ATmosphère

A. T. E. X.
EXplosive
 The new directives
Standardisation of the
statutory regulations Social

Article 95 Article 137

Creation of an Improvement of the

internal market working conditions
“Machine” Directive “Safety requirements for work”
(previously 100a) Directive (previously 118a)

EXPLOSION PROOF

ATEX 95 Directive ATEX 137 Directive

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 Obligations of the employer

Article 3 : prevention of and protection against

explosions

the prevention of the formation of explosive atmospheres.

If or where the nature of the activity does not allow that,

then:

the avoidance of the ignition of explosive atmospheres,

and

the mitigation of the detrimental effects of an explosion

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 Explosion protection document

shall demonstrate in particular:

that the explosion risks have been determined
and assessed
those places which have been classified into
zones as detailed later

shall be drawn up prior to the commencement

of work and be revised whenever necessary

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 Explosion protection document

drawn up by persons who are familiar with the

properties of the flamable materials, the process
and the installation.

If required, in cooperation with specialists in the

field of security, electricity or other disciplines

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 Groups and categories

Groups Equipment intended for use in: Categories

M1
Group I Underground parts of mines
M2

gas
Group II Other places
dust

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 Conformity categories

Conformity category Intended for environment with:

Conformity category 1 HIGH probability of explosion

Conformity category 2 Probability of explosion

Conformity category 3 LOW probability of explosion

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 Area classification

an area in which an explosive atmosphere

Area caused by a flammable mixture of air and
gases, vapours or mists,
is present continuously for long periods or very
Zone 0
frequently.

Zone 1 is likely to occur in normal operation.

is not likely to occur, and if it should occur it will

Zone 2
be for a short time and then only rarely.

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 Area classification

an area in which an explosive atmosphere

Area
caused by a cloud of combustible dust and air,
is present continuously for long periods or very
Zone 20
frequently. > 50 % of operating time (silo´s)

is likely to occur in normal operation.

Zone 21
(open delivery dock).
is not likely to occur, and if it should occur it will
Zone 22 be for a short time and then only rarely.
(example : dust deposit).

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 Criteria

Equipment and safety systems used in all

areas must comply with the categories of
ATEX 95 Directive (94/9/EC).

Zone 0 or 20 : category 1 – equipment

Zone 1 or 21 : category 2 – equipment + previous

Zone 2 or 22 : category 3 – equipment + previous

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 Explosion groups
Group I : electrical apparatus for mining
Group II : electrical apparatus for all remaining
potentially explosive atmospheres

Maximum Minimum ignition

Explosion groups experimental safe current ratio
gap rel. to methane

II A (propane) > 0.9 mm > 0.8

II B (ethylene) 0.5 mm to 0.9 mm 0.45 to 0.8

IIC (hydrogen) < 0.5 mm < 0.45

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 Temperature classes

According to ignition-temperature of the materials,

surface temperature-classes are divided different:
T6 < 85° C (carbon disulphide)
T5 < 100° C (no known gases)
T4 < 135° C (ethyl ether)
T3 < 200° C (hexane, acetylene, gasoline)
T2 < 300° C (butane, ethylene)
T1 < 450° C (methane, propane, hydrogen)

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 Temperature classes

The temperature class T4 is more than sufficient for

99.9 % of all applications – in addition, the only gas
for T6, carbon disulphide is toxic in even the
smallest dosages !
It is moreover only very rarely used.

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 Marking
ATEX
II 1 G

o Type of explosive G : gas, vapour, mist

atmosphere (Group II) D : dust

o Equipment category M1 : zone 0

M2 : zone 1
1 : zone 0, 20
2 : zone 1, 21
3 : zone 2, 22

o Equipment group I : mining

II : non-mining
o EU symbol explosive atmosphere

o CE marking
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 Marking

CENELEC/IEC
E Ex d IIB T6 Tamb = -40° C to +50° C

std is an ambient temperature of

-20° C to +40° C unless marked as
above

o Temperature classification (Group II)

o Gas group T1 : 450° C

T2 : 300° C
o Safety type T3 : 200° C
T4 : 135° C
o Explosion proof symbol T5 : 100° C
T6 : 85° C
o Conformity European Standard

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 MAXON fuel gas pipe-trains & interconnecting
Potential gas leakage of an assembled pipe-train
(info for customers risk assesment)
Statement
The potential (external) leakage of fuel gas to the
equipment’s environment for typical MAXON fuel gas
handling and combustion equipment as specified above can
be kept well below 0.001 m³(n)/hr air equivalents over the
entire life time of the equipment under the above specified
conditions per burner or per pipe-train (0.001 m³(n)/hr air
equivalents of fuel leakage @ 1.5 times maximum pressure
= 0.0013 m³(n)/hr of natural gas or 0.0007 m³(n)/hr of LPG :
is valid for a typical single burner with single pipe-train).

