Explosion Prevention (ATEX)
Risky and Volatile or Safe and Certified?
Explosion protection of equipment, protective systems, components and installations
Who is affected by the ATEX Directive?
The Directive affects all manufacturers and their authorized representatives in the EU as well as the importers or any persons
responsible for placing a product on the Common European Market.
The following products will be affected by the ATEX Directive:
- equipment: Machines, operating equipment, devices, control components and instrumentation
- protective systems: Explosion suppression systems, relief systems and other systems
- components: Components essential to the safe functioning of equipment and protective systems
Competitive edge – right from the design stage!
The design and construction of equipment falling under the ATEX Directive must be such that ignition of explosive atmospheres is prevented or that its impacts are limited to an adequate level of safety. The experts at TÜV SÜD also support you during the design and construction of installations and machinery operated in potentially explosive atmospheres. You gain safety and certainty for yourself, your products and your staff, and thus win a competitive edge from the outset.
As a visible sign of compliance with the ATEX Directive, the CE marking must be affixed to each machine. CE stands for Communauté Européenne (European Community). The CE marking is not a consumer label, but addresses supervisory authorities to ensure free trade. Within the European Union, the CE marking is thus a
product's “passport” valid throughout the EU. It indicates that the product complies with all relevant Directives of the European Union and may be traded freely.
Approved “passport” for your products – also in potentially explosive atmospheres
Directive 94/9/EC (ATEX) regulates the placing on the market of equipment and protective systems for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. If your product demonstrably satisfies the requirements set forth in this Directive, no EU Member State may impede or prohibit its market launch or order a recall.
Manufacturers have been obliged to comply fully with this Directive since 1 July 2003. A new feature in Directive 94/9/EC stipulates that both electrical and non-electrical explosion hazards must be eliminated.
Your competitive edge thanks to TÜV SÜD: faster processing = faster market launch!
Well-known company groups and automotive manufacturers have already demanded testing and inspection in accordance with the ATEX Directive for machines, equipment or entire systems and installations. Early inspection and certification of the equipment in accordance with the new regulations provide crucial
competitive edge. In addition, TÜV SÜD offers significantly shorter lead times than its competitors.
If you aim to be well-prepared for the future, choose TÜV SÜD as your professional partner. With over 25 years of experience in product testing and certification, we support you in all fields of
explosion protection which also effectively promotes the marketing and sales of your products.
TÜV SÜD offers one of the widest ranges of services in this sector, including the use of our laboratories for explosion protection and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), mechanical and electrical safety, dust and contamination control, environmental simulation, HALT (Highly Accelerated Life Test) and HASS (Highly Accelerated Stress Screen) testing at all times.
And that’s not all we have to offer: By actively participating in advisory bodies and many other organizations, we ensure that our assessment criteria are based on the latest findings. In addition, our internal quality system and comprehensive advanced training measures make sure that our experts always use the latest state-of-the-art know-how.