ATEX Directive contains essential requirements for products intended for operation in a potentially explosive atmosphere. These products are divided into groups:
- Group I - devices intended for work in mine undergrounds, and above-ground parts of potentially explosive mines.
- Group II - general purpose devices.
There may be three categories of devices in this group:
- includes devices designed to be able to function in accordance with the operating parameters set by the manufacturer and provide a very high level of protection; devices of this category are intended for use in places where the explosive atmosphere caused by air mixtures with gases, vapors, mists or air / dust mixtures occurs constantly, often or for a long time; Equipment in this category must provide the required level of protection even in the case of rare occurrences concerning devices and are characterized by independent means of protection, such that the required level of protection will be ensured even in the case of two independent failures.
- devices designed to be able to function in accordance with the operating parameters set by the manufacturer and provide a high level of protection; devices of this category are intended for use in spaces where there is a likelihood of an occasional occurrence of an explosive atmosphere caused by gases, vapors, mists or dust-air mixtures; security measures for devices in this category provide the required level of protection even in the case of frequent disturbances and damage to devices that are typical in the place of installation of the device.
- devices designed so that they can function in accordance with the operating parameters set by the manufacturer and provide a normal level of protection; this category of equipment is intended for use in spaces where the occurrence of an explosive atmosphere caused by gases, vapors, mists or dust / air mixtures is unlikely or, if it does occur, this occurs uncommonly and only for a short period; devices in this category provide the required level of protection during normal operation.
Only for devices from Group II category 3 and non-electrical devices of category 2 or M2, the manufacturer may use internal production control (module A).
In other cases, a confirmation of conformity must be carried out with the participation of the notified body. The following solutions are possible:
- for category 1 or M1 devices:
EC type-examination (module B) together with confirmation of conformity with the type based on the product verification (module F) or together with the confirmation of conformity with the type based on the assurance of the quality of the production process (module D); - for electrical appliances of category 2 or M2 and for engines:
EC type examination (module B) together with confirmation of conformity with the type based on the product quality assurance (module E) or together with the confirmation of conformity with the type based on internal production control and testing of products under supervision (module C1); - for all device categories:
compliance confirmation based on unit verification (module G).
The marking device contained information both on the properties of the device itself, the means and security systems, as well as working conditions, or explosive hazard zones, the ambient or cooperating devices.
The summary of the assessment of the positive requirement as regards operation in a potentially explosive atmosphere is the verification of the marking product and the type-examination certificate EU (EU-Type Certificate Examination) and / or the notification of the quality assurance (QAN) of the production process, according to EN ISO/IEC 80079-34 standard.
More:
Program of mandatory assessment on ATEX (2014/34/EU) + list of technical specifications
Wniosek_Application_Mandatory Assessment
Application for confirmation of the quality of the production process / product quality
Application for the storage of documentation (2014/34/EU - Module A1)
