Voltimum UK partner ASTA BEAB - the UK's leading independent body for electrical testing and product safety approval - provides a highly useful FAQ on the ATEX Directive and its ramifications:
Answer: Contrary to the belief of some, there was no major catastrophe or event that brought about the introduction ATEX Directive. The concept of using products in potentially explosive areas was quite a grey area for some time and standardised legislation was required for these applications.
The main driving force behind ATEX was the free movement of goods throughout the European Economic area and for this to happen there was a requirement for harmonised standards throughout Europe with regard to explosion safety.
In simple terms, the main beneficiaries were the Ex product manufacturers as with the introduction of the ATEX Directive, their potential market was broadened to include all the European member states. Therefore, in terms of both time and money, the barriers of complying with each country's local authority legislation were removed.
Q: How is the ATEX directive implemented in the UK and who enforces it?
A: The Directive is implemented in Europe by means of each national authority transposing its provisions into their legislation, and it is these texts that have a direct effect in the first instance. As a result, Member States and others who apply its requirements are directly responsible for implementation and enforcement. In the UK, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is responsible for implementation and enforcement.
Q: What equipment is NOT covered by the ATEX directive?
A: The following are excluded from the scope of this Directive:
- Medical devices intended for use in a medical environment.
- Equipment and protective systems where the explosion hazard results exclusively from the presence of explosive substances or unstable chemical substances.
- Equipment intended for use in domestic and non-commercial environments, where potentially explosive atmospheres may only rarely be created, solely as a result of the accidental leakage of fuel gas.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) covered by Directive 89/686/EEC.
- Seagoing vessels and mobile offshore units, together with equipment on board such vessels or units.
- Transport equipment, e.g. vehicles and their trailers intended solely for transporting passengers by air, road, rail or water networks, as well as means of transport, in so far as such means are designed for transporting goods by air, by public road or rail networks or by water.
- Vehicles intended for use in a potentially explosive atmosphere shall not be excluded.
- Equipment covered by Article 223 (1) (b) of the Treaty.
Q: What information is required in order to certify a product for ATEX?
A: Every product is different, so the way in which a notified body goes about assessing products will always be different. Generally, the following are required:
- A completed ATEX application form, which is a legal document on which the manufacturer declares that no work has previously been carried out by another Notified Body.
- A checklist for the Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSRs) concerning equipment and protection systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres directive 94/9/EC.
- A complete set of technical drawings that detail the form and function of the product and detail as much information as possible with regard to materials and dimensions.
- A drawing of the certification label with the ATEX markings advised by the notified body will also be required.
- A copy of the operating manual that will be supplied to the customer should be kept on file.
Q: How do I mark my product for compliance with the ATEX Directive?
A: All equipment and protective systems must be marked legibly and indelibly with the following minimum particulars:
- Name and address of the manufacturer.
- CE marking.
- Designation of series or type.
- Serial number, if any.
- Year of construction.
The specific marking of explosion protection, followed by the symbol of the equipment group and category: for equipment-group II, the letter 'G' (concerning explosive atmospheres caused by gases, vapours or mists) and/or the letter 'D' (concerning explosive atmospheres caused by dust). Furthermore, where necessary, they must also be marked with all information essential to their safe use.
Q: What information does the installation/operation manual have to include?
A: (a) All equipment and protective systems must be accompanied by instructions, including at least the following particulars:
- A recapitulation of the information with which the equipment or protective system is marked, except for the serial number together with any appropriate additional information to facilitate maintenance (e.g. address of the importer, repairer, etc.), instructions for safe putting into service, use, assembling and dismantling, maintenance, installation and adjustment.
- Where necessary, an indication of the danger areas in front of pressure-relief devices.
- Where necessary, training instructions.
- Details that allow a decision to be taken beyond any doubt as to whether an item of equipment in a specific category or a protective system can be used safely in the intended area under the expected operating conditions.
- Electrical and pressure parameters, maximum surface temperatures and other limit values.
- Where necessary, special conditions of use, including particulars of possible misuse which experience has shown might occur.
- When appropriate, the essential characteristics of tools that may be fitted to the equipment or protective system.
(b) The instructions must be drawn up in one of the European Community (EC) languages by the manufacturer or by his authorised representative established in the European Community.
On being put into service, all equipment and protective systems must be accompanied by a translation of the instructions in the language or languages of the country in which the equipment or protective system is to be used, and by the instructions in the original language.
This translation must be made by the manufacturer, or by his authorised representative established in the EC, or by the person introducing the equipment or protective system into the language area in question.
By way of derogation from this requirement, the maintenance instructions for use by the specialist personnel employed by the manufacturer or his authorised representative established in the EC, may be drawn up in a single EC language understood by those personnel.
(c) The instructions must contain the drawings and diagrams necessary for the putting into service, maintenance, inspection, checking of correct operation and, where appropriate, repair of the equipment or protective system, together with all useful instructions, in particular with regard to safety.
(d) Literature describing the equipment or protective system must not contradict the instructions with regard to safety aspects.
Q: Other than product assessment, are there any other assessments for the EC-Type examination certificate?
A: Although product assessment is covered by Annex III of the Directive 94/9/EC, there are other requirements that need to be addressed. The manufacturer must compile a Technical Dossier as required by Annex II, Essential Health and Safety requirements (EHSRs) relating to the design and construction of equipment and protective systems intended for the use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
Most of the EHSRs are covered by the latest European Harmonised Standards. In order to use a CE mark on the product the manufacturer's Quality Systems should then be assessed. This is the requirement of Annex IV, Production Quality Assurance (for category 1 equipment), or Annex VII Production Quality Assurance (for category 2 equipment). It is not necessary for the Notified Body that carried out the product assessment and issued the EC-Type Examination Certificate to carry out the quality assessment as well. This can be carried out by any other Notified Body and their Notified Body number will go on the label. If full assessment of the quality system is not justifiable due to low level of production and costs, the manufacturer can choose to opt for Annex V, Product Verification or alternatively Annex IX, Unit Verification for Category 1 equipment. For category 2 equipment the options are Annex VI, Conformity to Type or Annex IX, Unit Verification.
Q: What are the responsibilities of the manufacturer with regard to the equipment certified to the ATEX Directive 94/9/EC and an EC-Type Examination Certificate has been issued?
A: The manufacturer must fulfil the requirements of Annex II of the Directive by compiling a Technical Dossier. He must also produce an Instruction Manual in the language of the country of use. Most importantly, an EC Declaration of Conformity must be drawn up as required by Annex X of the Directive. This declaration of Conformity may also include other Directives such as EMC, Low Voltage, etc.
For more information on the ATEX directive please contact the ATEX Intertek ASTA BEAB team at the Leatherhead office on 01372 370900.
Please note that, as of 1st June 2007, the business of ASTA BEAB has been acquired by www.intertek.com. ASTA-BEAB says that it is 'confident that this will bring increased benefits to all of our customers'. Day-to-day contact with the organisation will not change.