ATEX Directive

Any control equipment used to ensure the safe operation of equipment in a

hazardous area falls within the scope of the ATEX Directive (from the French -
ATmospheres EXplosibles). The ATEX Directive combines two European Directives
associated with equipment used in and people who work in potentially explosive
atmospheres. It not only considers potentially explosive concentrations of gas, vapor
or mist in the air, but also concentrations of dust. It accounts for both electrical and
mechanical sources of ignition. It also concerns the minimum requirements for
improving safety and health protection of workers at risk from explosive
atmospheres. An Explosive Atmosphere is the mixture of flammable substances in
the form of gases, vapors, mists or dusts with air.

ATEX Directive 94/9/EC (also known as ATEX 95 or ATEX 100A)

If you design, manufacture or sell any equipment or protective system intended for
use in potentially explosive atmospheres, you must comply with the ATEX Directive
94/9/EC and the CE Marking Directive to market those products in the European
Union (EU). This directive covers equipment 1 and protective systems2, which may be
used in hazardous areas created by the existence of flammable gases, vapors,
mists or dusts. It also covers electrical and non-electrical equipment. The following
types of products are excluded from the directive's requirements:
 Medical devices
 Products for the use in the presence of explosives
 Products for domestic use
 Personal protective equipment
 Sea-going vessels and mobile off-shore units
 Means of transport, except vehicles for use in potentially explosive
atmospheres
 Military equipment

Essential Health And Safety Requirements (EHSR)

Equipment, protective systems and safety devices must satisfy the relevant essential
health and safety requirements set out in Annex C of Directive 94/9/EC. The
requirements take into account the intended use of the products and changes in
technological knowledge as far as possible, with immediate utilization. They include
general measures requiring manufacturers to take steps to prevent the formation of
explosive atmospheres by the equipment, protective system or safety device; to
prevent the ignition of an explosive atmosphere by electrical and non-electrical
sources; and to ensure that, should an explosion occur, it can be stopped
immediately or limited in extent. Other aspects covered: the materials used; design
and construction; mechanical hazards and vibrations; safe opening; electrostatic
hazards; hazards arising from external effects; and the integration of safety
requirements.

Methods Of Complying With The Essential Health And Safety Requirements

Products must be manufactured in conformity with:
 Specified European harmonized standards; or
  Harmonized standards specified in the Electrical Equipment for Explosive
Atmospheres (Certification) Regulations 1990; or
 In the absence of specified European harmonized standards, existing national
technical standards and specifications may be used instead; or
 The essential health and safety requirements
When using any of the first three standards listed above, check that the standard(s)
cover all of the essential health and safety requirements relevant to the product; and
the standard(s) are to the current state of technical knowledge. In the absence of a
relevant standard, a manufacturer must demonstrate conformity of the product with
the requirement itself.

Classification of Equipment and Hazardous Areas

Equipment is divided into two groups (I for mining and II for surface industries) and
into categories (M1and M2 for mining) and categories 1, 2 and 3 for all other
industries.

ATEX Directive 99/92/EC (also known as ‘USE’ or ATEX 137) refers to the safety
and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres. The
directive highlights what the employer must do to prevent and protect against
explosions as well as classifies hazardous areas into zones, as defined below:

Gas, Mists or Vapors

 Zone 0 — An atmosphere where a mixture of air and flammable substances
in the form of gas, vapor or mist is present frequently, continuously or for long
periods.
 Zone 1 — An atmosphere where a mixture of air and flammable substances
in the form of gas, vapor or mist is likely to occur in normal operation
occasionally.
 Zone 2 — An atmosphere where a mixture of air and flammable substances
in the form of gas, vapor or mist is not likely to occur in normal operation but,
if it does occur, will persist for only a short period.
Dusts
 Zone 20 — An atmosphere where a cloud of combustible dust in the air is
present frequently, continuously or for long periods.
 Zone 21 — An atmosphere where a cloud of combustible dust in the air is
likely to occur in normal operation occasionally.
 Zone 22 — An atmosphere where a cloud of combustible dust in the air is not
likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for only a
short period.

