EU legislation and equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX)

A potentially explosive atmosphere exists when a mixture of air gases, vapours, mists, or dusts combine in a way that can ignite under certain operating conditions. Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX) cover a range of products, including those used on fixed offshore platforms, petrochemical plants, mines, and flour mills, amongst others.

The ATEX Directive 2014/34 covers equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. The directive defines the essential health and safety requirements and conformity assessment procedures, to be applied before products are placed on the EU market. It is aligned with the new legislative framework policy, and it is applicable from 20 April 2016, replacing the previous Directive 94/9/EC.

Follow the link for a guidance document on the ATEX directive transition from 94/9/EC to 2014/34/EU (371 KB), with a list of frequently asked questions and answers.

Source and more information: visit the official ATEX page on the European Commission website