What is ATEX?

ATEX is legally enforceable by the health and safety executive - act now!

ATEX is the name given to a set of European Directives relating to Hazardous Area Installations (Flammable Atmospheres) that takes its name from the French "Atmosphères Explosibles".

It spells out a set of Essential Health & Safety Requirements (EHSR) which when followed should enable everyone in the industry to operate safely and to avoid incident. Two separate directives have been introduced covering Equipment (94/9/EC) and Safety of Working Operations (1999/92/EC).

When was it introduced?

The ATEX Directives came into effect (on a voluntary basis) on the 1st of March 1996. It has been mandatory since 1 July 2003.

It is now necessary for all products placed on the market or put into use to comply with the ATEX Directive, even if they are only intended for use in their country of origin.

If products come within the scope of the Directive, companies that wish to sell them or have them put into service in the EU, have to comply with the Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSR’s) specified in the Directive. They must affix a label with the CE mark and an ATEX classification.

Why was it introduced?

It was adopted by the European Union (EU) to facilitate free trade in the EU by aligning the technical and legal requirements in the member states for products intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres within the EC. It requires manufacturers to adhere strictly to the latest European Normatives (EN Standards) in respect of design construction & certification.

Equipment that complies with the ATEX Directive can be marked with the 'Distinctive Community Mark', this mark is required to ensure that the equipment will be accepted in all Member State countries and be permitted for use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres.

The possible implications of failing to comply with the new European Directives, both financially and in terms of injury and death (not to mention the damage to your company’s reputation) justify the effort involved in obtaining the correct approvals.

All existing equipment will have to be re-certified to the ATEX Directive if the manufacturer wishes to continue selling it within Europe.

What does it apply to?

The Directive covers equipment and protective systems, which may be used in areas endangered by potentially explosive atmospheres created by the presence of flammable gases, vapours, mists or dusts. The Directive covers both electrical and mechanical equipment.

It covers a surprisingly large range of equipment, potentially including equipment used on fixed offshore platforms, in petrochemical plants, mines, flourmills and other areas where a potentially explosive atmosphere may be present.

The term "equipment" is defined as ‘any item which contains or constitutes a potential ignition source and which requires special measures to be incorporated in its design and/or its 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. "Protective Systems" are defined as items that prevent an explosion that has been initiated from spreading or causing damage.

How do our products comply?

For products that meet the scope of the ATEX Directive, you must ensure that they comply with the Essential Requirements specified in Annex II of the ATEX Directive. For fan manufacturers, the onus of responsibility is now with the end users of fans to ensure they have the appropriate fan for the job, manufacturers can select suitable fans, but this has to be based on the end users declared conditions and approval.

To ensure that products comply with the ATEX Directive, you need to follow the applicable Conformity Assessment Procedure(s). (These procedures may involve the participation of a notified body.)

The Essential Requirements listed in Annex II relate to features of equipment and protective systems that are necessary in order to prevent explosions or to control the effects of incipient explosions.

In very broad terms, there are three pre-conditions for the Directive to apply:

1. The equipment must have its own potential source of ignition;
2. Be intended for use in a potentially explosive atmosphere (air mixtures); which is
3. Under normal atmospheric conditions.

What does it mean for us as manufacturers?

There are technical and legislative aspects that have to be addressed by fan manufacturers AND by users of fans in potentially explosive atmospheres.

In order to supply fully compliant fans, the client/end-user must provide the fan manufacturer (or his agent) with essential details on the environment in which the fan will be required to operate. The Directive sets out the main duties on end-users of fans as:

• To prevent the formation of explosive atmospheres
• Assessment of explosion risks
• Classification of the workplace into Zones
• Select ATEX products according to Zone
• Prepare an explosion protection document (EPD)
• Identify hazardous areas using warning signs

Fan manufacturers have to be informed of the following factors to enable a suitable selection:

• Fan Type
• Fan Application
• Customer’s Requirements
• Customer’s Application
• Performance Requirements
• Zone, Group, Category, Classification
• Maximum Surface Temperatures

The onus is placed primarily on the end user. Fan manufacturers such as Fläkt Woods have the capability to support the selection process and have made the necessary modifications to their axial and centrifugal fan designs for ATEX approval.