items tagged with Potentially Explosive Atmoshperes

Equipment and Protective Systems intended for use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres (ATEX) Directive 94/9/EC

The Directive applies to both electrical and mechanical equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. These include:

• equipment and protective systems for use within potentially explosive atmospheres;
  
• devices for use outside potentially explosive atmospheres, but which are required for, or contribute to the safe functioning of equipment and protective systems located inside such atmospheres; and
  
• components relating to the above.

The potential for explosive atmospheres can exist in a range of mainly industrial locations such as mines, factories, agricultural silos, and oil and gas platforms, water and other chemical processing environments. There is a wide range of products intended for use in such areas, including control equipment and sensors, transformers, fans, pumps, compressors, fork lift trucks, and lighting.

To enable the free trading of ATEX products within the EEA by removing the need for separate documentation and testing for each individual European market. Manufacturers may use a single CE Mark on their products to show compliance with this (and any other relevant) Directive.

The Directive has been implemented in Great Britain by The Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (SI 1996 No.192) which came into force on 1 March 1996.

The Directive has been implemented in Great Britain by The Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (SI 1996 No.192) which came into force on 1 March 1996.

These Regulations have been amended by the Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres (Amendment) Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No.3766) which came into force on 21 December 2001. The amendment principally covers the concept of “putting into service”.

The Regulations (ISBN 0-11-053999-0) and the amendment to the Regulations (0-11-038961-1) are available to download from The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) or they can be ordered from the The Stationery Office website.

The Directive has also been implemented separately in Northern Ireland on 29 July 1996 (SR 1996/247).

Since implementation, manufacturers had the option of complying with the Directive itself, or with existing Directives in this area, or with national regulations in force on 23 March 1994 (the date of adoption of the Directive) during a transition period that ended on 30 June 2003.

Following the end of the transition period, manufacturers are now required to comply with the Directive. Earlier ATEX Directives (which covered only electrical equipment) have been repealed as from 1 July 2003. This also means that certificates of conformity under these "Old" Directives will also cease to be valid for new equipment from this date. Manufacturers and Users of non-Electrical equipment, protective systems, safety devices and components should review their future needs in the light of the new requirements.