Last edit: 03/03/2023
The Directive 2010/34/EU (also called ATEX 114), that replaced the 94/9/CE on April 2015, is about the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
This Directive concerns each product used in potentially explosive atmosphere (according to Directive 99/92/EC – also called ATEX 153). The considered products are both Electrical and Mechanical.
Each protection method should satisfy an harmonized standard.
Some of these standards are listed below:
- EN 60079-1: Equipment protection by flameproof enclosures "d", for the panels represented in the picture.
- EN 60079-11: Equipment protection by intrinsic safety 'I' and EN 60079-25: Intrinsically safe electrical systems. These two standards are intended for the engineering of respectively intrinsically safe equipment and systems composed by intrinsically safe components.
- EN 60079-31: Equipment Dust Ignition Protection by Enclosure “t” intended to use in presence of combustyible dusts.
There are six Atex Classified Zones (0, 1, 2 for gases and 20,21, 22 for dusts) and it is important to notice that not all methods are suitable for each zone. For example, protection "d" is suitable for Zone 1 and Zone 2, but not for Zone 0 or Zones containing dusts.
Do you have to design a cabinet with protection method "t" to be certified by a notified body? Do you need technical support to understand which component to use and prepare the technical file?
Do you have to engineer a filter that works with explosive dusts?
Do you want to understand if your machine needs ATEX equipments or componets, marked according to the Directive?
Please contact us, we can clarify some of your doubts.