ATEX

Designed for the environment

Equipment that operates where combustible dust or flammable vapour can accumulate has to be designed for that condition from the outset. ATEX is not a certificate applied just to a finished machine. It constrains the mechanical design, the material choices, the maximum surface temperatures, the earthing and bonding, and the whole control philosophy.

Retrofitting compliance to an existing machine is often more involved than designing it in from the start, and on occasion not possible at all.

Why so specialist

Building a capable machine and building a machine that is demonstrably safe in a classified zone are different disciplines. The second requires an ignition hazard assessment running alongside the design rather than after it, protection concepts chosen early enough to shape the build, and a technical file that passes examination.

Few machinery automation providers offer this capability. We do, and we can be engaged at concept stage for new machinery as well as considering your existing equipment.

Where it applies

Combustible dust is the common case across the sectors we serve. Certain tobacco and botanical dusts, pharmaceutical powders and food ingredients have the potential to form an explosive atmosphere at the right concentration. Solvent and coating vapours can pose the same risk in a different form.

If your site has a zoned area, or a DSEAR assessment that identifies one, the equipment being installed needs to match.

Working with your assessment

Zone classification is the site operator’s responsibility, and equipment is specified against it. We design to the zone, category and temperature class you provide; we can advise when a requirement is not achievable in the form requested rather than certifying around it.