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| LGM Products Ltd Unit 18 Riverside Industrial Park Dogflud Way Farnham Surrey GU9 7UG United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1252 725257 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 727627 Email: sales@Lgmproducts.com |
 The Explosion Protection Regulations. To view these in pdf format please click here. To place equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres on the market or into service in all EU member states, the equipment must carry an 'ATEX' certificate required by the EU directive 94/9EC. This new directive is more commonly known as the ATEX directive (from the French: ATmospheres EXplosives). User Environment ATEX concerns all products to be used in places where explosive atmospheres may arise, such as mixtures of air and flammable materials such as gases, vapours, mists and dusts. Product ATEX does not only concern electrical equipment, but all equipment and protection systems for us in potentially explosive atmospheres. Scope In the ATEX directive, conformity of products is complusory. The ATEX directive also covers explosive dust/air mixtures as well as gases. Classification of equipment The ATEX directive contains classification into groups and categories which are defined by the marking on the equipment. Area Classification Process plants are divided into Zones (European and IEC method) or Divisions(North American method) acording to the likelihood of a potentially explosive atmosphere being present. |
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| Marking The ATEX directive requires the product to be marked with the CE mark, the 'EX' mark and the equipment code as per the folliowing example: |
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 II2G 0344ExII 2G Eexd IIB T4 |
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| Ex - Explosion proof in accordance with ATEX. II - Equipment group: II surface industries. 2 - Category 2 equipment (suitable for us in Zone 1) G - Gas: Suitable for atmospheres containing gas. E - European certificate in accordance with harmonised standards. Ex - Explosion-proof electrical equipment. d - Type of protection is 'Flameproof enclosure'-. II - Gas Group II - surface industries B - Gas sub group B T4 - Temperature class T4 (135 degrees centigrade surface temperature). Alternatives to the above are: Equipment Group I for mines - Category M1 and M2 II for all other locations - Categories 1, 2 and 3. Category 1 - Equipment that is intended for use in areas where an explosive atmosphere is present continuously for long periods or frequently. 2 - Equipment that is intended for use in ares where an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur in normal operation and must ensure a high level of protection. 3 - Equipment that is intended for use in areas where an explosive atmosphere is unlikely to occur in normal operation and must ensure a normal level of protection. Gas For gasses add the letter G For dusts add the letter D Type of protection D = Flameproof ia = Intrinsically Safe E = Increased safety Gas Group I = Mines II = Surface above ground industries Gas Sub Group A = less easily ignited gases eg propane. B = easily ignited gases eg etheylene. C = most easily ignited gases eg hydrogen or acetylene. Temperature Classification Hazardous areas apparatus is classified according to the maximum surface temperature produced under fault conditions at an ambient temperature of 40°C, or as otherwise specified. The standard classifications are as follows: T1 = 450°C T2 = 300°C T3 = 200°C T4 = 135°C T5 = 100°C T6 = 85°C |