ATEX Directive
Matcons standard Powder IBC Discharge and Filling equipment is approved as CAT 2 equipment. This is certified as follows:
II 2 GD c T5 T100°C Tamb -10°C to 40°C
For some applications the user may request the internal area of the equipment to be certified as CAT 1 depending on the application requirements. In this case the equipment will be certified and labelled as follows:
II 1/2 GD c T5 T100°C Tamb -10°C to 40°C
| Category |
Gas Zone |
Dust Zone |
| CAT 1 |
0 |
20 |
| CAT 2 |
1 |
21 |
| CAT 3 |
2 |
22 |
| Description |
| Group II |
Non Mining Equipment |
| GD |
Gas and Dust |
| T5 |
Temperature Class (Gas) |
| T100°C |
Maximum Surface Temperature (Dust) |
| Tamb -10°C to 40°C |
Ambient Operating Temperature -10°C to 40°C |
| Zones |
| Zone 20 |
Dust Clouds Likely to be present for long periods |
| Zone 21 |
Dust Clouds Likely to be present occasionally in normal operation
|
| Zone 22 |
Dust Cloud Unlikely to occur in normal operation, but if it does, will only exist for a short period
|
| Zone 0 |
Flammable Atmosphere highly likely to be present for long periods or continuously
|
| Zone 1 |
Flammable atmosphere possible but unlikely to be present for long periods
|
| Zone 2 |
Flammable atmosphere unlikely to be present exept for short periods of time – typically as a result of a fault condition
|
OBJECTIVE OF THE ATEX DIRECTIVE 94/9/EC
The objective of Directive 94/9/EC is to ensure free movement for the products to which it applies in the EU territory. Therefore the Directive, based on Article 95 of the EC Treaty, provides for harmonised requirements and procedures to establish compliance.
The Directive notes that to remove barriers to trade via the New Approach, provided for in the Council Resolution of 7 May 1985[1], essential requirements regarding safety and other relevant attributes need to be defined by which a high level of protection will be ensured. These Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSRs) are listed in Annex II to Directive 94/9/EC.
These Essential Health and Safety Requirements are specific with respect to:
- potential ignition sources of equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres;
- autonomous protective systems intended to come into operation following an explosion with the prime objective to halt the explosion immediately and/or limit the effects of explosion flames and pressures;
- safety devices intended to contribute to the safe functioning of such equipment with respect to ignition source and to the safe functioning of autonomous protective systems;
- components with no autonomous function essential to the safe functioning of such equipment or autonomous protective system(s).
Since 1 July 2003 relevant products could only be placed on the market in the EU territory[2], freely moved and operated as designed and intended in the expected environment if they comply with Directive 94/9/EC (and other relevant legislation).
Directive 94/9/EC provides for the first time harmonised requirements for non-electrical equipment, equipment intended for use in environments which are potentially explosive due to dust hazards and protective systems. Safety devices intended for use outside explosive atmospheres which are required for or contribute to the safe functioning of equipment or protective systems with respect to risks of explosion are also included. This is an increase in scope compared to former national regulations for equipment and systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.