ATEX ADVANTAGE

Explosion Protection Directive 94/9/EC

New safety requirements for equipment
and protective systems in potentially
explosive atmospheres
Norgren ATEX solutions

02 I ATEX

ATEX SOLUTIONS

Norgren: Your Reliable Partner for Maximum Explosion Protection

Norgren has been the leading partner in explosion protection for many years. The protection

of equipment and personnel within potentially explosive atmospheres is of the highest

importance to Norgren and we have strongly supported the development of government
regulations and technical standards to ensure a high level of safety.
In order to apply a single level for health and safety requirements and to overcome barriers
of trade within Europe, national regulations for explosion prevention were harmonised in
1975 with the European Frame Directive 76/117/EEC. The new EC Directive 94/9/EC was
established in 1994. This Directive is widely known as ATEX which derives from the
original working title ATmosphre EXplosible.
Since July 1, 2003 only the ATEX Directive remains binding. This means that all Ex equipment
approvals obtained under previous directives are no longer valid only devices and safety
systems that comply with the ATEX Directive may be allowed onto the market. ATEX Directive
94/9/EC expands earlier guidelines by including non-electric components such as
pneumatic actuators. These now have to be certified.
Due to these changes, companies have to rely on a number of devices that did not need to
be certified before. Norgren offers an extensive range of ATEX certified products and is
undertaking great efforts to extend this range even further. No matter which Ex zones are
relevant for your business, Norgren will help you to find the right product and support you
with extensive documentation and certificates of conformity which are already available on
www.norgren.com/atex/.
In addition to Directive 94/9/EC, which is concerned with the requirements of equipment and
protective systems and is sometimes referred to as ATEX 100A or 95, another directive
1999/92/EC exists. Sometimes referred to as ATEX 118A or 137, this is concerned with the
requirements for the erection, installation and operation of systems.

ATEX I 03

WHAT CHANGES WITH ATEX?

The most important points are:
The definition of equipment categories and assignment to the hazardous areas (zones)
The regulation of Ex protection for dust (previously only addressed nationally); also associated with
this is the redefinition of the Ex zones for dust (previously zones 10 and 11)
The inclusion of non-electrical equipment into the directive
The creation of an explosion protection document concerning the safety of the workplace
and materials by the employer
The requirement for a formal assessment of explosion risks
The conformity evaluation process for the equipment by the manufacturer or by a notified body
(dependent category)
The production of an EC Declaration of Conformity and affixing the CE mark to the product
by the manufacturer and depending on the category of an EC Type Examination Certificate
(previously Certificate of Conformity) by a notified body for all electrical products
The certification of the manufacturers QA system (DIN EN ISO 9001 is not sufficient).
The provision of a mounting and operating manual with the equipment.

How can explosions occur?

Explosive atmospheres (Ex areas) are prerequisite for an explosion and can be found where a
mixture of air, flammable gases, vapours or dusts are being produced, transformed or stored in
the presence of oxygen.
Explosive atmospheres with
gases, vapours and mists
can usually be found in:
Chemical Facilities
Storage Tanks
Refineries
Water Treatment Facilities
Airports
Power Plants
Paint Facilities
Seaports

... and many other areas

where goods are handled
that form dust and powders

Explosive atmospheres
with dusts can usually
be found in:
Chemical Facilities
Power Plants
Paint Facilities
Grain Mills
Cement Factories
Seaports
Food Factories
Wood Processing Facilities
Plastic Granulate Facilities

Sources of Ignition

Hot Surfaces
Flames and Hot Gases
Mechanically Generated Sparks
Electrically Generated Sparks
Electro-statically Generated Sparks
Adiabatic Compression
Electro-Magnetic Radiation
Ionising Radiation
Chemical Reactions
Ultra-sound
Flashes

04 I ATEX

What equipment can be used? Ex-Zones and Categories

Table 1 shows the zone designations, which are divided firstly into the
hazardous areas for gases, vapours and mists and secondly into the
hazardous areas for dusts, as well as by their risk categories, i.e.
according to the probability of a risk of being present. The categories,
which define the degree of equipment safety are assigned.
It can be seen from the table to which category a piece of equipment
must be allocated in order to be used in a particular zone. Of course,
equipment in a higher category also fulfils the requirements of a lower
category.

