ATEX comes from the French term ATmospheres EXplosives.
As of 2003, organisations in the EU must follow the directives in order to protect employees from explosion risk in areas where an explosive atmosphere is present.
There are two ATEX directives, one for the manufacturer and one for the user of the equipment.
- The first directive, the ATEX 95 equipment 94/9/EC, equipment and protective system is intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
- The second directive, the ATEX 137, workplace directive 99/92/EC, minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres. The requirement of this directive is that Employers must classify areas where hazardous explosive atmospheres may occur into zones.
ATEX identifies how to classify these zones.
What are the ATEX Zone differences?
ATEX differentiates between zones according to the level of safety risk they present.
Zone 0 – A place in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture with air of dangerous substances in the form of gas, vapor or mist is present continuously or for long periods or frequently
Zone 1 – A place in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture with air of dangerous substances in the form of gas, vapor or mist is likely to occur in normal operation occasionally.
Zone 2 – A place in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture with air of dangerous substances in the form of gas, vapor or mist is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for a short period only.
CB Refrigeration Ltd can provide explosion proof refrigeration solutions to be used in potentially explosive atmospheres. Our explosion proof range can store destructive, hazardous materials, liquids, resins, adhesives and pharmaceuticals, needed where there is explosive atmospheres containing a mixture of air gases, vapours or dusts that can ignite under certain conditions.
