Guaranteeing the safety of personnel and equipment at high-risk industrial sites has become a priority under European regulations.
Given the high number of explosive atmospheres in these areas, specific guidelines and markings have been designed to limit risks and prevent hazards in designated zones. It is therefore imperative to have industrial safety solutions on site.
What exactly is ATEX? Why delimit these danger zones? And, above all, how does the regulatory and normative ATEX marking of equipment work?
What is ATEX?
It’s also an acronym for ATmosphères EXplosives.
These result from a mixture of air and combustible substances of all kinds (solvent vapors, aerosol gases, wood dust, etc.) in proportions that can provide a source of energy sufficient to produce an explosion – and/or ignition.
Unlike a fire, which spreads gradually, an explosion is an almost immediate combustion. In addition to producing a massive blast effect, it is accompanied by flames and a major heat wave.
Presence of an oxidizer (oxygen) and a fuel in certain proportions + pressure + presence of an ignition source = explosion. ATEXs are mainly found at the heart of high-risk industrial sites, which require ATEX equipment to prevent these risks.
How does ATEX zoning work?
The site manager must identify all areas where explosive atmospheres could potentially form.
Effective zoning then enables the type of electrical and non-electrical equipment to be adapted or re-adapted according to the type of zone, in order to limit the risk of explosion.
The aim is to protect not only the premises, but also the employees.
According to current ATEX regulations, several zone categories can be distinguished:
A risk zone is therefore defined according to the frequency and duration of the presence of ATEX.
Subsequently, the person in charge must notify premises and locations likely to present ATEX zones by means of a regulatory pictogram:
How does ATEX equipment marking work?
What marking is required for each ATEX zone?
Regulations require that all electrical and non-electrical equipment and protective systems present in ATEX zones comply with the technical requirements for the different types of zone.
Deciphering regulatory ATEX marking
Example of an ATEX label
CE = Conformity to a European directive
0432 = Number following notified body number
EX = Mandatory ATEX mark in accordance with the ATEX Directive
II = Device group
2 = Device category
D = for dusty atmospheres
G = for atmospheres containing gas or vapors (“gas”)
Deciphering ATEX standard marking
Regulatory marking is generally supplemented by normative marking to verify compatibility with ATEX standards.
Example of normative marking for an ATEX zone G
EEX = Certification that equipment meets CENELEC standard requirements
de = Protection mode used: flameproof enclosure (d) / increased safety (e)
II = Gases / Vapors
A = Subdivision of gas groups, here the least severe (A = Propane / B = Ethylene/ C = Hydrogen)
T3 = Temperature class corresponding to a maximum material surface temperature of 200°)
EEX = Certification that equipment meets CENELEC standard requirements
de = Protection mode used: flameproof enclosure (d) / increased safety (e)
III = Dust
B = Subdivision of dust groups (A = Combustible particles / B = Non-conductive dusts / C = Conductive dusts)
T100° = Maximum material surface temperature
IP84 = dust-tight (8) and liquid-tight (4) rating of equipment
Today, European Directive 2014/34/EU requires companies to equip themselves with appropriate ATEX equipment in delimited locations.
Do you work on an industrial site with ATEX zones?
ADF Systèmes makes it a point of honor to help you choose the products and solutions best suited to your industrial safety and risk management needs.