Table 1
Hazard
Gases, vapours
and mists
Gases, vapours
and mists
Gases, vapours
and mists
Dusts
Dusts
Dusts

Risk
Zone
continuous or long- 0
term or frequent
occasional
1

Category
II 1 G

occasional, then
2
only briefly
continuous or long- 20
term or frequent
occasional
21

II 3 G

occasional, then
only briefly

II 2 G

II 1 D
II 2 D

22
conducting dusts
II 2 D
non-conducting dusts II 3 D

Equipment
very high level of safety
(safe in spite of 2 independent faults)
high level of safety
(safe even for normally expected fault)
normal level of safety
(safe under normal operation)
very high level of safety
(safe in spite of 2 independent faults)
high level of safety
(safe even for normally expected fault)
high level of safety
normal level of safety

ATEX I 05

How can an explosion be prevented?

Most important is the prevention of the formation of an Ex atmosphere. If this is not possible,
potential sources of ignition must be avoided.
Ignition protection categories
For electrical equipment for use with gases, vapours and mists special design methods are
described in comprehensive works standards and are assigned to ignition protection categories
(see Table 2). Several ignition protection categories can be combined in one unit.
The methods of protection with Ex dusts concentrate mainly on the sealing of the housing (IP
protection).
Principles and requirements for non-electrical equipment for use in Ex areas are described in the
new EN 13463-1. Standards for appropriate types of ignition protection are currently in preparation.
Measures that can be taken to reliably exclude potential sources of ignition, depend upon the
equipment category required. In the foreground is usually the consideration of the permissible light
metal alloys, electrostatic charge, possible arcing and heat due to friction.

Table 2
Ignition protection categories
Increased safety
Non-sparking equipment
Pressurised encapsulation
Sand encapsulation
Enclosed switching device
Intrinsic safety (special requirements)
Intrinsic safety
Energy-limiting equipment
Encapsulation
Oil encapsulation
Pressurisation
Simplified pressurisation
Vapour-proof housing

Identification
EEx e
EEx nA
EEx d
EEx q
EEx nC
EEx ia
EEx ib
EEx nL
EEx m
EEx o
EEx p
EEx nP
EEx nR

can be used in zone

1
2
1
1
2
0
1
2
1
1
1
2
2

Safety principle
no arcs, sparks or hot surfaces
controls an internal explosion
and extinguishes the flame
limits the energy of the sparks and
the temperature of the surface
separates source of ignition from
potentially explosive atmosphere

06 I ATEX

Explosion Groups
While equipment for mining is identified as Group I, Group II is applicable for all remaining areas
with potentially explosive atmospheres such as the chemical industry. Only Group II is subdivided
into categories using the letters A, B and C, and only then for the pressurised encapsulation and
intrinsically safe ignition protection categories in order to be able to classify the differences in the
ignitability and the likelihood of flashover of potentially explosive mixtures. The most hazardous are
defined in Group IIC; these therefore include IIB and IIA.

Temperature Classes
All devices are differentiated according to its maximum surface temperature that may occur. This
must always be less than the ignition temperature of the flammable material.
Gases are divided into T-classes (see Table 3) and the permitted equipment is marked in the same way.
Again a higher T-class fulfils the requirements of a lower class. Therefore, equipment with the
identification EEx...IIC T6 covers all known gases.
For explosion prevention in dusty atmospheres, the maximum surface temperature is specified in C.

