Managing explosion risk with hazardous products
At Rowland Magnetic Solutions, we can design and manufacture ATEX approved magnetic separator equipment for use in Zone 0 and Zone 20 environments in accordance with your process requirements.
Products are fully certified ensuring that the equipment is fit for purpose and detailed information is supplied to ensure that it can be used safely in its intended environment.
Please contact us for advice or to discuss your requirements.
ATEX Regulations
Explosive atmospheres can be caused by flammable gases, mists, vapours or by combustible dusts. When mixed with air and a source of ignition, an explosion can result. Preventing releases of dangerous substances and preventing sources of ignition are of vital importance in reducing the risk of explosions. Therefore using equipment covered by ATEX regulations is a necessity.
ATEX is the name given to the legal requirements for controlling explosive atmospheres and the suitability of equipment and protective systems used in them – European Directives 99/92/EC (also known as ‘ATEX 137’ or the ‘ATEX Workplace Directive’) and Directive 2014/34/EU which replaced Directive 94/9/EC (also known as ‘ATEX 95’ or ‘the ATEX Equipment Directive’) in April 2016.
Directive 99/92/EC, put into effect through regulations 7 and 11 of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR), requires the classification of areas where hazardous explosive atmospheres may occur into zones, according to their size, location, the likelihood of an explosive atmosphere occurring and its persistence if it does.
Areas classified into zones must be protected from sources of ignition by using equipment selected to meet the specific requirements of the zone.
Directive 2014/34/EU, allows the free trade of ATEX equipment within the EU without the need for separate testing and documentation for each Member State. In Great Britain, the requirements of the Directive are put into effect through BIS Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/192).
Manufacturers must ensure that their products undergo appropriate conformity procedures, involving testing and certification by a ‘third-party’ certification body (known as a Notified Body). Where manufacturers have had products pre-approved, ‘self-certification’ of equipment intended to be used in less hazardous explosive atmospheres (Zone 1/2 and Zone 21/22) can take place. Once certified, equipment is marked by the ‘EX’ symbol to identify it as fit for purpose and supplied with appropriate information to ensure its safe use.
ATEX 2014/34/EU Zones and Categories
Category 1 – Explosive atmospheres are present continuously or for long periods.
Gases: Zone 0 Dust: Zone 20
Category 2 – Explosive atmosphere is likely to occur occasionally in normal operation but unlikely to be present for long periods.
Gases: Zone 1 Dust: Zone 21
Category 3 – Explosive atmosphere is unlikely to occur in normal operation except for infrequent or short periods.
Gases: Zone 2 Dust: Zone 22
