In accordance with the “Regulation on the Protection of Employees from the Hazards of Explosive Environments“, these substances are considered as substances that can create an explosive atmosphere, unless it is proved by research that the mixtures of flammable and/or combustible materials with air will not cause an explosion independently. The locations of these substances should be classified into zones based on the frequency of occurrence of explosive atmospheres and the duration of this atmosphere. These classifications should be specified in the Explosion Protection Document (PKD).

The classification of dangerous places is as follows for gases and dusts.

For Gases:

Zone 0: An area in which an explosive gas atmosphere is present continuously or for long periods or frequently.

Zone 1: An area in which an explosive gas atmosphere is likely to occur periodically or occasionally in normal operation.

Zone 2: An area in which an explosive gas atmosphere is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, it will exist for a short period only.

For Dusts:

Zone 20: A place in which an explosive dust atmosphere, in the form of a cloud of dust in air, is present continuously, or for long periods or frequently.

Zone 21: A place in which an explosive dust atmosphere, in the form of a cloud of dust in air, is likely to occur in normal operation occasionally

Zone 22: Area in which an explosive dust atmosphere, in the form of a cloud of combustible dust in air, is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for a short period only

The word exproof comes from the combination of the words “explosion proof”. It literally means explosion-proof. Ex-proof equipment is special equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres.

Ex-proof equipment and protective systems should be used in places where an explosive atmosphere may occur, determined as a result of the evaluations made in the Explosion Protection Document (PKD), and should be selected according to the categories specified in the Regulation on Equipment and Protective Systems Used in Possible Explosive Environments (2014/34/EU).

Ex-proof equipment consists of 3 categories in total. Equipment in the appropriate category for the explosive atmosphere class should be selected.

Zone 0 or Zone 20: Category 1 equipment,

Zone 1 or Zone 21: Category 1 or 2 equipment,

Zone 2 or Zone 22: Category 1, 2 or 3 equipment could be used.

ATEX regulations are basically divided into two. The first of these is the Regulation on Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (2014/34/EU). The purpose of this regulation is to determine the basic health and safety rules required for safe placing on the market of equipment and protective systems used in potentially explosive atmospheres, as well as the procedures and principles regarding conformity assessment procedures and market surveillance.

The second is the “Regulation on the Protection of Employees from the Hazards of Explosive Environments. The purpose of this regulation is to regulate the procedures and principles regarding the precautions to be taken in order to protect the employees from the dangers of explosive atmospheres that may occur in the workplace in terms of health and safety. Explosion Protection Document (PKD) must be prepared in workplaces covered by the regulation.

In accordance with the Regulation on Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (2014/34/EU), manufacturers of equipment and protective systems used in potentially explosive atmospheres (Exproof equipment) must obtain ATEX certificate by the notified body within the scope of this regulation in order to print CE on their products and to place them on the market. required. As Szutest, we are a notified body within the scope of ATEX, and we serve our manufacturers for the evaluation and certification of the conformity of the products for CE and Exproof marking purposes.

Manufacturers of equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres are obliged to ensure that their products comply with Directive 2014/34/EU. Manufacturers of products within the scope of ATEX 2014/34/EU Directive equipment and protective systems can supply the products to the market by obtaining an ATEX certificate from the notified body within the scope of 2014/34/EU Directive.

When classifying the hazards of explosive atmospheres, it should be classified into zones based on the frequency of occurrence of the explosive atmosphere and the duration of this environment. Hazard classification for each explosive atmosphere should be evaluated in the Explosion Protection Document (PKD). Hazard classes are expressed as zones.

The classification of hazardous areas is as follows for gases and dusts.

Gases: Zone 0, Zone 1, Zone 2

Dusts: Zone 20, Zone 21, Zone 2

Manufacturers producing equipment and protective systems used in potentially explosive atmospheres are obliged to ensure that their products meet the health and safety requirements of the 2014/34/EU Directive. For this reason, manufacturers of products covered by the ATEX directive are required to obtain an ATEX Certificate in order to print CE on their products and to be able to supply them to the market.

In accordance with the ” Regulation on the Protection of Employees from the Hazards of Explosive Environments “, these substances are considered as substances that can create an explosive atmosphere, unless it is proved by research that the mixtures of flammable and/or combustible materials with air will not cause an explosion independently. For this reason, places, where an explosive atmosphere may occur, are considered dangerous in this context and these workplaces have an obligation to prepare/prepare Explosion Protection Document (PKD).