Table 3
Explosion
groups
Max.surface
temperature
II A

II B
II C

Temperature classes
T1
450 C

T2
300 C

T3
200 C

Acetone
Ammoniac
Benzene
Acetic acid
Ethane
Ethyl acetate
Ethyl chloride
Methanol
Naphthalene
Phenol
Propane
Town gas
(lighting gas)
Hydrogen

i-Amyl acetate Gasolines

n-Butane
Diesel fuels
n-Butyl alcohol Heating oils
n-Hexane

Acetaldehyde

Ethylene
Ethylene oxide
Acetylene

Ethylether

Hydrogen
sulphide

T4
135 C

T5
100 C

T6
85 C

Carbon
disulphide

ATEX I 07

How is Ex equipment identified?

The Ex identification of a typical Norgren solenoid valve can be found
below. The valve may be used in Ex zones 1 and 2 (gases, upper part
of the illustration) and 21 and 22 (dusts, lower part) (see also EC Type
Test Certificate Fig. 2).
Non-electrical equipment must also be identified with category and
gas or dust protection; if relevant, it must also be identified with a
suitable ignition protection category and, as a rule, with the highest
occurring surface temperature.
All information that is necessary for safe operation of equipment
must be provided in the operating manual.

II

EEx

md

IIC

T4

0123
ID no. of the "notified body"
for QM certification
Temperature class (T4 = 135 C)
Explosion group with subdivision C
due to pressurised encapsulation
Type of protection
(here combination of encapsulation
and pressurised encapsulation)
Ex protection in accordance with
European standards
Ex atmospheres (G = Gases, D = Dusts)
Category
Explosion group
Degree of protection to IEC 60529
Max. occurring surface temperature

II

IP66

T 120 C

0123

08 I ATEX

Which certificates are required?

A Declaration of Conformity must be provided by the manufacturer for each product. The
Declaration of Conformity explains how the manufacturer fulfils all the relevant safety
requirements. The CE mark is subsequently attached to the product.
For electrical equipment in Category 1 and 2, an EC Type Test Certificate issued by a notified body
is required. One of the notified bodies is the PTB (Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt). For
non electrical equipment an EC Type Examination Certificate is only required for Category 1.
These certificates are also obligatory for non-electrical equipment. However, if the risk analysis
of explosion hazards show that no potential sources of ignition exist, the item does not fall under
the ATEX directive in which case a Declaration of Conformity and Ex marking is not required. This
may apply to products used in purely pneumatic systems, i.e. for valves, service units, sound
absorbers or manometers.

Fig. 1
EC Declaration of Conformity
for valve solenoids

Fig. 2
EC Type Test certificate
for a solenoid valve series

Fig. 3
Certificate for the Quality
Assurance System

Prevent explosions with Norgren ATEX approved equipment

As a manufacturer of pneumatic equipment, Norgren offers an extensive range of certified devices in
Categories 2 and 3 for use in areas with potentially explosive atmospheres containing gases and dusts:
Solenoid valves, solenoids
(Type of protection EEx m, EEx me, EEx md,EEx d, EEx ia, EEx nA)
Pressure switches
(Type of protection EEx de, EEx nAC)
Valves, cylinders
(Type of protection EEx c)

ATEX I 09

NORGREN EQUIPMENT
CONFORMING TO ATEX

PROPORTIONAL VALVES/
IP CONVERTER

MOTION CONTROL VALVES

01

02

01 MOTION CONTROL VALVES

Category
II 3 G, zone 2
II 3 D, zone 22
Model
40200
40300
V60 63...
VS18/VS26
VM series
ISO*STAR
SXE series
MIDI*STAR
SXE series

Category
II 2 G, zone 1, 2
II 2 D, zone 22
Model
ISO*STAR
SXE series
SXP series
MIDI*STAR
SXE series
SXP series
Mini ISO

02 PROPORTIONAL VALVES/IP CONVERTER

Category
II 3 G, zone 2
II 3 D, zone 22
Model
VP 21...
VP 23...
VP 60...

