ATEX guideline

[Lotusbert]

Hello,

we are a manufacturer of wheels and castors. We have developed an electrical conductive wheel for forklift trucks and other applications, complying with EN12533 and ISO2878 (electrical resistance is less than 10000 Ohm). I know there is a new guideline called ATEX. How can I know if this kind of product has to comply with this guideline ?

thanks for your reaction

 

[PeterCharles]

Is it your intention to offer this item for use in an ATEX zone? If it is then you should check the ATEX requirements. Initially suggest you follow the following link :-

http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/atex/guide/index.htm

as a start point.

 

[Lotusbert]

PeterCharles, thanks for the tip, but that was where I got stuck. This guideline is written by sollicitors and I can't conclude myself if an electric conductive wheel must comply or not. I contacted several national institutes for advice but no-one has answered sofar. Seems to be difficult....
As far as I understand, an electrical conductive wheel is a component and has no autonome function, so it doesn't need a certificat. Its the machinebuilder who uses this wheel who has to check if his construction complies...
Do you agree ??

 

[Carburize]

If you do a search on this site I believe there was an earlier ATEX thread that might have some relevant information.

 

[jet1749]

I think you are correct in assuming a component do's not require ATEX compliance, in so far as a machine builder or manufacturer has to ensure compliance with ATEX regs where the machine or assembly is used in zoned areas. Having said that, obviously if its design will not allow compliance with ATEX it will not be taken up by manufacturers/builders for use in such zoned areas. That might seem obvious. If there is no intention of use in zoned areas there is no requirement in any case. The lack of response from national bodies and institutes may be because of the lack of case law to act as precedence due to the newness of the regulations. Incidentally, I am in charge of a pump repair facility for an international fibre company and according to ATEX regs I have now become a pump manufacturer. This apparently because I manufacture my own spares and source obsolete castings locally.

 

[PeterCharles]

A couple of extra pointers :-

ATEX is all about safety and the safety of equipment offered for sale in the EU. It is designed as a common directive throughout the EU. If you are not in the EU and do not intend to sell your products in the EU then don't worry about ATEX.

If you are in the EU or intend to sell your products in the EU then you should think about ATEX.

To me, wheels and castors sound like components. So are you intending to offer them for sale like any other component with no reference to ATEX? If so, then you need not consider ATEX. It will be up to a manufacturer of a piece of equipment to consider your component along with all other components in a risk assessment on his equipment if it is intended for use in an ATEX zone.

However if you are intending to sell your components specifically for use in ATEX zones then they have to comply with the Essential Health and Safety Requirements. European Standards exist (or are being prepared) to assist manufacturers in complying. But in truth, the legislation has become effective BEFORE all the standards are in place leaving us all with much head scratching about the interpretation of the requirements.

I don't know which country you are in, but if you are in the EU then you should check with your national standards organisation for which standards are currently available (in the UK it's the British Standards Institution).

Hope this sheds some more light on a grey subject!!

 

[Lotusbert]

Thanks PeterCharles for your information, it brings a bit of light in the darkness.
We are an european compagny located in Belgium, so ATEX is important to know and to apply where necesary.
As mentioned in my first note, these wheels are tested according to recent european norms made special for wheels and castors (EN12533). In this norm they define what is antistatic and what is conductive. The problem is that I can not find any relation between ATEX and this norm. The only norm I could find relating to forklifts is EN 1755 safety for forklifts. I ordered this norm to see whats in it for us. If something is mentioned too in this norm about the wheels then we can make ourselves a certificate for the customer that states that we comply with those norms and therefore also compy with ATEX. I don't think we need a notified body to check the components. If the manufacturer keeps records of mesurements and so, that should be enough

 

[PeterCharles]

You need to be looking for standards relating to explosive atmospheres. Then you have to apply them to your products.

Here are a few :-

EN 1127-1
Explosive atmospheres, explosion prevention and protection
Part 1, Basic concepts and methodology

EN 13463-1
Non-electrical equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres
Part 1, Basic method and requirements

prEN 13463-5
Non-electrical equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres
Part 5, Protection by constructional safety
(this one has not yet been formally adopted, but it will be and you can get a copy)

Good hunting.