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MAXON fuel gas pipe-trains & interconnecting
Potential gas leakage of an assembled pipe-train

Vent connections : any vent connection from a regulator, a relief

valve, a vent valve (bleed valve from a block and bleed system) or
similar device shall be piped properly to an “area for safe discharge”.
The requirements of EN13611 table 2 shall be met during the life
time of the component (max. external leakage of each component)
“area of safe discharge” means : an area that allows venting fuel gas
from several sources (relief valves …) to the atmosphere, without
creating any hazard for any equipment.

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 Additional info for
the customer’s explosion risk assessment

1. Based on the above information on the potential fuel gas

leakage rates, given by Maxon, the end user/customer will
have to assess the explosion risk based on the additional
risk of the new installation and the available ventilation,
according to the procedures of ATEX137 (99/92/EC), article
3: this article specifies that it the first step is always to look
for and find solutions to prevent the formation of any
explosive atmospheres! Classification of an area into
hazardous shall not be done unless it is not possible to
avoid the formation of potentially explosive atmosphere.

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 Additional info for
the customer’s explosion risk assessment

2. Outside located installations and installations located in

huge industrial buildings, both with normal ventilation,
will most of the time not require classification of the area
around it as dangerous (if no other risks exist in the
plant). Standards such as EN 60079-10 specify how to
do a risk assessment and how to define acceptable
solutions. It is obvious from these standards that locating
gas equipment does not automatically result in a
hazardous location.

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 Additional info for
the customer’s explosion risk assessment

3. Equipment located in small rooms (small = typically

rooms that only contain the gas equipment) will however
often result in classifying the total room as hazardous – it
is not easy to have sufficient ventilation in such rooms –
excessive forced ventilation is the only alternative – this
ventilation shall be always available (redundant …). A
number of local codes and standards that specifically
address the assessment of these locations still exist
(DVGW Arbeitsblätter in Germany,
NPR7910/NEN1078/2078/3078 in Holland …).

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 Additional info for
the customer’s explosion risk assessment

4. Any installations using LPG, propane or butane or any

fuel gas heavier than air need special attention for the
risk of fuel gas collection in lower parts of the
building/area/… (e.g. pits, sewer pipes, drains, vent
openings to other rooms …. the heavier fuel gas could
collect in these lower parts with impeded ventilation or
even flow to and collect in other rooms of the building …)
– the risk of collection of LPG in parts of buildings that are
connected only by sewer piping, ventilation ducting …
shall always be verified!

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 Use of MAXON packages in
ATEX hazardous locations

Group I equipment (categories M1 and M2) intended

for use in mines, will not be possible.
MAXON can only handle Group II equipment (above
ground operation).
Any equipment of Group II Category 2G or 2D (for use
in Zone 1 or 21; including any mechanical equipment)
will require notified body involvement, at least to keep
a technical file for at least 10 years after delivery.

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 Use of MAXON packages in
ATEX hazardous locations

Combustion chambers have different potential ignition

sources – apart from all components located on the
outside of the combustion chamber, one of the difficult
issues is the limitation of the wall temperature that is in
contact with the potentially explosive atmosphere.
Insulation will normally not avoid all contact of the hot
combustion chamber with the potentially explosive
ambient air! Another possible ignition source is
leakage of hot gasses to the outside!
Specific assessment of each project will be necessary!
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 Use of MAXON burners
in “ATEX” hazardous locations

1. It is never possible to locate a combustion air blower

inlet in a hazardous location: this would result in using
air from an unsafe location (potentially explosive air) to
purge and operate the burner! This is not possible. In
case a blower is located in a hazardous location, the
inlet shall be piped to a safe area!

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 Use of MAXON burners
in “ATEX” hazardous locations
2. All burner accessories (spark igniter, ignition
transformer, UV-scanner …) have to be of correct
category. Flame rod operation is not possible (no FR
equipment known that is classified and certified for use
in any hazardous location).
3. In order to keep the burner body temperature below
acceptable limits, an internal modification might be
required.
4. Burner parts might get hot during operation of the burner
or the process – hot surfaces might ignite the potentially
present air/gas or air/dust mixture – this might result in
temperature class T6, T5, T4 … not possible for these
burners.
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 Use of MAXON burners
in “ATEX” hazardous locations
5. Back pressure should be regarded also // any back-
pressure might be an issue with these burners as it
would immediately create a possible hazard in case of
any leakage through the burner flange connection to the
installation/combustion chamber.
6. Preheated combustion or hot fuel air might cause an
additional issue – this issue can not be handled in a
general way and shall be solved on a case to case base
(how to avoid that the hazardous atmosphere comes
into contact with the hot surfaces that might be insulated
but are not isolated from the hazardous atmosphere).

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