Potentially Explosive Atmospheres: the ATEX Directives

Coming across areas where the risk of explosion is a very real possibility is a common occurrence on production sites in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. In this case conformity and compliance with the current regulations is also compulsory.

Typical examples of areas at risk of explosion are the zones where granulation takes place, as well as areas designated for mixing: in actual fact, these are often classified as ATEX zones.

The term ATEX, from the French ‘ATmosphères EXplosibles’, usually identifies the European directives that came into force on 1st July 2003. These foresee that all appliances installed within companies in all the European Community Countries, and located in environments that are potentially at risk of explosion, respond to the specifications of the directive in terms of safety (Ref. 94/9/CE and 99/92/CE).

In general, standard 94/9/CE regulates the construction characteristics of the appliance, while standard 99/92/CE divides the environments at risk of explosion into various zones with different levels of danger for the user.

In particular, 94/9/CE divides appliances suitable for use in potentially explosive environments into two groups: the first (I) includes all equipment used in mines, the second (II) covers all remaining appliances. Consequently Nilfik-CFM machines belong to Group II. Within each group the risk of explosion is further classified according to the explosive agent: Gas (G) or Dust (D). The level of risk varies from a maximum of 1 to a minimum of 3. Nilfisk-CFM appliances carry plates that identify the level of efficiency of the appliance to the risk of explosion (e.g. II 2 D).

99/92/CE, on the other hand, regulates potentially explosive working environments by identifying them and classifying them in three different levels, both for dusts and gases. For gases the levels range from 0 (max) to 2 (min) while for dusts levels start from 20 (max) and go up to 22 (min).

As a reference point within the world of the chemical and pharmaceutical industry and its correlated industries, Nilfisk-CFM can produce ATEX certified machines that fully comply with the above mentioned directives, with a self-certification system for areas Z22 and G2, and with certification from officially notified external Bodies for areas Z21 and G1.

Lastly, the IECEx acronym refers to a type of certification that has similar characteristics to ATEX, but is valid in Australia and New Zealand. Nilfisk-CFM can supply fully certified machines in this case too.