Ampco Safety Tools.

About Ampco Safety Tools

Ampco Safety Tools is a division of Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation, an American industrial group with roots going back to the early twentieth century. Ampco Metal developed specialist copper-based alloys, primarily beryllium copper (Be-Cu) and aluminium bronze (Al-Br), that combined mechanical strength close to steel with the non-sparking, non-magnetic and corrosion-resistant properties that make them safe in environments where standard ferrous tools pose an ignition or contamination risk.

The principle is simple but vital. When a steel tool strikes a hard surface, it produces sparks, and in an atmosphere containing flammable gases, vapours or combustible dusts those sparks can be enough to cause ignition. Ampco’s alloys produce no sparks under the same conditions, which is why their tools are mandated by health and safety requirements in refineries, chemical plants, offshore platforms, grain handling facilities and anywhere else explosive atmospheres are a recognised hazard. This is not a premium nice-to-have. In these environments it is the legal minimum for safe working.

Ampco produces two main alloy families. Beryllium copper (AMPCO-BERYLCO) offers the highest hardness and strength of any non-sparking tool material and suits the most demanding applications. Aluminium bronze (the AMPCO alloy range) offers non-sparking performance at a lower cost point and is appropriate for the majority of general hazardous area applications. Both are available across the full range of hand tool types.

Products We Can Supply from Ampco Safety Tools

Non-sparking wrenches and spanners — open-ended, ring, combination and adjustable spanners in both beryllium copper and aluminium bronze. Available in metric and imperial sizes. Where torque requirements are high and the mechanical strength of standard aluminium bronze may be a concern, beryllium copper is the specified option.

Non-sparking hammers — ball peen, cross peen, sledge and soft-face hammers in non-sparking alloys. Dead-blow variants are available where rebound needs to be minimised. Hammer heads are investment cast or forged to maintain dimensional accuracy and structural integrity under repeated impact.

Non-sparking chisels and punches — cold chisels, cape chisels, round and flat punches, pin punches and nail sets. Used in pipework maintenance, structural work and general fitting tasks in hazardous areas.

Non-sparking screwdrivers and pliers — flat-blade and cross-head screwdrivers, combination pliers, long-nose pliers and slip-joint pliers for general assembly and maintenance work in ATEX environments.

Non-sparking sockets and drive tools — 1/4″, 3/8″ and 1/2″ drive socket sets in beryllium copper or aluminium bronze, with corresponding ratchet handles, extensions and accessories. These let mechanics and maintenance engineers carry out fastening work in hazardous zones to the same standard as they would with conventional tooling.

Industries

Ampco Safety Tools are specified in oil and gas production and refining, petrochemical and chemical processing, offshore platforms, ammunition and explosives manufacturing, grain handling and flour milling, pharmaceutical production, paint and coatings manufacturing, solvent and adhesive processing, and any industrial environment classified as a hazardous area under ATEX or equivalent regulations. For any facility conducting a DSEAR (Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations) risk assessment, non-sparking tooling in the relevant zones is a standard control measure.