Simtars is an accredited test laboratory and certification body for national (ANZEx and AUSEx) and international (IECEx) certification schemes.

We provide testing and certification services for equipment used in potentially explosive gas or dust areas such as underground coal mines, oil refineries, petrol stations, grain silos and processing industries.

Electrical testing

Testing capabilities include:

• mining equipment (plugs, receptacles and couplers; substations; distribution and control boxes; mobile machines; protection devices)
• battery-operated vehicles for hazardous areas
• fire resistant anti-static (FRAS)
• environmental conditioning
• hazardous area classification
• exploders
• AS3100   (appliances)
• degree of protection (IP)
• fuel dispensers
• spray-painting booths.

Mechanical testing

Testing capabilities include:

• mechanical testing of diesel engine explosion protection
• degree of protection (IP)
• impact
• hydrostatic testing of pipes, hoses, valves, fittings and cylinders
• pneumatic testing of pipes and hoses.

Combustible dust testing

Simtars conducts specialist testing of combustible dusts, which are hazardous when in a cloud or as a layer.

Dust cloud

Testing conducted by Simtars includes determination of:

Explosion Indices (Pmax, Kst and St class)-used to design explosion vents and suppression systems for processes where the dust cloud is hazardous (e.g. in filter bag houses and bucket elevators).
Lower Explosible Limit
Minimum Ignition Energy and Minimum Ignition Temperature-used to:
estimate a product's potential for ignition by frictional, impact or grinding sparks, and static discharges
assign a temperature rating for electrical apparatus to be used in explosible dust atmospheres in a hazardous area. 

Dust layer

As a layer (usually formed by gradual build-up on equipment) dust can be ignited by hot particles or hot surfaces. An initial fire can progress to an explosion if the dust forms a cloud.

Testing conducted by Simtars includes determination of:

• Minimum Ignition Temperature (the temperature a hot surface needs to reach to cause ignition)-used to assign a temperature rating for electrical apparatus to be used in explosible dust atmospheres in a hazardous area.