EN standard vs. ATEX 1

[controlnovice]

We are a US company with several small chemical plants in Europe. We are trying to deal with the new ATEX standards, but we really can't find anywhere, what we're suppose to do!

First I want to get this straight: ATEX is only for equipment rating to be placed in hazardous areas. EN standard (not sure which ones I need) provides guidelines on hazardous area and boundaries. Is that correct?

So, ATEX is fairly new, while the EN standard hasn't changed.

If our Area Classification drawings are up to date, is there anything we have to do with the new ATEX standard??? Do we have to verify the existing equipment is labeled ATEX? Is there a grandfather clause?

Is there any good information on the web that explains what existing plants have to do?

 

[ggarciae]

ATEX is an European Directive. It's law and became into force when every country aproves it.
It's a new approach Directive.
To afix CE mark in new products all Directives must be met if applicable.
EN are standards. Not laws.
But to meet Directive's requirements, some standards are approved as harmonized standars which fullfil them without further checks.
Most Directives refers to new products and its first put in market, but some of them refers to other equipment previosly in market too.
Some of the Directives requires a Notified Body to afix CE mark but others don't and manfr. is the only one to do it.
Look at

http://www.newapproach.org/Directives/DirectiveList.asp

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/es/search/search_lif.html

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/consleg/pdf/1994/en_1994L0009_do_001.pdf

Regards from Barcelona
G. García

 

[controlnovice]

Gracias por su ayuda.

Enough of my poor Spanish.

I have the two Directives that I need. One is 94/9/EC (ATEX 95), which is really more for manufacturers, and the other is 1999/92/EC (ATEX 137), which is for employers. My concern is with ATEX 137.

It states that the employer is responsible to verify everything is rated for the explosive atmosphere. We can do that, but what is the reference document used in Europe?

In the US we have NFPA 497 which is used as a basis for determining distances, boundaries and areas for explosive atmospheres. What is/are the document(s) in Europe that are used for reference in determineing the boundaries for the different zones of classification?

 

[ggarciae]

Areas for explosive atmospheres are classified in Low Tension electrical Regulations(REBT) in Class I and Class II.
In Class I areas risks are because of gas, steam or fog
In Class II areas risks are because of dust
Within Class I, zone 0, 1 and 2 are defined as a funtion of frecuency.
Within Class II, zone 20, 21 and 22 are defined.
Rules for stablish which zones within Class I are 0, 1 or 2 are in the standard EN 60079-10 (also standard CEI or IEC 60079)
Rules for stablish which zones within Class II are 20, 21 or 22 are in the standard CEI 61241-3 (or IEC 61241)
European acord for transport of Hazmat (ADR) refers to same standard CEI 60079 for classification of zones in order to choose electrical equipment in tanks.
See also EN 50014, 50015, 50016, etc. for classification or electrical equipment.
Hope this helps.




Regards from Barcelona
G. García

 

[controlnovice]

Thanks again!!! This is what I was looking for.

 

[PeterCharles]

Try :-

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

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

http://www.dti.gov.uk/strd/exatps02.pdf

http://www.hse.gov.uk/spd/dsear.htm

Get :-

EN 1127-1 (Explosive atmopspheres - Explosion prevention and protection)
EN 13463-1 (Non-electrical equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres - basic method and requirements)
EN 13463-5 (Non-electrical equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres - Protection by constructional safety)
EN 50281-3 (Equipment for use in the presence of combustible dust - Classification of areas where combustible dusts are or may be present)

 

[EEIre]

The CEAG "Principles of Explosion Protection" is an excellent resource. It is available as a free download at the following location:

http://www.ceag.de/en/Explosion_Protection/Expert_Forum/Ex-Standardization/