Category
II 1 G, zone 0
Model
100
Category
II 1 G, zone 0
II 2 G, zone 1
II 3 G, zone 2
Model
122
140
Category
II 1 G, zone 0
II 3 G, zone 2
Model
422

For further information see ATEX product selector delivery on request or contact our Technical Service

010 I ATEX

NORGREN EQUIPMENT
CONFORMING TO ATEX

FLUID CONTROL VALVES

PRESSURE SWITCH

03

04

03 FLUID CONTROL VALVES

04 PRESSURE SWITCH

Category
II 2 G, zone 1, 2
II 2 D, zone 21, 22
Valve Model
15200
21000
21023
21025
23200
24000
24010
24011
24100
25000
25003
26220
26230
26360
70300
80100
80200
82080
82360
82370
82400
82530
82540
82560
82730
82860
82960
84660
84680
85000
85040
85140
85300
82470
83050
83580

Category
II 2 G, zone 1, 2
II 2 D, zone 21, 22
Solenoid Model
0290x
83340
148x
84320
168x
84340
2003
85100
205x
85200
42xx
85700
46xx
91000
8036-8045
95000
8186-8195
95100
8336-8345
96000
8436-8445
97100
8900-8909
97100 (Namur)
8920-8929
97105
9136-9145
97105 (Namur)
9186-9195
98015
9336-9345
98015 (Namur)
9350-9360
98025
9540-9564
98025 (Namur)
Category
II 2 G, zone 1, 2
Solenoid Model
144x
157x
208x
3039
306x
Category
II 3 G, zone 2
II 3 D, zone 22
Solenoid Model
3046, 3047
3213 - 3219
3713 - 3719,
3813 - 3819,
8026, 8176,
8326, 8426,
9116, 9176,
9326, 9426,
9526

Category
II 2 G, zone 1, 2
II 2 D, zone 21, 22
Model
20D series
184....
185....
Category
II 3 G, zone 2
II 3 D, zone 22
Model
18D series
088..80
088..81

FIELDBUS I/O Modules

05

05 FIELDBUS I/O Modules

Category
II 3 G, zone 2
II 3 D, zone 22
Model
FD 67 series

For further information see ATEX product selector delivery on request or contact our Technical Service

NORGREN EQUIPMENT
CONFORMING TO ATEX

ACTUATORS

SWITCH

01

02

01 ACTUATORS

02 SWITCH (MAGNETICALLY OPERATED)

Category
Category
II 2 G, zone 1, 2
II 2 G, zone 1, 2
II 2 D, zone 21, 22
II 2 D, zone 21, 22
Model
Model
M/46000/M/EX
RA/8000/M/EX
M/46100/M/EX
RM/192000/M/EX
M/46200/M/EX
RM/8000/M/EX
M/61200/M/EX
RM/92000/M/EX
PRA/182000/M/EX
RT/57200/M/EX
PVA/182000/EX#
#
(without magnetic version)

ATEX I 011

Category
II 3 D, zone 22
Model
M/50/EXP/5V

AIRLINE EQUIPMENT

FITTINGS

03

04

03 AIRLINE EQUIPMENT

04 FITTINGS

Category
II 2 G, zone 1, 2
II 2 D, zone 21, 22
Model
1002
11-004, 11-008,
11-018, 11-204,
11-808, 11-818,
11-908, 11-918
20AG, 20AL
40AC
61A2, 61B2
B07, F07, R07, V07
B38, R38

Category
II 2 G, zone 1, 2
II 2 D, zone 21, 22
Model
B64, F64, P64, R64, T64, V64
B68, F68, P68, R68, T68, V68
B72, F72, R72, T72, V72
B73, F73, R73, T73, V73
B74, F74, R74, T74, V74
F17, R17
F18, R18
F22, R22
F39
F47
R05, V05

Model
Ball Valves
Blow Guns
BSP and Hose
Compression
Pneufit
Pneufit C
Push-on
Quick Release Couplings
Silencers
Stainless Steel PIF (S0 Series)
Tubing
Weldfit

For further information see ATEX product selector delivery on request or contact our Technical Service

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the right to change
specifications without prior
notice.
z6713 UK/06/04

a subsidiary of IMI plc