What Does ATEX Mean?
ATEX Derives its Name from the Last Two Words of the French Title of the Directive: Appareils Destinés à Être Utilisés En ATmosphères EXplosives.
What is the ATEX Directive?
ATEX is an EU directive that describes which equipment and workspaces are allowed in an environment with a potentially explosive atmosphere.
The ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU covers equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
The directive defines essential health and safety requirements and conformity assessment procedures, to be applied before products are placed on the EU market. It is aligned with the new legislative framework policy and has been applicable since April 20, 2016, replacing the previous Directive 94/9/EC.
Potentially Explosive Atmospheres or who may be Affected by Explosions.
What is a potentially explosive atmosphere?
An explosive atmosphere exists when a mixture of gases, vapors, mists, or dusts in the air combine in a way that can ignite under certain operational conditions.
Some of the most obvious industries and workplaces where explosive atmospheres exist are the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries, fire and recycling industries, gas stations, power plants, and chemical production facilities.
Where do explosive atmospheres exist?
They can occur in less obvious industries, such as pharmaceutical companies, sugar factories, aircraft inspection, sewer operations, paint and varnish production, chemical industry, grain processing industry, car workshops, surfactant and solvent factories.
ATEX certification of equipment for use in hazardous atmospheres is mandatory.
The ATEX Directive defines 6 different zones for explosion protection:
three for gas and three for dust. Certified equipment must always be identified with the respective symbol.
Equipment with ATEX Certification:
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