Measures to prevent explosions (ATEX)

Is there a potential explosion hazard on your company premises (gas, vapour, mist, or dust explosion)? The equipment and products you use must be explosion proof. And your employees must be able to work safely. You must also comply with the ATEX directives.

What is ATEX?

ATEX stands for ATmosphere EXplosible (explosive atmosphere). In the EU, you have to comply with 2 ATEX directives on potentially explosive atmospheres:

• ATEX directive 114, which sets out the standards for equipment and products used in potentially explosive atmospheres. This directive applies mainly to manufacturers.
• ATEX directive 153, which sets out the health and safety standards you must meet to protect your workers in explosive atmospheres.

General rules

You must take technical and/or organisational measures to prevent explosion hazards and to protect your employees from explosions. These measures include:

• Preventing the existence of potentially explosive atmospheres.
• If you cannot prevent this, you must ensure that explosive atmospheres do not come into contact with potential ignition sources.
• If an explosion occurs, ensure that the impact on your workers’ health and safety is limited.

ATEX certificate for safe equipment

Equipment and products that are used in explosive atmospheres must meet safety requirements. If an installation or product is explosion proof according to ATEX directive 114, it will get an ATEX certificate and an EX logo. Manufacturers can apply for an ATEX certificate to a certifying body.

Explosion protection document

If there is a potential explosion hazard in your company, you have to draw up an explosion protection document before work starts. The explosion protection document is part of the risk inventory and evaluation. The explosion protection document must include:

• the identification of explosion risks
• the assessment of explosion risks
• the measures to prevent explosions and explosion hazards
• the division into explosion hazard zones
• a description of the design, operation, and maintenance of equipment and work areas
• the way employees are informed about risks

You must revise the document if there is a change in your workplace, work equipment, or organisation of the work.

Hazard zones

You must classify working areas that may have an explosion risk as hazard zones (ATEX zones). Danger zones for gas, vapour, or mist explosions are defined, as well as danger zones for dust explosions. Each zone indicates the risk of an explosion. This way you can take preventive measures and protect your employees. You must put up warning signs in every working area where an explosion risk is identified.