- PVC Coating: Provides moisture resistance and enhances durability in harsh weather conditions, typically used in ATEX habitats where environmental exposure is high.
- Vermiculite Coating: Used for fireproofing and insulation in extreme heat environments, ensuring maximum fire resistance in pressurized habitat for welding applications.
Size Options:
- 3x3m (9.8×9.8ft)
- 5x5m (16.4×16.4ft)
- 6x6m (19.7×19.7ft)
- Other sizes can be customized according to your needs
Additional Accessories:
- Explosion-proof lighting for enhanced visibility in high-risk areas.
- Fireproof flooring to further increase safety within the hotwork habitat, particularly in hot work habitats located in potential explosive atmospheres.
Certifications
Our Welding Habitat System is fully compliant with key international safety standards, ensuring reliability and safety in hazardous environments:
- ATEX Certification: hotwork habitat system is ATEX-certified, confirming that it is safe for use in explosive atmospheres (Zones 1 and 2). This certification ensures hotwork habitat system does not present an ignition risk, protecting workers and equipment in hazardous areas.
- IECEx Certification: Hotwork habitat system also complies with IECEx standards for explosion-proof equipment in explosive atmospheres.
- UL94 Certification: Ensures that the materials used in the hotwork habitat system meet flammability standards set by UL (Underwriters Laboratories), further assuring safety in high-risk environments.
How Welding Habitat Systems Work？
Pressurization Control
The Welding Habitat System creates a sealed positive pressure environment through its integrated gas control system. The pressure inside the habitat is maintained higher than the external environment, preventing hazardous gases or flammable materials from entering the work area. During hot work operations such as welding or cutting, this positive pressure effectively isolates external dangerous gases, ensuring a safe working environment.
Gas Monitoring and Control
When using the Welding Habitat System, the gas concentration inside the habitat is continuously monitored. Integrated gas detectors can promptly detect any harmful gases, such as low oxygen levels or increased concentrations of combustible gases. If hazardous gases or explosive atmosphere levels exceed safety thresholds, the hazard control system automatically shuts off the welding equipment and immediately vents the dangerous gases to the outside through a negative pressure system.
Fire and Spark Containment
The Welding Habitat System is constructed with external materials made from flame-retardant fabrics that meet both ATEX and UL standards. These materials effectively prevent welding sparks, metal debris, or slag from escaping into the external environment. In high-risk areas, where sparks or slag could trigger a large-scale fire, these fabrics are designed to contain or absorb the fire sources, minimizing the risk of ignition.
Ventilation and Airflow Management
The welding habitat system is equipped with appropriate ventilation equipment to ensure adequate airflow within the work area. This not only helps maintain the oxygen levels required for the welding process, but also assists in diluting and venting harmful gases generated during welding, such as carbon monoxide and ozone. These measures further protect the health and safety of personnel by maintaining a safe working environment.
Enclosure and Isolation
The sealed Welding Habitat completely isolates the work area, preventing hazardous gases from entering while also effectively shielding the surrounding environment and equipment from potential threats posed by welding operations. The enclosed nature of the pressurized welding habitat ensures that any fire sources or high temperatures generated during the work are contained, preventing them from spreading to the external environment.
Technical Parameter Table
| Feature | Project | Metric | Imperial |
| Base Fabric | Silica fabric, fiberglass fabric | – | – |
| Coating | Silicone, PVC, vermiculite | – | – |
| Frame Material | High-strength aluminum alloy | – | – |
| Certification | ATEX, IECEx, UL94 | – | – |
| Flame Resistance | UL94 V-0 or higher (self-extinguishing) | – | – |
| Temperature Resistance | Maximum temperature | 1300℃ | 2372℉ |
| Dimensions (Standard) | Standard sizes | 3x3m, 5x5m, 6x6m | 10ft x 10ft, 16ft x 16ft, 20ft x 20ft |
| Weight | Standard weight | ~50kg (3x3m) | ~110lbs (3x3m) |
| Ventilation System | Fume extraction | – | – |
| Airflow Capacity | Maximum airflow | 10,000m³/h | 353,000 CFM |
| Frame Type | Frame design | Modular, collapsible | – |
| Operating Pressure | Adjustable pressure | -0.5 to +1.5 bar | -7.25 to +21.75 PSI |
| Portability | Assembly and mobility | – | – |
| Safety Features | Safety features | Spark-proof, flame-resistant, automated fire suppression | – |
| Lighting (Optional) | Explosion-proof lighting | – | – |
| Fireproof Flooring (Optional) | Optional flooring | – | – |
Fully Certified ATEX Pressurized Habitat for Welding
The Welding Habitat System is the optimal solution for businesses looking to provide a safe, durable, and efficient workspace in hazardous environments.
With customizable options, high-performance materials, and industry certifications such as ATEX and IECEx, this system ensures maximum safety, reliable performance, and long-term durability in environments such as hot work habitats and welding operations in the oil gas industry.
COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS TAILORED FOR YOUR NEEDS
Safeprotex provides custom fire safety solutions to meet the unique needs of your business. Whether you’re looking for design services, product customization, R&D, wholesale supply, or specialized solutions for your industry, simply fill out the form on the right to get started.
- Free Technical Support: Always available to assist you with product and application guidance.
- Custom Design Solutions: Tailored fire safety solutions specific to your needs.
- Industry-Specific Expertise: Extensive solutions across various sectors, from manufacturing to automotive to high-risk environments.
- Competitive Pricing: High-quality fire protection without compromising your budget.
- Lifetime Service Support: Dedicated advisors to ensure your ongoing safety and satisfaction.
And that’s just the beginning!