If your business moves in an atmosphere with risk of explosion you need products with ATEX certification, but what exactly is it?
In July 2003 new regulations came into force. From that moment on, companies that work in areas with explosive atmospheres must follow guidelines to protect employees from the risk of explosion.
The directive in charge of creating ATEX certificates arises and is applied in the European Union. It is responsible for describing the types of equipment and environments permitted for work in an explosive atmosphere. p>
ATEX certification guarantees the use of the product without risk and with guarantees of efficiency in atmospheres of this type. Equipment that meets the requirements will be marked by the CE symbol and the Ex symbol. This marking is mandatory, products can only be marketed if they are suitable for the use for which they are intended.
The certificate is called ATEX after the French directive: “Appareils destinés à êtresutilisés en ATmosphères EXplosives”. p>
ATEX products are qualified among other categories according to the zone, atmosphere and temperature.
Zone
We distinguish between underground industry, for example mining or surface industry. Each of them, in turn, has categories.
Surface industry
- Category 1: very high level of protection, guarantees that even if one means of protection fails, the other will maintain the level of protection.
- Category 2: high level of protection
- Category 3: normal level of protection.
Underground industry
- Category M1: very high level of protection
- Category M2: high level of protection.
Atmosphere
Atmosphere of gas, vapor or fog
Here, the safety principles to consider will be: the explosion risk areas must be as small as possible. All electronic equipment must have protection appropriate to the area in which it is located.
Three different areas are distinguished in this environment:
- Zone 0: the explosive atmosphere is a consistent mixture of air or hazardous substances in the form of gases, vapors or mist that are present continuously, for long periods of time< /strong>.
- Zone 1: consistent mixture of air or hazardous substances in the form of gases, vapors or mist as a normal sign of the environment.
- Zone 2: it is a normal sign but it occurs in small periods of time.
Dust atmosphere
Ventilation that raises dust will be avoided. The equipment will have the highest protection rates, to guarantee resistance to both water and dust. They will move around an IP5- or IP6- that reflects their resistance to dust and an IP-7 or IP-8 that reflects their resistance to water. In this type of areas, maximum temperatures of 745 degrees are supported.
There is also a classification by supported temperatures. This is a really complex product that goes through really precise controls to guarantee the safety of its employees.
On our website< /a> you will find two models of luminaires that have the Atex certificate.
On the one hand, the ATEX Hood, a product that has high-power thermal conductivity and an IP66 rating that qualifies it as a waterproof item. Thanks to its anti-explosive characteristic, it is usually located in places such as factories or chemical laboratories. It can also be useful in parking lots or warehouses. The installation of the hood is in suspension.
On the other hand, you will find the Watertight Screen, just like the ATEX hood, it has high thermal conductivity. Also, it has a protection index of IP66. The basic difference with the hood, apart from the change in style, is that the screen can be installed suspended or fixed on the surface.
You now have all the keys to decide whether or not you need an ATEX product. If you are clear about it and want to decide on one, contact us!
