Everything you need to know about ATEX regulations
What is a hazardous area with a potentially explosive atmosphere?
Hazardous areas are defined in order to assess their risk, and to prompt the operator to take appropriate measures to prevent the ignition of flammable gases and dusts. The classifications of zones and divisions are defined in the ATEX directives .
The classification of the area may include the following:
- Danger zone diagram
- ventilation/air conditioning data that can be performed in zone
- data on sources of gas and dust release
- information on flammable substances stored or handled
The two directives applicable in France for the prevention of explosion risks
- the requirements aimed at improving the safety and health protection of workers likely to be exposed to the risk of explosive atmospheres (Directive 1999/92/EC of 16 December 1999),
- protective equipment and systems intended for use in explosive atmospheres (Directive 2014/34/EU of 26 February 2014).
The first concerns the free movement of equipment. This is Directive 94/9/EC . It was transposed into French law by Decree 96-1010. It defines the essential health and safety requirements that protective devices and systems intended for use in explosive atmospheres must meet and the means of demonstrating the conformity of these protective devices and systems to benchmarks. This directive also provides for the introduction of a complementary directive concerning the explosion hazards associated with the use and installation of the devices.
The second, more recent, concerns the protection of workers. This is Directive 1999/92/EC . It sets out the minimum requirements to be respected in terms of the safety and health of workers likely to be exposed to the risk of explosive atmospheres.
It falls under the framework directive 89/931/EEC which concerns the implementation of measures to promote the improvement of the safety and health of workers in the workplace.
This new directive requires the employer to assess the risk of explosion and the probability of occurrence of explosive atmospheres, the probability of occurrence of ignition sources, the substances used, the processes and their possible interactions, the installation of equipment as well as the extent of the foreseeable consequences.
What should the operator think about to maintain a safe environment?
In operation, it is the responsibility of the operator to ensure that the conditions to cause an explosion do not arise. However, due to the fact that there is a risk that these events may occur, measures must be taken in relation to electrical and non-electrical products to prevent them from being triggered.
Dangers and risks must be reduced to a minimum.
Explosion risks must be assessed globally. If the risk exists, the employer must take technical and organizational measures to:
- prevent the formation of explosive atmospheres , or if this is not possible
- prevent their inflammation, or if this is not possible
- reduce the effects of the explosion so that workers are not at risk
To do this, the employer is required to:
- to carry out an explosion risk assessment
- to ensure security
- to classify locations at risk of explosion
- to install the appropriate equipment
- to establish a document relating to explosion risks covering all these points and keep it up to date
When installing electrical equipment, it should be installed in non-hazardous areas if possible. If this is not possible, the least hazardous area possible should be selected (see ATEX zone classification for more details).
All electrical connection equipment and wiring must be designed, installed, operated and maintained so that they do not become a source of ignition .
Electrical equipment must meet 3 requirements :
- Construction and installation must comply with the regulations and requirements for use in hazardous areas of the country concerned.
- All electrical products must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, and follow any constraints/limitations that the certification requires. (For example, if the product is certified as a component then the equipment to which it is attached may need to be tested and certified with that component in situ).
- At the end of the installation, the inspection must be carried out by a competent body .
