ATEX, Explosion Protection and CE marking

Glossary Word Description

ATEX 95 ( AT mosphere EX plosive): Mandatory Legislation from July 1 st 2003 covering
electrical, non-electrical and protective safety systems used to prevent or limit the
effects of an explosion caused by the ignition of a gas or dust explosive atmosphere.
DSEAR UK Implementation of ATEX 137. Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere
Regulations: Mandatory Legislation commenced December 2002 incorporating the
Chemicals Agents Directive (CAD) and the Protection of Workers from Potentially
Explosive Atmospheres (Directive ATEX137).
ATEX 137 Mandatory Legislation in Europe from July 2006 for the Protection of Workers from
Potentially Explosive Atmospheres
ATEX Term used to describe the legal requirement for explosive atmospheres in Europe (or a
contract specification outside Europe). May refer to equipment (ATEX 95) or the
Protection of Workers from Potentially Explosive Atmospheres (ATEX 137) depending on
the context.
Ex Equipment Equipment that has been certified for use in a Potentially Explosive Atmosphere. Pre-
ATEX only covered electrical ignitions and gas atmospheres. 'Ex' equipment can be
ignition capable if the concept is designed to contain an explosion, such as Ex'd'
Ignition Risk Assessment The likelihood that ignition sources will be present and become active and effective, the
installations, work processes and substances used their possible interactions and the
scale of the anticipated effects.
Area Classification The likelihood that explosive atmospheres will occur and their persistence. Places that
are or can be connected via openings to places in which explosive atmospheres may
occur shall be taken into account in assessing explosion risks.
SoR Source of Release (for Area Classification- the leak path that may lead to a zone)
SoH Source of Hazard (for Area Classification- the leak path that may lead to a zone)
LEL Lower Explosive/Flammable Limit at which a substance will ignite

LFL Example

Substance LEL (%) UEL (%)

Methane 4.4 17
Propane 1.7 11
Ethylene 2.3 36
Acetylene 2.3 100
Hydrogen 4 77
UEL Lower Explosive/Flammable Limit at which a substance will ignite

UFL Example

Substance LEL (%) UEL (%)

Methane 4.4 17
Propane 1.7 11
Ethylene 2.3 36
Acetylene 2.3 100
Hydrogen 4 77
Flashpoint The temperature at which a liquid will form a flammable atmosphere
Flameproof The equipment is contained within an enclosure which will withstand an internal
explosion of a flammable gas or vapour that may enter it, without suffering damage and
EEx d without communicating the internal explosion to the external explosive atmosphere,
through any joints or structural openings in the enclosure.

Ex d
Equipment designed to this concept is suitable for use in ' Zone 1 ' and ' Zone 2'
classified hazardous areas.
AEx d
Explosion proof
Increased Safety Additional measures are applied to an electrical apparatus to give increased security
against the possibility of excessive temperatures and of the occurrence of arcs and
EEx e sparks during the life of the apparatus.

Ex e It applies only to an electrical apparatus, no parts of which produce sparks, arcs, or

exceeds the limiting temperature of the materials, upon which safety depends, that are
used in its construction.
AEx e

Equipment designed to this concept is suitable for use in ' Zone 1 ' and ' Zone 2'
classified hazardous areas.
Intrinsic safety A protection technique based upon the restriction of electrical energy within the
apparatus and in the interconnecting wiring, exposed to a explosive atmosphere, to a
i.s. level below that which can cause ignition by either sparking or heating effects.

EEx 'ia' Because of the method by which intrinsic safety is achieved it is necessary that not only
the electrical apparatus exposed to the explosive atmosphere, but also other
(associated) electrical apparatus with which it is interconnected, is suitably constructed
EEx 'ib'

The concept is divided into two sub types, which are dependent upon the number of
Ex 'ia'
allowable fault conditions. The symbols 'ia' and 'ib' denote the sub types.

Ex 'ib'
This design concept is reflected in the equipment marking by the symbols Ex 'ia ' or Ex
'ib'
AEx 'ia'

Equipment designed to this concept is suitable for use in: ' Ex ia' ' Zone 0 ', 'Zone 1'
AEx 'ib'
and ' Zone 2'; ' Ex ib' 'Zone 1' and 'Zone 2' classified hazardous areas.
Purge A method of protection using the pressure of a protective gas to prevent the ingress of
an explosive atmosphere to a space that may contain a source of ignition and, where
Pressurisation necessary, using continuous dilution of an atmosphere within the space that contains a
source of emission gas, which may form an explosive atmosphere.

EEx p
This design concept is reflected in the equipment marking by the symbol Ex 'p'.

Ex p
Equipment designed to this concept is suitable for use in ' Zone 1 ' and ' Zone 2'
classified hazardous areas.
AEx p
Non-sparking A type of protection applied to an electrical apparatus such that, in normal operation, it
is not capable of igniting a surrounding explosive atmosphere, and a fault capable of
EEx n causing ignition is not likely to occur.