ATEX Group II Categories and Applications

Category Design of Design Requirements Application Zone of
Safety Use
1 Very high Two independent means Where explosive Zone 0
level of of protection or safe with atmospheres are present Zone 20
safety two separate faults continuously or for lengthy
periods
2 High level Safe with frequently Where explosive Zone 1
of safety occurring disturbances atmospheres are likely to Zone 21
or with an operating fault occur
 3 Normal Safe in normal operation Where explosive Zone 2
level of atmospheres are likely to Zone 22
safety occur infrequently and be of
short duration

EC Type Examination Certificate

It is mandatory for manufacturers to obtain an EC (European Community) Type
Examination Certificate from a notified body if they are manufacturing electrical
equipment in Categories M1, M2, 1 and 2 or diesel engine protection systems in
Category 2. In all other cases manufacturers are free to certify their own equipment.
Depending on the equipment's categorization, manufacturers are required to install a
quality system that ensures product replication. There are five (5) annexes in the
ATEX Directive which identify different quality systems for this purpose.
Manufacturers are required to have in place either an ISO 9000 quality management
system or a notified body must be involved in the inspection of product in some
capacity. In either case a notified body is responsible for ensuring that products
produced meet the original EC Type Examination Certificate. Quality management
systems must either be audited by the notified body (if EN 45012 accredited) or
another organization that has this qualification and is accepted by the notified body.

Explosive Protection Document (EPD)

The directive also requires that an Explosive Protection Document be prepared and
maintained which identifies hazards, evaluates risks and defines safety measures.

In addition to assessing the effect of any explosion the EPD must consider:
 Substitution of flammable products with non-flammable
 Training
 Permits to work
 Warning of explosive conditions
 Escape routes
 Power failure
 Manual overrides
 Emergency shutdown
 Co-ordination between workers in the area
 Installation and maintenance of equipment
 Permit to work systems
 Warning notices
 Policies and procedures associated with equipment for potentially explosive
atmospheres.
Signs
The directive requires that all areas classified as hazardous be identified with a
warning sign. The sign must be triangular, black on yellow with the text EX (see
below). The signs must be displayed at points of entry into explosive atmospheres.

In addition to the 94/9/EC ATEX Directive, products for use in potentially explosive
atmospheres may require to be compliant with other directives including the
89/336/EEC Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive, which became
mandatory on January 1, 96. This directive applies to virtually all electrical and
electronic apparatus potentially able to generate interfering emissions or exhibit an
undue sensitivity to interference sources.
Once compliance with the relevant directives is complete and an EC Declaration of
Conformity is issued by the manufacturer, the "CE" mark may be applied and the
product placed on the market (see below).

Conclusion
With the introduction of the ATEX Directive manufacturers now have an opportunity
to introduce more innovative products than was possible under the old Explosive
Atmospheres Directive. Compliance with the requirements of the ATEX Directive is
complex. The directive sets a number of technical and quality objectives that must
be complied with to the satisfaction of a notified body. However, once these have
been met, a manufacturer is entitled to display the distinctive European Mark which
is recognized throughout the European Union.

1 “Equipment” is any item which contains or constitutes a potential ignition source and which requires special measures to be
incorporated in its design and/or installation in order to prevent the ignition source from initiating an explosion in the surrounding
atmosphere. Also included in the term “equipment” are safety or control devices installed outside the hazardous area but having an
explosion protection function. A wide range of products comes within the definition of equipment including electric motors, lighting
fittings, control and communication devices and monitoring and detection equipment.
2 “Protection systems” are items, which prevent an explosion that has been initiated from spreading or causing damages. They include
flame arresters, quenching systems, pressure relief panels and fast-acting shut-off valve.

Computer Dynamics, Inc., 7640 Pelham Road, Greenville, SC 29615

864-627-8800 (phone); 864-675-0106 (fax); CDIsales@gefanuc.com (general e-mail); www.cdynamics.com