WHAT IS ATEX CETIFICATION? According to the ATEX directive(from fr. Atmosphères Explosibles) 2014/34/EU of the European Parliament, all products intended for work in potentially explosive atmospheres must meet strict safety and health requirements. The level of essential safeguards and the related assessment procedures depend directly on the level of threat and the environment in which the device will operate. The ATEX Certificate is issued by an accredited certification unit as a confirmation of a positive result of thorough research including the design, prototype and production process along with constant monitoring of the final product as well as periodic audits of the production plant. EXPLOSION HAZARD ZONES As a zone of explosion hazard, one should understand the space in which mixtures of gases, vapors, mists and / or flammable dusts with air can occur. Depending on the source and frequency of occurrence of the threat, we divide the zones into: EXAMPLE OF THE EX MARKING: Description of the example marking: Explosion-proof luminaire designed to work in places where, during normal operation, an explosive atmosphere may occur containing a mixture of flammable substances in the form of gas, vapor, mist or dust with air. Explosion-proof protection was provided through a reinforced housing. The device can be used in the vicinity of gases classified as so-called a hydrogen group (e.g. acetylene, hydrogen) whose auto-ignition temperature is higher than 135 °C. The maximum surface temperature of the product does not exceed 65 °C. The luminaire has been protected against dust penetration into its interior due to its high IP66 protection rating and can be used in the vicinity of all types of combustible dust (including conductive ones with an electrical resistivity lower than 106Ω). GROUPS OF EXPLOSION-PROF DEVICES: GROUP DESCRIPTION I device intended for use in mining plants, where there is a methane hazard or a coal dust explosion hazard II device intended for use in places at risk of explosive atmospheres other than mining plants CATEGORIES OF EXPLOSION-PROOF DEVICES WITH REGARD TO THE ZONE OF EXPLOSION OF GAS, VAPOR AND FLAME OF FLAMABLE FLUIDS WITH AIR CATEGORY WORK ATMOSPHERE EX ZONE MARKING ENDANGERED AREA 1 G 0 occurs constantly, for long periods of time oroften 2 G 1 may occur during normal operation,occasionally 3 G 2 does not occur during normal operation,when it occurs it lasts shortly CATEGORIES OF EXPLOSION-PROOF DEVICES WITH REGARD TO THE ZONE OF EXPLOSION OF DUST AND COMBUSTIBLE FIBERS CATEGORY WORK ATMOSPHERE EX ZONE MARKING ENDAGNERED AREA 1 D 20 occurs constantly, for long periods of time oroften 2 D 21 may occur during normal operation,occasionally 3 D 22 does not occur during normal operation,when it occurs it lasts shortly TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION OF DEVICES IN AREA ENDANGERED OF EXPLOSION OF GAS, VAPOR AND MIXTURE OF FLAMMABLE FLUIDS WITH AIR HOUSING TYPE DESCRIPTION PROTECTION DEGREE EX ZONE MARKING EPL op is safe optical radiation very high 0,1,2 Gb d lub db flameproof construction high 1,2 e lub eb reinforced construction ib intrinsically safe construction mb construction encapsulated with isulating mass ic intrinsically safe construction normal 2 Gc mc construction encapsulated with isulating mass nA non-sparking device nC device with shielded terminals TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION OF DEVICES IN AREA ENDANGERED OF EXPLOSION OF DUST AND COMBUSTIBLE FIBERS HOUSING TYPE DESCRIPTION PROTECTION DEGREE EX ZONE MARKING EPL op is safe optical radiation very high 20,21,22 Db tb ochrona przez obudowę high 21,22 lb intrinsically safe construction mb protection trough encapsulation tc protection through the housing normal 22 Dc lc intrinsically safe construction mc protection through encapsulation p protection through hypertension GROUPS OF EXPLOSION GASES VAPORS AND MIXTURE OF FLAMMABLE FLUID WITH AIR LEVEL OF PROTECTION DESCRIPTION EXAMPLES IIA propane group propane, acetone, benzene, acetic acid, methanol, gasoline, diesel oil, aviation fuel, carbon monoxide IIB etylen group ethylene, city gas, hydrogen sulphide IIC hydrogen group hydrogen, acetylene, carbon disulphide GROWTH OF EXPLOSION LEVEL - IIC group devices meet all the requirements for group IIA and IIB equipment - IIB group devices meet all the requirements for group IIA equipment GROUPS OF EXPLOSION FOR DUST LEVEL OF PROTECTION DESCRIPTION EXAMPLES IIIA volatile combustible dusts fiber, wood, paper, cotton IIIB volatile non-conductive dusts coal, coke IIIC volatile conductive dusts metal filings GROWTH OF EXPLOSION LEVEL - IIIC group devices meet all the requirements for group IIIA and IIIB equipment - IIIB group devices meet all the requirements for group IIIA equipment TEMPERATURE CLASSES OF DEVICES IN AREA ENDANGERED OF EXPLOSION OF GAS, VAPOR AND MIXTURE OF FLUIDS WITH AIR TEMPERATURE CLASS MAXIMUM SURFACE TEMERATURE TEMPERATURE OF SELF-IGNITION OF GAS/VAPOR T1 450OC >450OC T2 300OC >300OC T3 200OC >200OC T4 135OC >135OC T5 100OC >100OC T6 85OC >85OC THE SCOPE OF APPLICATION OF EQUIPMENT DEPENDING ON THE TEMPERATURE CLASS - devices with class T6 can replace devices with classes T5, T4, T3, T2, T1 - devices with class T5 can replace devices with classes T4, T3, T2, T1 - devices with class T4 can replace devices with classes T3, T2, T1 - devices with class T3 can replace devices with classes T2, T1 - devices with class T2 can replace devices with classes T1 TEMPERATURE CLASSES OF DEVICES IN AREA ENDANGERED OF EXPLOSION OF DUST AND COMBUSTIBLE FIBRES For devices operating in the explosion hazard zone of dust and combustible fibers, the exact maximum temperature on the device surface should be determined [° C]. In the general designation of a series of products, it is permissible to give the temperature range for different versions of the device. THE MOST COMMON SUBSTANCES WHICH FORM EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERE GROUP IIA GROUP IIB GROUP IIC Methane Ethane Propane Butane Acetone Ammonia Benzene Carbon Monoxide Toluene Acetic Acid Petrol n-Haxane Aviation Kerosene Diesel Heating Oil Coke Oven Gas Ethylene Ethylene Oxide Propylene Oxide Crotonaldehyde Hydrogen Sulfide Ethyl Ether Hydrogen Acetylene Carbon Disulphide IGNITION TEMPERATURE OF EXEMPLARY EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERE SUBSTATION MAKE GAS IGNITION TEMP. oC Acetone 465 Benzene 498 Butane 287 Ethane 472 Ethanol 363 Petrol 280 Hexane 223 Methane 537 Propane 432 Propylene 455 Styrene 490 Toluene 480 Hydrogen Disulfide 260 METALIC DUSTS IGNITION TEMP. oC Cloud Layer Aluminum 650 760 Magnesium 620 490 Titanium 330 510 Zinc 630 430 Bronze 370 190 Chrome 580 400 Copper 630 430 Cadmium 570 250 FIBRE IGNITION TEMP. oC Cloud Layer Cotton lint 520 - Flax 430 230 Rayon 520 250 NON-METALIC DUSTS IGNITION TEMP. oC Cloud Layer Cocoa 420 200 Coffee 410 220 Corn dust 400 250 Sugar 350 400 Corn 480 220 Flour 480 220 Nylon 500 430 Polyethylene 450 380 Coal dust 610 180
