Why is ATEX Vital?

What is ATEX?

ATEX (ATmospheres EXplosibles) is a name given to two EU directives that describes what equipment and workspace is allowed in an environment with a potentially explosive atmosphere.

The Equipment and Protective Systems Directive is aimed at the manufactures of equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, 94/9/EC (also known as Article 95 Directive). The Workers Potentially at Risk Directives aimed at personnel safety where sites embrace hazardous areas, 1999/92/EC (also known as the Article 137 Directive) came into force in June 2003.

These regulations apply to all equipment used in explosive or potentially explosive atmospheres. As your manufactures of dust extraction filters, we make sure that our BlueClean units comply with Article 95 in the ATEX directives.

What is an explosive atmosphere?

An explosive atmosphere is caused when flammable gases, vapours, or combustible dust is mixed with oxygen in the air is under the right atmospheric conditions. For an explosion in these atmospheres, all that is needed is a source of ignition. According to DSEAR (Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations), the right atmosphere conditions rely on the temperature being between -20 and 40 centigrade and the pressure for 0.8 to 1.1 bar.

The employer must ensure that safety measures are confirmed as being safe for explosive atmospheres as well as considering the particular risks in the workplace and the adequacy of the explosion control.

Where do explosive atmospheres exist?

Now that we know what ATEX and explosive atmospheres are, you might be asking yourself, where do these explosive atmospheres exist?

Any workplace that contains or has a process that produces explosive or potentially explosives atmospheres must comply with ATEX regulations.

Industries such as pharmaceutical companies, food processing, aerospace, industrial bakeries, bodywork shop’, brick manufacturing, shot blasting and powder coating are to name a few of the industries we have previously worked with. We tailor our BlueClean® filter units to your needs.

What are a business’s responsibilities when it comes to ATEX?

All organisations whose operations could create explosive atmospheres must eliminate or control the risks. A detailed ATEX risk assessment is needed, of which this should include:

► Identifying work areas where hazardous, dangerous explosive substances are used, stored and handled

► Considering whether the dangerous substance could be released

► Considering whether there are any ignition sources present

► Assessing the impact of a fire or explosion

If you have any questions on how we can help you be ATEX compliant, please contact us today. We design our range of****** BlueClean® filter units to be ATEX compliant and add to our client’s unique requirements.