http://www.kopex.co.uk/ Kopex - Manufacturer of Conduit and Cable Management Systems To complement the range of electrical conduit and cable management products for hazardous areas, a new range of convertors, adaptors and reducers has been introduced. They provide a means of matching threadforms of hazardous area approved equipment whilst ensuring that the integrity and Ex approval of the installation is maintained. Manufactured in the UK to highest standards, all these products have been independently tested and are both ATEX and IECEx approved. Enlargers are designed to be used where the thread size of the female side of the device is larger than the male side, whilst reducers are for exactly the opposite configuration. Thread convertors are used where a conversion is required between thread types, such as from metric to NPT threads. All products are designed for hazardous area applications and are certified to protection concepts Exd "Flameproof" and Exe "Increased Safety" for use in Zone 1 and Zone 2 applications. Approved to the latest international standards adaptors, reducers and convertors can be supplied with ATEX, and IECEx Certification. Downloads of all IECEx certification are available at www.iecex.com For copies of the new Hazardous Area catalogue, contact the Marketing Department. http://www.kopex.co.uk/newsdetail.asp?id=321 05/12/2008 Kopex international Middle East distributor Al Hathboor of Dubai, is having a double celebration: 25 years in business and 25 years as a distributor of Kopex electrical conduit systems. The company has grown into one of the Middle East's leading suppliers of electrical products to many of the region's major commercial and industrial development projects. The long standing relationship with Kopex is a glowing example of the company's commitment and success with the products of a number of leading UK electrical products manufacturers. Al Hathboor's well-qualified sales and technical support team and showrooms in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have provided the structure for success. John Austin, Export Manager for Kopex comments: “Al Hathboor has represented Kopex international with great success over the last 25 years and we look forward to a long continuation of our relationship.” Al Hathboor Group marked the 25th anniversary of its formation with a major ceremony at Le Meridien Airport Hotel in Dubai when Group Chairman Mr Abdualla presented a Best Performance Award to the Al Hathboor Electricals division that represents Kopex. Employees with 25 years' of service were honoured during the event which was attended by distinguished industry guests and representatives of some of the company's principal brands including Kopex. http://www.kopex.co.uk/newsdetail.asp?id=320 05/01/2008 A new catalogue covering Electrical Conduit and Cable Management Systems for Hazardous Areas has been published. The 24 page publication gives in-depth technical and ordering information for the company's complete range of ATEX and IECEx approved metallic and non-metallic conduit systems and accessories. The IECEx certified equipment programme provides a certificate of conformity that includes the testing and assessment of product samples with IEC standards. Kopex is the only provider of this range of cable management products to carry scheme certification. The catalogue also provides a guide to the use of equipment and components in areas with the potential for explosion, setting out in simple terms the requirements of various regulations. Organisations operating in all types of hazardous areas where potentially explosive gas, vapours and dust may be present should obtain a copy of the new catalogue. http://www.kopex.co.uk/newsdetail.asp?id=319 04/02/2008 Pipeslice and Pipe-prep professional pipe tools are ideal for all those taking plumbing and heating courses at school or college. The CORGI Award winning Pipeslice is a practical, single handed plumbing tool that makes copper pipe cutting easy. It provides a time and effort-saving solution to cutting copper piping, a simple task which contractors face on a day-to-day basis. With a simple twist of the wrist the automatically adjusting tool provides a clean cut-through for various sizes of copper piping. It is available in a range of sizes and packs including Pipe-prep combination packs. Pipe-Prep is also a CORGI Winner. It is used to prepare copper pipe ends, flattening and smoothing rather than cutting off burrs. Pipe-prep maintains the integrity of the material but produces the right shape for subsequent joining. It removes oxidisation, a common cause of pipe joint failures, making it easier and quicker to effect sound joints. Pipe-Prep's smoothing of the cut copper pipe removes any sharp edges and consequently reduces the problem of restricted flow. Using the tool also means more contact surface area for joints, giving them long life and fewer failures. http://www.kopex.co.uk/newsdetail.asp?id=318 03/13/2008 Kopex has introduced an extensive range of conduit accessories - all tested to ATEX and IECEx standards. The company is the only manufacturer providing of a range of cable management products to carry certification under the IECEx Certified Equipment Program. This provides a certificate of conformity that includes testing and assessment of product samples, manufacturing procedure assessments and on-going surveillance audits. Kopex conduit systems are sold to both the Exe and Exd markets within hazardous areas in industries ranging from offshore and petrochemical through to MOD, shipbuilding, transportation and food processing. Accompanying these new systems there is now a comprehensive range of conduit accessories including thread convertors, reducers, enlargers, elbows, couplers and other products available in brass, nickel plated and stainless steel 316. Their availability will allow specifiers and contractors to design and install customised conduit systems for both complex