ATEX product certification
ATEX product certification refers to the process of the evaluation and testing of the construction of products that require to be certified under the European Directive 2014/34/EU (also known as the ATEX Directive or ATEX 114). This European Directive 2014/34/EU came into force on 20 April 2016 and replaces the old European Directive 94/9/EC.
The European Directive 2014/34/EU defines the requirements that all Equipment and Safety Systems for use in explosive atmospheres have to comply with, if they are to be sold onto the European market. It covers both electrical and non-electrical equipment which is to be used in areas where an explosive gas and/or dust atmospheres can be present.
The basic objective of the ATEX Directive is to ensure the free movement of the applicable products in the EU territory and to enhance the safety of people working in areas where there is a risk of gas and/or dust explosions. Therefore the ATEX Directive states mandatory Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSR's) in Annex II, which are to be complied with through product certification systems. The compliance to these EHSR’s is normally established by using these harmonised European standards for the construction and production of these products.
The ATEX Directive also includes mandatory requirements related to the production quality of products that are to be used in areas where an explosive gas and/or dust atmosphere can be present.
These requirements stipulate that ATEX product certificates (depending on type of product and application area) shall be based on both:
- a product evaluation and testing to relevant standards of the EN 60079-xx series standards and the ATEX EHSR's;
- a product quality assessment to EN ISO/IEC 80079-34. This is mandatory for electrical equipment for use in Category 1 and 2 (Zone 0 and 1) and for non-electrical equipment for use in Category 1 (Zone 0).
For details on production quality requirements, please contact us.