Ex n Equipment designed to this concept is suitable for use in ' Zone 2' classified hazardous
areas.

Breaks down to several concepts, nL, nA, nC, nP, nR.

nL Not enough energy in an electrical circuit to be an effective ignition
nA Non-sparking for zone 2
nC Various methods of preventing ignition form zone 2 including enclosed break.
nP Zone 2 purge
nR Restricted breathing protection concept Zone 2)
Oil Immersion A method of protection where the electrical apparatus is made safe by oil-immersion. In
the sense that an explosive atmosphere above the oil or outside the enclosure will not
EEx o be ignited. The oil presents a barrier between the explosive atmosphere and the
electrical apparatus.

Ex o
Equipment designed to this concept is suitable for use in 'Zone 1' and ' Zone 2'
 classified hazardous areas.
Powder Filled A method of protection where the enclosure of the electrical apparatus is filled with a
mass of granular material such that, if an arc occurs the arc will not be liable to ignite
EEx q the external explosive atmosphere.

Ex q Equipment designed to this concept is suitable for use in 'Zone 1' and ' Zone 2'
classified hazardous areas.
Encapsulation A type of protection in which parts that could ignite an explosive atmosphere by either
sparking or heating are enclosed in a compound in such a way that the explosive
EEx m atmosphere cannot be ignited. The compound provides a barrier between the electrical
apparatus and the explosive atmosphere.

Ex m
Equipment designed to this concept is suitable for use in 'Zone 1' and ' Zone 2'
classified hazardous areas.
IP Degree of protection from foreign bodies (from test fingers to dust) and water (from
rain to sprayed jets)
Ingress Protection
Click here for a chart of ingress protection
MEIC At a critical concentration called the most easily ignited concentration (MEIC), the
amount of energy required to cause ignition is minimal.
Detonation Detonation: A violent explosion, flame front speed 200-3000 m/sec, speed of sound 330
m/sec
Temperature Class ATEX, AEx and IEC Equipment is identified with a temperature class. It is either
identified by a 'T' rating or by a temperature in degrees C. The temperature class
T1 identifies the hottest temperature that the equipment can obtain. This can be a either
the inside or the outside of the equipment depending on the protection concept.
Max Temp limit ( '
T2 Temperature Class
C)
T1 450
T3
T2 300
T3 200
T4 T4 135
T5 100
T5 T6 85

T6
AEx American Explosion proof (NEC505)
EEx European Explosion proof
Ex Explosion proof
Zone 0 A location where an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture of with air or
flammable substances in the form of a gas, vapour or mist is present continuously or for
long periods.
Zone 1 A location where an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture of with air or
flammable substances in the form of a gas, vapour or mist is likely to occur in normal
operation occasionally.
Zone 2 A location where an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture of with air or
flammable substances in the form of a gas, vapour or mist is not likely to occur in
normal operation occasionally but if it does will occur will only persist for a short period
only.
Zone 20 A location where an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture of with air or
flammable substances in the form of dust is present continuously or for long periods.
Zone 21 A location where an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture of with air or
flammable substances in the form of dust is likely to occur in normal operation
occasionally.
Zone 22 A location where an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture of with air or
flammable substances in the form of dust is not likely to occur in normal operation
 occasionally but if it does will occur will only persist for a short period only.
IP15 Institute of Petroleum Model code of Safe Practice Part 15 (Petroleum Products)
Risk Assessment Determining by systematic examination the overall system risk by evaluating the
frequency and consequences of hazards.
LVD Low Voltage Directive ' A European CE Directive concerned with he safety (primarily
electrical) of products with a supply voltage over 50V AC, 75V DC.
EMC Electromagnetic Compatibility' A European CE Directive concerned with he safety of
products with reference to Radio Frequencies, magnetic interference and supply
interference. Products must pass both 'emissions' (what they give out) and 'immunity'
(what they are capable of receiving whilst still operating).
PED Pressure Equipment Directive' A European CE Directive concerned with he safety of
products from overpressure. The starting pressure for this Directive is 0.5 bar.
Machinery Directive The Machinery Directive is a European CE Directive concerned with he mechanical and
electrical safety of machines (where the mechanical risk is greater than the electrical
risk- if the electrical risk is greater, use the Low Voltage Directive). The Machinery
Directive is largely based on Risk Assessment and use of EU Standards for critical
features such as guards and emergency stops.
CE Conformity European- indicates that a product complies will all current European
Directives (and normally the applicable European Standards) at the 'current' state (on
the day it was put in to supply). CE is NOT a safety mark; it is a passport system for
accessing markets in Europe.
Notified Body A body such as Epsilon Compliance that has been audited and accepted by the
Government of the country of Notification and Europe. Notified Bodies are frequently
mandated for certain directives such as ATEX and PED and may also be required for
other Directives where the manufacturer can not comply with the required European
Standard.