Product Overview

A combination shower and eyewash built for two problems at once: an area where electrical equipment has to be explosion-protected, and a climate where the water in the column would otherwise freeze. The electrical assembly is BT4 rated, and the riser is electrically heat traced, so the station can stand outdoors in a classified area and still deliver water at the moment it is needed.

The rest of the station is straightforward: green square column on a bolted base plate, stainless shower head on a forward arm, stainless eyewash basin with twin nozzles, triangular pull rod for the shower, flanged inlet at the foot.

What BT4 Covers

• Explosion protection grade – BT4 is the grade marked on the electrical assembly: flameproof construction suited to a defined gas group and temperature class, for areas where a standard enclosure is not permitted.

• Two enclosures on the column – isolation and control are separated, so routine isolation does not expose controller terminals.

• Protected cable entries – glands are part of the enclosure system; ordinary glands are what fail an inspection.

• Marking to be confirmed – the exact Ex marking (equipment group, gas group, temperature class) and the certified ambient range must be confirmed on the order, because the marking has to match the area it is installed in.

• Trade-off stated – explosion protection adds enclosures, glands and inspection duties; it does not make the station suitable for every classified area on its own.

Heat Tracing on the Riser

• Traced column – heating cable along the riser keeps the standing water above freezing.

• No drain needed – unlike a frost-valve station, this one does not depend on a sump under the base plate.

• Water on demand – the riser stays full, so the shower delivers full flow the instant the valve opens.

• Power dependency – no supply means no protection; the trace circuit must be labelled and checked before each frost.

Construction

• Green square column – painted steel, bolted stainless base plate with earth point.

• Stainless shower head – forward arm, full-body coverage.

• Stainless eyewash basin – twin nozzles, side bracket.

• Triangular pull rod – stainless, stay-open shower valve.

• BT4 electrical assembly – flameproof enclosures with isolator, buttons and protected glands.

Technical Specifications

Installation

1. Bolt the base plate to a pad; check the column is plumb and bond the earth point.

2. Connect the flanged inlet with an upstream isolation valve and flush the line.

3. Bring supply and trace cables into their enclosures through the supplied glands only; check the marking against the area classification before energising.

4. Set the trace thermostat and confirm the riser warms with the supply closed.

5. Set shower and eyewash flows to the table figures.

6. Label the trace circuit at the distribution board so it is not isolated by mistake.

Operation and Maintenance

• Weekly: operate both functions, check flows, wipe basin and nozzles, confirm the trace supply is on.

• Monthly: inspect enclosures, glands and cables; check lid bolts and earth continuity.

• Before frost: prove the trace with the supply closed, and check the marking and seals are intact.

• Annually: insulation resistance test, internal inspection by a competent person, renewal of any damaged gland or seal.

• After any work: restore lid bolts, glands and earth before the station returns to service.

Standards and Compliance

Designed to meet ANSI Z358.1-2014 for shower and eyewash flow, hands-free operation and simultaneous use. Explosion protection is governed by the marking on the equipment and by the area classification; installation must be carried out by a competent person and must match the certified gas group, temperature class and ambient range. Freeze protection does not replace tepid water; siting within about ten seconds of the hazard, weekly activation and signage remain site responsibilities.

Applications

Refineries and petrochemical plants, solvent and paint production, fuel depots, gas installations, chemical process areas with outdoor stations, and cold-climate sites in classified areas.

Ordering

Order by model RYFHS-BT4-01. Please state the area classification (zone, gas group, temperature class), supply voltage and phase, lowest ambient temperature, inlet size and whether a tepid water mixing valve is required. The non-explosion-proof heat-traced station, the frost-valve station and the standard combination stations are also available.