The new ATEX standard is an essential part for companies that work with explosive materials and substances. The ATEX standard has been drawn up to guarantee the safety of employees who work with explosive substances or in explosive environments. In this article we explain what the biggest changes are.
What is ATEX?
ATEX is an abbreviation that stands for ATmosphères EXplosibles. It is a European directive drawn up to protect employees who work in explosive environments. The guideline consists of two parts: ATEX 114 and ATEX 153.
ATEX 114 relates to equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres. The devices used must meet certain safety requirements to reduce the risk of an explosion. ATEX 153 relates to the working environment itself. Companies must ensure that the working environment is safe and that employees are aware of the dangers of explosive substances.
The ATEX changes:
Since April 2016, the ATEX directive has been changed to the ATEX 2014/34/EU directive. In this new guideline there are a number of important changes compared to the old one, including:
- The introduction of a new classification system for zones: Zone 0, Zone 1 and Zone 2.
- The introduction of a classification and labeling of explosive substances.
- Manufacturers will be required to maintain technical documentation. They can demonstrate that their equipment meets the mandatory requirements.
- Manufacturers are required to follow the conformity assessment procedure and have it assessed by a third party.
- All equipment and protection systems must be marked.
More information about the ATEX directive.