Pyropress and the ATEX Directive

With the introduction of the ATEX Directive (94/9/EC) and the fact that it became mandatory for all equipment designed for use in hazardous areas sold within the European Community, Pyropress has ensured that they have been able to offer customers ATEX certified equipment since October 2000.

To aid our customers with the transition to ATEX the following guide has been produced.

Pyropress Statement - ATEX Directive 94/9/EC

Pyropress have three product ranges certified EExd for CAT2 (Zone 1) Gas & Dust atmospheres (Titan, Trojan & Argus) and three product ranges certified EExia for CAT1 (Zone 0) Gas atmospheres only (Titan, Guardian & Argus).

What is the ATEX Directive?

The term ATEX is derived from the French "ATmosphères EXplosibles".

In 1994, the European Commission issued a directive that effects the sale of any equipment for use in hazardous areas within the European Community.

The objectives of the Directive are:-

To give a more controlled approach to "certification" throughout the community;
To introduce a set of "Essential Health and Safety Requirements" (EHSRs).

It is known as the 100a ATEX Directive (94/9/EC)

What equipment does the ATEX Directive effect?

The term "equipment" is defined as: "any item which contains or constitutes a potential ignition source and which requires special measurements to be incorporated in its design and/or installation in order to prevent the ignition source from initiating an explosion in the surrounding atmosphere".

The directive applies to:

electrical and mechanical equipment.
protective systems and components, which are to be designed and assessed to meet the requirements.

Consideration must be given to all types of release of gases, vapour mists and dusts in conjunction with all types of ignition source.

There are exclusions which include:

products for domestic use, military equipment medical devices, sea going vessels and all forms of transport.

What are the differences between the old certification and the new ATEX Directive?

The main differences are:

The inclusion of non-electrical equipment.
The inclusion of dust atmospheres.
Requirements for safety related equipment and safe area equipment.
Additional quality system requirements.
The need to produce a "Technical Construction File".

What are the new product categories?

This is now broken down into two sections, which are divided into sub-sections as follows:

Equipment Group I (mining)

M1 High level of protection for mining equipment. Two fault conditions.
M2 Reliability concept of protection for mining equipment.

Equipment Group II (non-mining)

CAT 1 (Zones 0 & 20) Still safe with two faults e.g. Ex ia - Intrinsically safe certified electrical equipment.
CAT 2 (Zones 1 & 21) Increased safety under abnormal operating conditions. Included in this would be equipment designed to the following concepts:
1. Ex ib - Intrinsically Safe.
2. Exd - Flameproof.
3. Exe - Increased safety.
4. Exp - Purged and pressurised.
5. Exo - Oil filled.
6. Exq - Powder filled.
CAT 3 (Zones 2 & 22) Equipment in this caregory would normally include that designed for:
1. Exn - Non-incendive standard.

When is compliance to ATEX required?

The ATEX Directive became mandatory on the 1st July 2003, the equipment described above must comply with the EHSRs specified in the Directive, even if they are only intended for use in their country of origin. Consequently it is not possible to purchase new or replacement equipment which is non ATEX certified, although component parts for pre-ATEX certified equipment can however be precured and fitted.