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A non sparking tool (also referred to as spark-resistant or spark-reduced) is a tool that is only capable of producing a cool or low energy spark. This is due to the fact that, unlike steel tools, non-sparking tools are manufactured from metals that absorb heat. These include copper tools and brass tools as well as any beryllium non-sparking tool.
Although a non-sparking tool is technically capable of generating a spark, the spark produced from these types of tools is so low in temperature it wouldn’t be capable of igniting. This makes non sparking tools safe to use in environments where flammable gasses or materials present a health and safety risk.
Non-sparking tools are used when the job or environment presents a high risk of fire or explosion. For this reason, you’ll find non-sparking tools used in a wide range of commercial industries, most significantly in sectors that process flammable chemicals, materials, or gasses, such as hydrogen.
This can include the production and manufacture of things such as fireworks, paint, explosives, and pharmaceuticals. You’ll also find non sparking tools widely used throughout the oil and gas industry, such as in oil refineries and on offshore oil rigs at sea.
Coal mines and grain silos are other places where non sparking tools are commonly used.
Non-sparking tools are made from metals that only produce a cool or low energy spark. These include brass and bronze as well as copper-based alloys such as copper-nickel, copper-aluminium, or copper-beryllium, with copper being the primary component.
Non-sparking tools can also be distinguished from regular tools by the fact they don’t contain any steel. That’s because this metal type, commonly used in the production of tools, is known to produce hot sparks at temperatures capable of igniting flammable gasses.
Tools made from steel, therefore, are unsafe to be certified as non-sparking, which is why steel is not a metal used by non-sparking tool manufacturers.
Steel hammers can easily generate sparks during striking. Using a non sparking hammer, such as those made of copper beryllium, will ensure you stay safe in environments where sparks can cause flammable liquids or gasses to ignite.
Non-sparking wrenches will help you to tighten and loosen nuts and bolts safely in environments where flammable materials represent an explosion risk.
Non-sparking pliers are an essential tool for maintaining operational health & safety standards in industries such as oil and gas.
A non-sparking scraper is the perfect tool to turn to if you need to remove gravel, dirt, or other substances from the ground in hazardous conditions.
If you’re using a ratchet and socket for a job that presents a high risk of explosion it’s essential that the tool you use is manufactured from a non-sparking metal.
Non-sparking screwdrivers in a range of sizes can ensure you’re always able to remove or affix screws safely when working near flammable substances.
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Non-sparking tools require a little more care than those made of iron or steel, however, you can easily maintain copper-beryllium tools in the following ways:
Non-sparking tools are essential for any job that brings you into close contact with, or proximity to, flammable materials. They’re also a health and safety necessity when working in industries with a high explosion risk, such as oil & gas.
It’s never worth using a traditional tool in a situation where you should be using a non-sparking tool. Not only could you jeopardise your own safety, you also put other lives at risk.
Like all responsible tool manufacturers, at Red Box we offer a range of non-sparking tools in a variety of certified non sparking metals. You’ll find the full range, which includes Bahco non sparking tools, on our website.
No. Stainless steel is not considered a non-sparking metal.
Copper can produce sparks but only cold sparks. Copper quickly absorbs heat, which is why it’s one of the primary metals used in the manufacture of non-sparking tools.
Yes. Pure aluminium can spark. Aluminium alloys such as copper-aluminium, however, are considered non-spark, providing copper is the primary metal.
Non-sparking tools are used in industries such as oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, coal mining, and grain silos, as well as in the production of fireworks, explosives and paint manufacturing.
A tool is non-sparking if it’s made from a non-sparking classified metal such as bronze, brass, copper-nickel, copper-aluminium, or copper-beryllium.
Non-sparking and anti-static tools both have a common purpose—preventing fires or explosions in production facilities where flammable materials present a concern. However, they each are designed to prevent specific dangers, and shouldn’t be confused. Non-sparking tools are characterized by their lack of ferrous metals (steel and iron), which means they don’t cause sparks that could ignite under the right conditions.
Anti-static tools are carefully designed to work within a system of grounding equipment to prevent static electricity from building to the point it could damage electronics or provide enough of a charge to start a fire or explosion.
However, being non-sparking doesn’t mean a tool can’t also be anti-static. When properly grounded, a non-sparking tool can also prevent electrostatic discharge.
Non-sparking tools are important for use in a facility that may have an explosive atmosphere or any reason to be especially concerned about the possibility of sparks causing a fire or an explosion. This typically concerns production facilities that contain flammable gas, mists, dusts, or liquids. Non-flammable tools are often used in oil refineries, paper companies, and ammunitions plants. Food processing facilities that use powdered milk, egg whites, cornstarch, grain, flour, or cornstarch may also use non-sparking tools since these can all create combustible dust hazards.
Non-sparking tools are, essentially, those that don’t contain ferrous metals. Ferrous metals include steel and iron, in all of their different iterations. Items that are made from carbon steel, stainless steel, cast iron or wrought iron all have the possibility of producing a spark.
Non-ferrous metals include aluminum, copper, brass, silver, and lead. They’re not the only materials that non-sparking tools are made out of, though.
Common non-sparking tools are made of:
Plastic is a common non-sparking material for items like shovels, scrapers, paddles, and scoops. Tools that need a higher tensile strength, like hammers or screws, are often made out of copper alloys, though beryllium tends to be avoided because of its possible toxicity.
There is a possibility that even non-sparking tools could cause a reaction called a “cold spark”, which doesn’t contain enough heat to ignite even the most flammable of substances, carbon disulfide. Cold sparks can still give the appearance that sparks are happening, but are safe around even the most flammable of substances.
Electronics components—especially motherboards—are extremely electrostatic discharge (ESD) sensitive. A simple static charge created by a worker walking across a floor to a workstation could destroy a motherboard, rendering the entire component useless. Most industries don’t need to worry about static discharge, but when flammable gas is in the air, such as acetone or methane, even a small discharge can create a fire or explosion.
Anti-static tools are more complex than not containing a specific type of metal. They must be a part of a complete program to safely discharge static.
Static electricity naturally builds up through three different processes:
The most effective prevention for static electricity isn’t so much a single tool, as it is a system of precautions, grounding mechanisms and a lack of highly charged materials. Together, this creates an Electrostatic Discharge Protection Area (EPA) that works to keep electrostatic discharge (ESD) sensitive materials safe.
The principles of a successful EPA include:
The hand tools you use in this environment are often made from plastics that are specifically created to work within this delicately balanced system. These electrostatic dissipative (ESD) tools have a balanced charge and low surface resistivity, which means they don’t gain or lose charge to the objects and surfaces that surround them. These tools have precise temperature and humidity ranges that they work in. If they’re used outside those ranges, they may still create a static charge.
If your facility needs non-sparking tools, all of our lines except our metal detectables will fit your needs. With the exception of some of our handles, they’re made of plastic, which makes our tools durable and safe to use in many different environments.
If you have a static sensitive environment, you may require anti-static tools, which we currently do not offer.
Some of our products, such as our green shovels, are made of plastic mixed with a static resistant compound. The compound is designed to reduce static and keep products from clinging to the tool. This doesn’t make them anti-static, and they shouldn’t be used in areas that have anti-static requirements.
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