Heating Mantles: Avoiding Momentous Mistakes

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Heating in compliance with the current Standard

The patented heating mantles of ITA Instruments which comply with the new EN 61010-1:2010 (IEC 61010-1:2013) have their electrical heating elements in a completely mineral insulated steel jacket. If liquid gets into the mantle and the heating element becomes moist, the latter will completely be protected against the penetrating moisture by means of the steel jacket. A preliminary moisture treatment will therefore not be necessary. ITA mantles comply with the requirements of the insulation and voltage test in accordance with the Paragraphs 6.7 and 6.8 as specified in EN 61010-1.

Furthermore, the steel jacket has made it possible to attach the ground fault circuit interrupter directly to the element. Due to this improvement, the requirements regarding the ground fault circuit interrupter have for the first time been complied with directly at the heating element.

Owing to the more efficient heat exchange between the heating element and the glass bulb, the new generation of these heating elements facilitates a heating rate that is twice as fast compared to other products. As a result, it is possible to work faster and more precise.

Another safety feature of the new generation of heating mantles: a special air circulation effect makes it possible that the housing may be touched from outside at any time – even in case of 450 °C applications. Owing to its multifunctional design and chemical-resistant housing, this technology all in all ensures a higher degree of occupational safety in the laboratory. Over and above, it is user-friendly as well as easy to operate. The high-performance stirring provides for accurate mixing.

Additional Information

New Set of Rules: What is Important?

Important extracts concerning heating mantles from the current set of rules BS EN61010-1:20101:

11.3 Spillage: Since it is possible in the course of normal operation that liquids are spilled in the device, the heating element has to be constructed in such a way that endangerment may not occur, for example as a result of spillage or wetting with liquids or owing to contact between potentially aggressive substances (corrosive, toxic or flammable liquids) and parts of the device. In case that in normal operation potentially aggressive substances (such as corrosive, toxic or flammable liquids) are spilled on parts of the device, the wetted material should be analysed in order to be able to determine the compatibility with the aggressive substance.
The device will be subject to a conformity check. In case of doubt, 0.2 l water will continuously be poured all over the device from a height of 0,1 m over a period of 15 s in order to check to what extent liquid could get on electrical parts. Immediately after such treatment, voltage tests should be performed in the gaps and at the solid insulation in accordance with 6.8 (without preliminary moisture treatment) by taking into account the appropriate insulation type (cf. 6.7) and accessible components should not exceed the limits of 6.3.1.

11.4 Overflow: In the normal course of operation, it should not be possible that a risk occurs because of the overflowing of a liquid from a vessel which then gets into the device, such as risks, for example, resulting from the wetting of the heating element with liquids or from wetting the insulation or the internal areas which are not insulated which are considered to be dangerously active (live, dangerous when touched). A heating mantle which may be moved while a vessel filled with liquid is placed therein should be protected against/from the spilling out of liquid from the vessel. A conformity check will be performed by means of the following treatments and tests: the liquid container is completely filled. Another quantity of liquid which roughly corresponds with 15% of the capacity of the vessel or 0.25 l (depending on which amount is the larger one) will then continuously be filled in over a period of 60 s. If there is the possibility that the device will be moved while the filled vessel is placed therein, it will be tilted by 15° in the most unfavourable direction compared to the position in normal operation. Immediately after such treatment, voltage tests should be performed in the gaps and at the solid insulation in accordance with 6.8 (without preliminary moisture treatment) by taking into account the appropriate insulation type (cf. 6.7) and accessible components should not exceed the limits [2].

Caution: Certifications may sometimes be in danger

The new EU Standard EN 61010- 1:2010 is internationally regarded as Standard Act IEC 61010-1:2013 and in Germany, it is described in the set of rules of the VDE Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (VDE 0411-1). With a view to the REACH Regulation, the current safety standards and norms have to be complied with in respect to the devices which are applied, because the requirements of Quality (QMS) and Environmental Management Systems (Umwelt-Managementsysteme = UMS) overlap with the obligations under the provisions of Chemical Control. A violation of the safety standards/REACH may thus be classified as a violation of the Management Systems such as, e.g., ISO. And this may after all lead to the withdrawal of certification. A consistent adherence to the statutory Standards must be observed and an investment into standard-compliant products is therefore necessary.

References:

[1] BS EN61010-1:2010 is the British version of the EU Standard EN 61010-1:2010.

[2] Source: BS EN61010-1:2010. Translation of the English text. No warranty is given as regards the correctness of the translation. For original wording,see below BS EN61010-1:2010, page 91 in section 11.3 “Spillage“ and section 11.4 “Overflow“.

* B. Blum: Blum Unternehmenskommunikation, 42655 Solingen, Germany

* * Dr. O. Maaß: Eversheds Sutherland (Germany) LLP, 80333 München, Germany

(ID:45357922)

New safety regulations for electrical laboratory equipment

Heating Mantles: Avoiding Momentous Mistakes

Heating in compliance with the current Standard

Caution: Certifications may sometimes be in danger