ATEX - Directive 94/9/EC
     
European Law - ATEX Directive 94/9/EC  
ATEX is named after the French "ATmosphère
EXplosible"
Since July 1st 2003 it has been mandatory
under European law, that all equipment for use
in a potentially explosive atmosphere must
conform to specific safety standards. Many
manufacturing processes, including biodiesel
production, generate potentially explosive
atmospheres.
European Directive 137 - The protection of ATEX
  workers from potentially explosive atmospheres  
  - makes it mandatory under European law to  
assess for an explosion risk and classify the
  area accordingly.  
For more information please see:
   
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/atex/
UK - Dangerous Substances and Explosive
   
Atmospheres Regulations 2002
The following information is intended as a guide
only. Determination of appropriateness of
   
equipment is the responsibility of the
organisation / user.
Hazardous A professional risk assessment determines
 
areas hazardous area zones
EN 60079-10 is the european standard for
determining the classification of hazardous
areas, giving guidance on determining the area
classification and recommendations for detailing
the zones on drawings.

   

   Zone 0 - An area where an explosive atmosphere is

  present continuously or for long periods
 Zone 1 - An area where an explosive atmosphere is likely
to to occur in normal operation
 
 Zone 2 - An area where an explosive atmosphere is not
likely to occur in normal operation
Zone
Equipment
(gases & Description
(dusts) Category
vapours)
An area
where an
explosive
Zone atmosphere
Zone 0 Category 1
20 is present
continuously
or for long
periods
An area
where an
  explosive  
Zone atmosphere
Zone 1 Category 2
21 is likely to to
occur in
normal
operation
An area
where an
explosive
Zone atmosphere
Zone 2 Category 3
22 is not likely to
occur in
normal
operation

   

Classification of gases and dusts  

     
 Gases and dusts are classified according to
 
their ignition properties
For gases and vapours, the gas group (explosion group) is
 
determined according to:
   
 MESG - maximum experimental safe gap (IEC 60 079-
1A)
 
MIC - minimum ignition current ratio relative to methane
(IEC 60 079-3)
The dangerousness of the gases increases from
   
gas group IIA to IIC.
Temperature class is based on the autoignition
   
temperature of the material
     
Gas Temperature class
group T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6
I Methane          
IIA Acetone Ethanol Diesel fuel Acetaldehyde
Methane Cyclohexane Aircraft fuel
Ethane n-butane Fuel oil
n-butyl
Propane n-hexane
alcohol
Methanol Propan-2-ol Heptane
Toluene
Benzene
Acetic acid
Coal gas Ethyl methyl
IIB Ethylene Ethylene glycol
(Town gas) ether
Ethylene Hydrogen
 
oxide sulphide
Tetrahydrofuran
  Propan-1-ol
(THF)
Carbon
IIC Hydrogen Acetylene
disulphide
 

   

  Explosion MIC ratio relative  

MESG
group to methane
 IIA >0.9mm >0.8
IIB 0.5 - 0.9mm 0.45 - 0.8
IIC <0.5mm <0.45
MESG - Experimental vessel has an aperture of
length 25mm from the inside to the outside of
the vessel. Width (gap) is adjustable. MESG is
 
the maximum gap that an internal ignition of an
explosive mixture is not propagated to the
exterior.
     
Temperature Max surface Temperature
Ignition temperatures
class temperature class
of flammable
IEC/EN of equipment NEC 500-3
substance
NEC 505-10 °C °C CEC 18-052
T1 450 >450 T1
T2 300 >300 ≤ 450 T2
280 >280 ≤ 300 T2A
260 >260 ≤ 280 T2B
230 >230 ≤ 260 T2C
215 >215 ≤ 230 T2D
T3 200 >200 ≤ 300 T3
180 >180 ≤ 200 T3A
165 >165 ≤ 180 T3B
160 >160 ≤ 165 T3C
T4 135 >135 ≤ 200 T4
120 >120 ≤ 135 T4A
T5 100 >100 ≤ 135 T5
T6 85 >85 ≤ 100 T6
Temperature class relates to all parts of
  equipment that can come into contact with  
potentially explosive atmosphere
 

   

Method of explosion protection  

     
  Method of Ex Protection principle  
 protection Marking
Contains explosion &
Flameproof
d prevents flame
enclosure
propagation
Increased No arcs, sparks, or hot
e
safety surfaces
No arcs, sparks, or hot
Nonsparking n
surfaces
Limited energy of
Intrinsic safety i spark & surface
temperature
Ignition source kept
Oil immersion o constantly immersed in
oil
Protective gas contains ignition
Pressurised enclosure p
source
Fine ground filling sourounds the
ignition source so that an arc from
Sand filling q inside the housing cannot ignite the
surrounding combustable
atmosphere
     
Example ATEX marking (gases / vapours / mists)  
     
E II
II2GE d T3 
x C
II
 II2GEExd T3
C
T3=Equipment surface
           temperature will not exceed
200°C
IIC=Protection in gas groups
       
upto IIC
  d=Flameproof type safety  
      
protection
     Ex=Explosion-proof equipment
E=Certified to European ATEX
  
Standard
   G=Gas
2=Equipment category 2 (i.e.
  
Zone 1)
II=Group II environment (i.e.
 
Above ground)