There are many substances that can form an explosive atmosphere; for example, <\/span>gases <\/strong>(natural gas, butane, propane, acetylene, etc.), <\/span>liquids <\/strong>(propellants, solvents, oils, paints, etc.) and <\/span>solids<\/strong> (wood, coal, cereal grains, metal powder) and therefore many installations and activities that must be evaluated according to regulations.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nDirective 99\/92\/CE <\/strong><\/span>provides that the employer must take the appropriate measures to prevent the formation of explosive atmospheres or, where the nature of the activity does not allow that, to prevent the ignition of explosive atmospheres, and mitigate the adverse effects of an explosion so as to ensure the health and safety of workers. <\/span><\/p>\nTo classify the areas, you must follow and take into account the<\/span> international standards (UNE\/IEC 60079-10)<\/b> and the physical and chemical parameters of the substances liable to cause explosive atmospheres. It is therefore possible to identify the site based on the characteristics of the substances in the facility.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Classification of site areas<\/b><\/h3><\/div>\n\n
\n\n\nTYPE OF AREA<\/strong><\/th>\nAREA FOR GASES, VAPOURS AND MIST<\/strong><\/th>\nAREA FOR COMBUSTIBLE SOLID DUST<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\n| Work area in which an explosive atmosphere is always or frequently present, or for a prolonged period of time.<\/td>\n | 0<\/td>\n | 20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Work area in which the occasional formation of an explosive atmosphere is likely under normal operating conditions.<\/td>\n | 1<\/td>\n | 21<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Work area in which the formation of an explosive atmosphere is unlikely under normal operating conditions. If an explosive atmosphere forms, it only remains for a short period of time.<\/td>\n | 2<\/td>\n | 22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> To classify the areas, you must follow and take into account the international standards and the parameters of the substances liable to cause them. It is therefore possible to identify the location based on the characteristics of the substances in the facility.<\/span><\/p>\nIn addition to identifying hazardous areas, companies with ATEX areas must protect electrical and non-electrical equipment<\/strong> intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Similarly, they must guarantee a certain level of safety<\/strong> depending on the area of the facility and therefore must have undergone specific tests and certification tests carried out by recognised organisations.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> How do you know which ATEX marking an ATEX luminaire should have?<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> GROUPS <\/b><\/h3><\/div>\n\n \n\n\n| GROUP<\/th>\n | DETAIL<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n | \n\n| I<\/td>\n | FIREDAMP Mining equipment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| II<\/td>\n | Equipment for surface installations<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div> CATEGORY <\/b><\/h3><\/div>\n\n \n\n\nAREA<\/strong><\/th>\nEQUIPMENT TYPE<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\n| 0\/20<\/td>\n | 1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| 1\/21<\/td>\n | 2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| 2\/22<\/td>\n | 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div> ENVIRONMENT<\/b><\/h3><\/div>\n\n \n\n\n| SIGN<\/th>\n | MEANING<\/strong><\/th>\nAREAS\u00a0<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\n| G<\/td>\n | GAS<\/td>\n | 0,1,2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| D<\/td>\n | DUST<\/td>\n | 20,21,22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| GD<\/td>\n | GAS AND DUST<\/td>\n | 0\/21-1\/21-2\/22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div> PROTECTION MODES FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES<\/b><\/h3><\/div>\n\n \n\n\nMODE<\/strong><\/th>\nSYMBOL<\/strong><\/th>\nSTANDARD<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\n| Flameproof<\/td>\n | d<\/td>\n | UNE-EN 60079-1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Increased safety<\/td>\n | e<\/td>\n | UNE-EN 60079-7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Restricted breathing<\/td>\n | n<\/td>\n | UNE-EN 60079-15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Surround<\/td>\n | t<\/td>\n | EN 60079-31<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div> GAS SUBGROUP<\/b><\/h3><\/div>\n\n \n\n\nSUBDIVISION<\/strong><\/th>\nDESCRIPTION<\/strong><\/th>\nCOMPATIBILITY<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\n| IIA<\/td>\n | Butane, hexane, methane, acetone, fuel-oil\u2026<\/td>\n | IIA, IIB, IIC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| IIB<\/td>\n | Ethylene, cyclopropane, dioxane\u2026<\/td>\n | IIB, IIC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| IIB + H2<\/td>\n | Any of the above + Hydrogen<\/td>\n | IIB+H2, IIC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| IIC<\/td>\n | Hydrogen, acetylene, carbon disulfide<\/td>\n | IIC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nSubgroup IIC covers IIB+H2, HB and IIA<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/div> DUST SUBGROUP<\/b><\/h3><\/div>\n\n \n\n\nSUBDIVISION<\/strong><\/th>\nDESCRIPTION<\/strong><\/th>\nMATERIALS PERMITTED GROUP<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\n| IIA<\/td>\n | Inflammable particles<\/td>\n | IIA, IIB, IIC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| IIB<\/td>\n | Non-conductive dust<\/td>\n | IIB, IIC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| IIC<\/td>\n | Conductive dust<\/td>\n | IIC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nSubgroup IIIC covers IIIB and IIIA<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/div><\/div><\/div> GAS TEMPERATURE CLASS<\/b><\/h3><\/div>\n\n \n\n\nTemperature class<\/strong><\/th>\nMaximum surface temperature of the equipment\u00a0<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\n| T1<\/td>\n | 450\u00b0C<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| T2<\/td>\n | 300\u00b0C<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| T3<\/td>\n | 200\u00b0C<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| T4<\/td>\n | 135\u00b0C<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| T5<\/td>\n | 100\u00b0C<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| T6<\/td>\n | 85\u00b0C<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nThe self-ignition temperature T6 covers T1 to T6<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/div> DUST TEMPERATURE CLASS <\/b><\/h3><\/div>\n\n \n\n\nTemperature class<\/strong><\/th>\nMaximum surface temp. of electrical equipment<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\n| T85\u00b0C<\/td>\n | M\u00e1x 85\u00b0C<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| T100\u00b0C<\/td>\n | M\u00e1x 100\u00b0C<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| T135\u00b0C<\/td>\n | M\u00e1x 135\u00b0C<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| T200\u00b0C<\/td>\n | M\u00e1x 200\u00b0C<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| T300\u00b0C<\/td>\n | M\u00e1x 300\u00b0C<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| T450\u00b0C<\/td>\n | M\u00e1x 450\u00b0C<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nThe self-ignition temperature T85 covers T85 to T450<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/div> LEVEL OF PROTECTION <\/b><\/h3><\/div>\n\n \n\n\nMODE<\/strong><\/th>\nEPL GAS<\/strong><\/th>\nEPL DUST<\/strong><\/th>\nMEANING<\/strong><\/th>\nAREA<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\n| d<\/td>\n | Gb<\/td>\n | Db<\/td>\n | Very high protection<\/td>\n | 1\/21<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| e<\/td>\n | Gb<\/td>\n | Db<\/td>\n | High protection<\/td>\n | 1\/21<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| nR<\/td>\n | Gc<\/td>\n | Dc<\/td>\n | Medium protection<\/td>\n | 2\/22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div> DEGREE OF PROTECTION IP <\/b><\/h3><\/div>\n\n \n\n\n| <\/th>\n | DUST PENETRATION<\/th>\n | <\/th>\n | WATER PENETRATION<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n | \n\n| 0<\/td>\n | No protection<\/td>\n | 0<\/td>\n | No protection<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| 1<\/td>\n | Protection from objects larger than 50 mm<\/td>\n | 1<\/td>\n | Protection from vertical dripping<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| 2<\/td>\n | Protection from objects larger than 12.5 mm<\/td>\n | 2<\/td>\n | Protection from dripping at an angle 15\u00ba<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| 3<\/td>\n | Protection from objects larger than 2.5 mm<\/td>\n | 3<\/td>\n | Protection from spraying<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| 4<\/td>\n | Protection from objects larger than 1 mm<\/td>\n | 4<\/td>\n | Protection from splashes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| 5<\/td>\n | Protection from dust<\/td>\n | 5<\/td>\n | Protection from water jets<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| 6<\/td>\n | Totally dust-proof<\/td>\n | 6<\/td>\n | Protection from constant water jets<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| <\/td>\n | The IP69K rating is the highest level of protection available and is compatible with high-pressure cleaning and steam cleaning equipment.<\/td>\n | 7<\/td>\n | Protection from temporary immersion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| 8<\/td>\n | Protection from permanent immersion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> DEGREE OF PROTECTION IK<\/b><\/h3><\/div>IK code and impact energy<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n \n\n\n| IK code<\/th>\n | IK00<\/th>\n | IK01<\/th>\n | IK02<\/th>\n | IK03<\/th>\n | IK04<\/th>\n | IK05<\/th>\n | IK06<\/th>\n | IK07<\/th>\n | IK08<\/th>\n | IK09<\/th>\n | IK10<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n | \n\n| Impact energy (joules)<\/td>\n | *<\/td>\n | 0.15<\/td>\n | 0.20<\/td>\n | 0.35<\/td>\n | 0.50<\/td>\n | 0.70<\/td>\n | 1<\/td>\n | 2<\/td>\n | 5<\/td>\n | 10<\/td>\n | 20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |