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Ratings, standards, regulations explained
ATEX certification coding

On July 1, 2003 the ATEX Directive became mandatory in Europe and governed by European law for all electrical and mechanical equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres. After that date, products without ATEX certification will be illegal on the European market, and connot feature the new CE mark.

NOTE: This document is intended only as a primer for ATEX and CE marking. Please google ATEX certification or visit a very informative page on ATEX at sensorland.com

For CE marking, as well as compliance with ATEX, all hazardous area equipment must comply with any other applicable directives. Currently, the CE mark does not prove ATEX compliance as some hazardous area equipment may be CE marked through compliance with other mandatory directives.

Under ATEX, manufacturers must design and test components to prevent or minimise the risk of explosion due to the production or release of explosive atmospheres. Essentially, manufacturers must consider every possible electrical or non-electrical source of ignition. And, at the same time, consider all potentially hazardous environments a product could operate in; the different ways it could be applied and the technical ability of the person using the product.

Getting products approved

As with all new regulations, all new products must be assessed and all existing products reassessed. There are two elements to gaining product approval – Product Type Approval (testing and assessment) and Production Control (quality systems in manufacture). Requirements (EHSRs) described in Annex II of the directive. Electrical equipment is well covered, but few standards cover non-electrical equipment. Production Control involves a Quality Assurance type procedure often with the responsible manufacturer being audited by a Notified Body for compliance with the relevant annex dependent on the type of equipment and QA system currently in place.

The former involves compliance with the Essential Health and Safety

The route to compliance with EHSRs will see most manufacturers choosing to prove conformity with the latest edition of the harmonised standards for electrical equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. For all equipment this will require testing and production of test reports. For the higher risk equipment – electrical categories I and 2 and mechanical category I – this testing must be conducted by a Notified Body, normally culminating with the issue of an EC Type Examination Certificate. The details of this certificate must also be marked on the equipment.

Protection zones and categories

Manufacturers must also supply other evidence of compliance such as proof of a consideration of issues including general electrical safety and EMC. New standards are currently being introduced almost every month, so working with a chosen Notified Body at each stage of the process will help manufacturers keep abreast of current methodology and standards.

Under ATEX, all products must be categorised by the level of protection they offer against the risk of becoming a potential source of ignition in an explosive atmosphere. Defined categories for equipment conformity are divided between surface and mining applications. The ‘Use Directive’ describes zones to reflect the explosion risk.

The ATEX Directive makes Notified Body involvement mandatory in both equipment assessment and monitoring of production for equipment for use in Zone 0 areas (highest risk) and for equipment to be used in Zone 1 areas (medium risk). For equipment to be used in Zone 2 areas only (least risk) the manufacturer has to maintain technical documentation which includes evidence of testing and production control, although a Notified Body is not necessarily involved.

ATEX certification coding example

CE – Ex – II – 2 – G – EEx – d – IIC – T4 – T amb

CE This means CE mark permitted by the European Commission to show compliance with all EU directives applicable to a product.

Ex Distinctive community mark to show suitability for explosive atmospheres

II Group II – surface industries Group I – for use in mines

2 Equipment category

G G = tested for gases D = tested for dusts

EEx EEx means equipment tested under the latest European Harmonised Standard for use in Explosive atmospheres

d Certification Production concept e.g. d(flameproof) to EN50018

IIC Apparatus Group

T4 Temperature classification T1 = 450 Deg.C T2 = 300 Deg.C T3 = 200 Deg.C T4 = 135 Deg.C T5 = 100 Deg.C T6 = 85 Deg.C.

T amb Ambient temperature range in service (Standard between -20 and +40 Deg.C)

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