Atex standard and regulation

The ATEX regulation consists of two European directives describing manufacturers and users requirements on equipment and work space in explosive atmospheres.

ATEX ZONES DESCRIPTION

ATEX EQUIPMENT MARKING

Since July 1^st 2003, any new device installed must meet requirements from ATEX regulation. This directive is about installation compliance of a new device in an industrial environment. The marking indicates the equipment compliance and is made of several parts:

• First figure (1) indicates location: I for mines, II for surface industries like chemistry and petrochemistry
• Second figure (2) indicates ATEX zone category: 1 for zones 0 and 20, 2 for zones 1 and 21, 3 for zones 2 and 22
• Third figure (3) indicates zone type: G for gas or vapor zone, D for dust zone
• Fourth figure (4) indicates the equipment standard: E for CENELEC, Ex for CEI (international)
• Fifth figure (5) indicates safety type: d for explosion-proof, e for enhanced safety, ia or ib for intrinsic safety
• Sixth figure (6) indicates indicate reference gas (for gas zones): I for methane, IIA for propane, IIB for ethylene, IIC for hydrogen and acethylene
• Seventh figure (7) indicates surface maximum temperature: T1 = 450 °C, T2 = 300 °C, T3 = 200 °C, T4 = 135 °C, T5 = 100 °C, T6 = 85 °C

Above marking example (table) thus corresponds to an equipment dedicated to surface industry, for zone 0 (gas) that meets CENELEC and CEI standards, explosion-proof, with ethylene as reference gas for a minimum surface temperature of 85°C.

In ATEX zones postable gas detectors, fixed gas detection systems and sirens & signals have to be ATEX compliant to guarantee safety.