and simple hazardous area applications. A new guide provides concise information on Kopex Hazardous area conduit solutions as well as information on the use of electrical equipment and cabling for areas having the potential for explosion. It sets out the requirements of various regulations with easy-to-use charts and data. http://www.kopex.co.uk/newsdetail.asp?id=317 02/22/2008 Sheppard Plumbing under the ownership of Tony Sheppard is one of the UK's most ardent admirers of Kopex International's renowned Pipeslice pipe cutting tool. He has been using it for over seven years in his day to day domestic work around the Cheltenham area which includes plumbing-in bathrooms and kitchens as well as undertaking heating and gas boiler installations. Pipeslice is the single handed plumbing tool designed to make copper pipe cutting easy. A CORGI award winning tool for technical innovation, the practical design allows single handed operation and, with just a few simple twists of the wrist, provides a clean cut through copper piping. It also has automatic adjusting and locking-on for ease of use and is available for various pipe sizes. “Pipeslice is the first tool I turn to for cutting pipes and is a standard item in my toolbox. It is especially good in tight situations but also in general terms good to use,” says Tony. “The last resort is a hacksaw!” Tony sees a number of advantages with Pipeslice and finds it particularly good when cutting pipe with a 90 degree end before soldering. Also Pipeslice leaves a slightly tapered end to the pipe, making it easy to put on any pipe fittings. Tony was a visitor to the Installer Live Show in Coventry during September and he took the opportunity to purchase Pipe-prep, Kopex's latest professional pipe tool for deburring copper pipe ends prior to cutting. After a short time, he has found this tool just as useful: “I love the new Pipe-prep tool too - very useful and has made my use of wire wool to prepare copper pipe obsolete.” Indeed, using Pipe-prep cuts out the risk of infection and damage to hands that is often suffered by professionals when using wire wool to carry out pipe preparation work. Also a CORGI award winning tool, it cleans and deburrs copper pipe ends. The tool maintains the integrity of the material and produces the right shape for subsequent joining. Pipe-Prep removes oxidisation, a common cause of pipe joint failures, making it easier and quicker to achieve sound and reliable pipe connections. http://www.kopex.co.uk/newsdetail.asp?id=316 01/17/2008 Kopex now manufactures a wide range of ATEX and IECEx approved cable management products. These include metallic and non-metallic conduit and fittings, a full range of conduit accessories as well as non-metallic cable glands and fittings. The company is committed to an extensive and on going R&D programme and will continue to deliver innovative and high performance products for installation within safety critical areas. The current range lends itself to many market sectors including petrochemical, pharmaceutical and offshore environments or indeed any safety critical or harsh environment where correct product choice and performance is essential. IECEx certification is more extensive than existing ATEX certification and this is attractive for Kopex International – with its worldwide markets the company can now sell its equipment to selected countries outside the EU without obtaining further approvals. In situations where compliance to existing national standards are still required – such as in countries with extreme temperatures or other hazardous operating conditions – Kopex can verify product conformance through its IECEx test results. Kopex International was the first manufacturer of electrical conduit to gain IECEx certification for one of its products. Following tests carried out by BASEEFA, the company's ATEX range combines the requirements for explosion proof applications with requirements for use in increased safe areas. New non-metallic nylon conduit systems and fittings, with anti-static properties and an IP 66 rating, are available in 16mm-54mm diameter sizes. These versatile products can be used in Zones 1,2,21 and 22 hazardous areas where there is no ignition source present. In applications where EMC (Electro-magnetic Compatibility) is important, an overbraided nylon conduit is also available with high strength EMC screening of 60dB at I MHz. The company's HAM, HAMM and HAMS ranges of ATEX flameproof glands are approved for use in Zones 1,2,21 and 22 hazardous area classifications where an ignition source is present. Available in brass and stainless steel 316 versions, these ATEX flameproof glands are essential for use where an explosive atmosphere is, or is expected, to be present. With a nylon seal and epoxy resin, the ATEX flameproof gland is a high quality, high specification product that is ideal for Ex II 2 GD gas and dust, EExd IIC and EExe II applications. It is designed for use in conjunction with Kopex Liquid Tight flexible metallic conduits. Accompanying these new systems there is now a comprehensive range of conduit accessories for hazardous areas including thread convertors, reducers, enlargers, and many other products available in brass, nickel and stainless steel 316 - all tested to the ATEX and IECEx standard. All this makes Kopex international the only conduit manufacturer able to sell conduit systems to both the Exe and Exd markets within hazardous areas. http://www.kopex.co.uk/newsdetail.asp?id=315 01/16/2008 ATEX Directives are designed to protect employees, the public and the environment from accidents owing to explosive atmospheres. Since July 1 2006 all existing sites, as well as new sites, must be fully ATEX compliant. Directive ATEX 100a applies to equipment manufacturers and ATEX 137 applies to end users. ATEX 100a covers both electrical and non-electrical products intended for use in hazardous areas, including mechanical equipment. The Directive