ATEX Notes

Hazardous Areas & ATEX 

 ATEX Directive

The ATEX Directive 95/9/EC is a Europe wide Directive Concerning safety of Electrical and Mechanical assemblies in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres. There are two parts to the standard ATEX 100a which applies to manufacturers and ATEX 137 that applies to end users. 

In the UK the application of the Directive is policed by the Health and Safety Executive who ban the use of non approved equipment and can close plants, prosecute manufacturers and even jail their owners and/or directors for non-compliance. For this reason we have produced a simple down-loadable flow chart that helps you decide if your drainage system falls under the ATEX 137 Directive and hence requires ATEX Certified containment technology.

To download this handy one page document ATEX Zoning of Drainage Systems

ATEX 100a:

ATEX 100a embraces many existing BS, IEC, CEN and EN Standards and covers all areas from static electricity generation due to friction (bladder inflation), temperature rise, mechanical sparking, electrical sparking, flammability, quality control, manufacture, etc.  The Directive came into existence in 2003 and products placed on the market in the European Union designed for use in hazardous areas must have ATEX certification and bear the ATEX marking. 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 denotes a high level of protection, and category 3 denotes a normal level of protection.

ATEX 137

ATEX 137 applies to the owners and operators of factories, distribution, site owners, etc, in other words the users. ATEX 137 sets out to improve the safety of all workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres; this is achieved through duties placed upon the employer, such as fitting ATEX certified apparatus as and where required.  The directive harmonises the law of EU member states concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive areas.

Its main requirement concerns 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 logo. 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.

Zones:

The classification of Zones under ATEX is mainly associated with the likelihood of a explosive mixture of gas or dust existing. Zone 0 is where the risk is almost always present, this would certainly be the space in a fuel tank above the liquid fuel. Zone 1 is where a potentially explosive vapour or dust is very likely - this would be inside an oil interceptor, sewer or storm drain adjacent to tank filling area or anywhere it is known that  explosive gases or dusts exist on a regular basis. Zone 2 is where there is still a risk but this is less frequent, this includes all drains running near to chemical / oil storage areas or where flammable liquids or gases could spill but this is not a regular occurrence.