ATEX Electrical Hazardous Area Equipment
The oil and gas industry has many hazardous working areas where Atex certified equipment has been specified.
The ATEX Directive
The ATEX Directive, derived from the French “ATmospheres EXplosibles” and formerly known as 94/9/EC, contains the ESR (Essential Safety Requirements) to which electrical equipment and protective systems used within potentially explosive atmospheres must conform.
The new ATEX directive currently in place within the European Union was made mandatory on 1st July 2003. Primarily intended for manufacturers of hazardous area equipment for use in the presence of flammable gases, vapours fumes or dusts, the new directive requires a quality management system to be implemented. Procedures for the design, manufacture and verification of products are to be approved by a notified body (i.e. Sira, Baseefa 2000, CESI, Demko, Kema) and all equipment conforming to the new directive will feature Ex and CE marking.
Hazardous areas are classified in zones on the basis of the frequency and duration of the occurrence of an explosive atmosphere caused by gases, vapours and mists.
| Zones | Definitions | Equipment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 & 20 | A place in which an explosive atmosphere is continually present. | Category 1 | |
| 1 & 21 | A place in which an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur in normal operation occasionally. | Category 2 | |
| 2 & 22 | A place in which an explosive atmosphere is not likely to occur in normal operation, but if it does only occurs for short periods. | Category 3 |
- Process Control equipment – switches, controllers, flowmeters.
- Emergency Lighting
- Helipad Lighting – varying colour LED’s of Red, Green, White
- Communication Masts
- Flood Lights
- Walkway Lights
- General Lighting
- Motors
- Pumps
- Torches
- Switches
- Junction Boxes
- Cable glands
- Control and Signalling Systems
- Hand Tools
- Power Tools
- Vacuum Cleaners
- Testing Equipment
- Laptops
Please contact us on +44 1 202 764 778 for a quotation.
