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ATEX

ATEX is “Atmosphères Explosibles” and refers to the European Directive 2014/34/EU, which defines the safety requirements for equipment and protective systems used in potentially explosive atmospheres. 

“ATEX” is the abbreviation for the French term “Atmosphères Explosibles”, which means “Explosive Atmospheres”. The ATEX directive applies to equipment and protective systems used in areas where an atmosphere containing flammable gases, vapours, mists or combustible dust may be present. Such atmospheric conditions may be found in various industries, including petrochemical plants, oil refineries, chemical plants, mining, food processing and other areas where potentially explosive atmospheres may occur. The ATEX directive aims to ensure the safety of workers and minimise the risk of explosions in these hazardous environments. The directive sets requirements for designing, operating and marking equipment and protective systems used in potentially explosive atmospheres. It also defines the classification of dangerous zones (Zone 0, Zone 1, Zone 2 for gases and Zone 20, Zone 21, Zone 22 for dust) and the corresponding protective measures for the respective zones. Manufacturers producing products for use in potentially explosive atmospheres must comply with the requirements of the ATEX directive and label their products with an ATEX marking to show that they meet the safety standards. In addition, employers who use such equipment in their establishments must take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of their employees and comply with the provisions of the ATEX directive.