ATEX directives
Warnings
- Carefully read the Instructions for Use used in this technical advice before consulting the advice itself. You must have already read and understood the information in the Instructions for Use to be able to understand this supplementary information.
- Mastering these techniques requires specific training. Work with a professional to confirm your ability to perform these techniques safely and independently before attempting them unsupervised.
- We provide examples of techniques related to your activity. There may be others that we do not describe here.
There are two European directives that relate to ATEX:
- The 2014/34/UE directive
It concerns the design, manufacture and bringing to market of devices intended for use in explosive atmospheres. This directive is a revision of directive 94/9/EC. It establishes:
- essential health and safety requirements
- procedures for assessing the conformity of products
- the requirement for ATEX markings on the product, in accordance with the new European product classification
- the requirement for CE marking on the product and the establishment of an EU declaration of conformity
- creating a set of instructions
- The 99/92/EC directive
It concerns the use of devices designed for use in explosive atmospheres (except mines). This directive aims to improve the protection of workers who may be at risk from explosive atmospheres. It therefore directly concerns employers who must:
- assess the specific risks associated with ATEX
- Evaluate by zone the probability of occurrence and/or persistence of an explosive atmosphere.
- establish zoning and marking for the zone(s), depending on the frequency of occurrence of explosive atmospheres in the zones.
- select suitable equipment depending on the type of zones encountered in their facility.
-write or have an EPD (explosion protection document) written that presents the results of the risk assessment.
- train the people involved