came into existence in 2003 and products sold within the European Union designed for use in hazardous areas must have ATEX certification and bear the ATEX marking on the product. The obligation is placed upon the manufacturer or supplier of the product and the intention is to facilitate free movement of goods within the EU. Products are categorised 1, 2 and 3 with category 1 meaning the product employs a very high level of protection; category 2, a high level of protection; category 3, a normal level of protection. The ATEX 137 Directive sets out to improve the heath and safety protection of all workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres with duties placed upon the employer. The directive is designed to harmonise the law of EU member states concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive areas. Its main requirements have been the need to classify areas as Zones 0, 1 and 2 for gases and vapours and Zones 20, 21, 22 for dusts. Equipment for use in these areas must be selected in accordance with ATEX 100a and marked with an EX sign. In workplaces where safety restrictions apply throughout the site, such as refineries, the sign must be applied at the entrance of the site – individual signs would not be required.A mixture of air and hazardous gases may ignite by coming into contact with a hot surface. Ignition depends on surface area, temperature and concentration of the gases. Certified equipment, tested by approved agencies, receives a temperature code (T1-T6) indicating the maximum surface temperature where it can be used. The influences of the ATEX Directives are spread far and wide, covering industries and applications as diverse as oil and gas exploration, food processing, brewing, pharmaceutical production, paint spraying, flour milling and the storage of grain in silos – indeed, anywhere that a potentially explosive combination of a fuel, oxygen and ignition source can all be present. Of course, the conditions also have to be right for an explosion to occur, which means that factors such as the temperature and the ratio of fuel to oxygen also have an influence. While there has been a great deal of attention paid to primary equipment destined for use in hazardous areas, some types of component have occasionally been neglected. In a few cases this has been through ignorance, but more often it has been due to a lack of suitable products. Electrical conduit and fittings, for example, are commonly used within hazardous areas and, although flameproof barrier glands have been available for many years, the ATEX Directive has imposed additional requirements that mean many of the tried-and-tested glands still do not match the ATEX requirements. The IECEx scheme (International Electrotechnical Commission for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres) meets the requirements of international standards such as those prepared by TC31. The Certified Equipment Programme provides a certificate of conformity that includes testing and assessment of samples, compliance of samples with IEC standards, assessment of manufacturing premises and on-going surveillance audits. All the products specified as IECEx compliant have been certified through the programme and Kopex remains the only provider of this range of cable management products to carry the scheme certification. Kopex can provide all organisations with advice on the specification of ATEX approved electrical conduit systems for specific hazardous area applications. http://www.kopex.co.uk/newsdetail.asp?id=314 01/09/2008 By using Kopex's Pipe-prep professional hand tool instead of wire wool to clean and deburr copper pipe, plumbers and other professionals will no longer be at risk from cuts and infections to the hand. Furthermore, Pipe-prep prepares pipe in accordance with the guidelines in the CORGI publication Essential Gas Safety – Domestic, May 2006. Outperforming abrasives and other tools, Pipe-prep is quicker, cleaner and safer. It is not only the operator who benefits – Pipe-prep removes oxidisation which is a common cause of joint failure. This makes it easier to achieve sound and reliable pipe connections. Pipe-prep is available in 15mm and 22mm diameters and is a natural complement to Kopex's top selling Pipeslice copper pipe cutting tool. Combination Pipe-prep and Pipeslice packs are also available. http://www.kopex.co.uk/newsdetail.asp?id=313 10/31/2007 Kopex International Ltd, PHEX, Man Utd FC 23-24 October 2007, Stand 80 and Chelsea FC 21-22 November 2007, Stand 69. Kopex International is demonstrating its CORGI award winning Pipeslice and Pipe-prep professional pipe tools at PHEX 2007. The genuine Kopex Pipeslice is a single handed plumbing tool that makes copper pipe cutting easy whilst Pipe-prep is a combination tool which safely and quickly cleans and deburrs copper pipe ends. Pipeslice is a time and effort-saving solution to cutting copper piping - a simple task which installers face on a day-to-day basis. With a simple twist of the wrist the automatically adjusting tool provides a clean cut-through for various sizes of copper piping. It is ideal for professional plumbers, heating, ventilation and gas installers. It is available in a range of sizes and packs. Pipe-prep prepares copper pipe ends, flattening and smoothing, rather than cutting off burrs. The tool maintains the integrity of the material but produces the right shape for subsequent joining. It removes oxidisation, a common cause of pipe joint failures, making it easier and quicker to effect sound joints. With Pipe-prep, any burr on the inside of the pipe is rolled and smoothed and there is no swarf so contaminant-free pipe work is ensured. Pipe-Prep's smoothing action also removes any sharp edges and consequently reduces the problem of restricted flow. Using the tool also means more contact surface area for joints, giving them long life and fewer failures. http://www.kopex.co.uk/newsdetail.asp?id=305 08/15/2007