ATEX is the European Union’s regime for equipment and workplaces in explosive atmospheres, and the name comes from the French ATmosphères EXplosibles. It is really two directives working together. Directive 2014/34/EU, often called ATEX 114, sets out the requirements for the equipment and protective systems themselves, while Directive 1999/92/EC, known as ATEX 137, covers the employer’s duty to protect workers in those atmospheres.
Equipment that falls under ATEX must go through conformity assessment, usually involving a notified body for the higher equipment categories, and then carry the CE mark together with the distinctive Ex hexagon before it can be placed on the EU market. ATEX is the EU’s legal counterpart to the international IECEx scheme, and because the two share the same IEC 60079 technical base a device is often certified to both. For anyone classifying a hazardous area or selecting instruments for it in Europe, ATEX is the law that makes the paperwork mandatory rather than optional.
The relationship between IECEx to ATEX can be confusing
- IECEx is a voluntary international scheme with no legal force of its own, but one that many countries accept as evidence of compliance.
- ATEX is EU law: to place explosion-protected equipment on the EU market you must comply with the ATEX directive.
The two share the same IEC 60079 technical base, so the actual testing is essentially identical. In practice a manufacturer usually earns the IECEx certificate first and then uses it as the foundation for its ATEX certificate. Think of ATEX as the law and IECEx as the international passport that gets you most of the way there.
Key Points
- ATEX is the EU framework for explosive atmospheres, made up of the equipment directive 2014/34/EU and the workplace directive 1999/92/EC.
- ATEX equipment must complete conformity assessment, often via a notified body, and carry the CE mark plus the Ex hexagon.
- It is the legally binding EU counterpart to the voluntary international IECEx scheme, sharing the IEC 60079 technical base.
- Compliance is mandatory before explosion-protected equipment can be placed on the EU market.
Example
A solenoid valve sold for a European Zone 1 installation must meet Directive 2014/34/EU, be assessed by a notified body for that equipment category, and carry both the CE mark and the Ex hexagon with marking such as II 2G Ex db IIC T4 Gb. Without that ATEX compliance it cannot legally be placed on the EU market.
See Also: IECEx, hazardous areas, CE marking, EU machinery directive
Cited Sources
- Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX equipment) and Directive 1999/92/EC (ATEX workplace)
- European Commission — ATEX
Deep dive: For a much more in-depth treatment, see Who Certifies Functional Safety Equipment, and Who Accepts It.