What are ATEX directives and how do they differ?

The abbreviation ATEX comes from the French words Atmosphères Explosibles and means explosive atmospheres. An explosive atmosphere is defined as a mixture with air, under atmospheric conditions, of flammable substances in the form of gases, vapours, mists, or dusts in which, following ignition, combustion spreads to the entire unburned mixture.

ATEX directives apply throughout the Member States of the European Union (EU) and the countries of the European Economic Area (EEA). There are two ATEX directives: ATEX Directive 1999/92/EC and ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU. Together, they form two complementary pillars of safety in workplaces where explosive atmospheres may occur.

The safety concept set out in ATEX Directive 1999/92/EC is based on three obligations placed on employers at facilities where explosive atmospheres may occur:

  1. preventing the formation of explosive atmospheres;
  2. preventing the ignition of explosive atmospheres;
  3. limiting the harmful effects of an explosion in order to protect the health and safety of employees.

The safety concept of ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU is also based on three principles, this time applicable to manufacturers of equipment and/or protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres:

  1. first and foremost, wherever possible, preventing the formation of explosive atmospheres by the equipment and protective systems themselves;
  2. preventing ignition in explosive atmospheres, taking into account the nature of each electrical and non-electrical ignition source;
  3. where an explosion capable of endangering persons, animals, or property nevertheless occurs, immediately stopping it or limiting flame propagation and explosion pressure to an adequate level of safety.

The key difference between the two ATEX directives is therefore their scope: ATEX Directive 1999/92/EC applies to employers at facilities where explosive atmospheres may occur, while ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU applies to manufacturers of equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. In the first case, employers are required to conduct a comprehensive explosion risk assessment and, prior to making the workplace available, prepare an Explosion Protection Document (EPD) based on that assessment. This document must be updated whenever changes to the workplace, equipment, or work organisation may affect the risk assessment outcome. In the second case, manufacturers of electrical and non-electrical equipment, protective systems, safety, control, and regulating devices, as well as components forming part of such equipment, must meet essential design and construction requirements by carrying out appropriate conformity assessment procedures. Depending on the circumstances, these procedures may be performed by the manufacturer alone or with the involvement of a notified body. For protective equipment and systems, the entire process concludes with the issuance of an EU declaration of conformity and the affixing of the CE marking together with the specific explosion protection marking and additional required information.

The table below presents the markings used under the ATEX directives.

ATEX Directives
ATEX 1999/92/ECATEX 2014/34/EU
Designates areas where explosive atmospheres may occur.Designates products intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

Each directive has been implemented into Polish law through the relevant national regulation. ATEX Directive 1999/92/EC is implemented in Polish law by the Regulation of the Minister of Economy of 8 July 2010 on minimum occupational health and safety requirements related to the possibility of an explosive atmosphere occurring in the workplace (Journal of Laws 2010 No. 138, item 931). ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU is implemented by the Regulation of the Minister of Development of 6 June 2016 on requirements for equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (Journal of Laws 2016, item 817).

In summary, the first of the above ATEX directives has a social character related to the protection of employees’ health and lives, whereas the second ATEX directive has an economic character related to the free movement of goods on the EU market. The main objective of Directive 1999/92/EC is to ensure a safe working environment with regard to the occurrence of explosive atmospheres, while Directive 2014/34/EU aims to ensure that safe products suitable for use in such environments are placed on the European market.

Bibliography:

  1. Directive 1999/92/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1999 on minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres.
  2. Directive 2014/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
  3. Regulation of the Minister of Economy of 8 July 2010 on minimum occupational health and safety requirements related to the possibility of an explosive atmosphere occurring in the workplace (Journal of Laws 2010 No. 138, item 931).
  4. Regulation of the Minister of Development of 6 June 2016 on requirements for equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (Journal of Laws 2016, item 817).