An ATEX torch is necessary for many workplaces where there’s a risk to the safety of staff and premises.
Torches are necessary for staff to find their way and examine and maintain equipment in places where there isn’t much lighting, but in hazardous environments that have the potential for fires and explosions, it’s not possible to use ordinary handheld lamps. That goes for the torch function on today’s range of smartphones, too — just like everyday torches, they carry the risk of triggering an event that could leave staff injured or worse.
So ATEX-approved torches are part of the inventory of tools, equipment and machines that companies with zones designated as hazardous environments must use to keep people and their premises safe. ATEX is the name for European Union regulations covering equipment destined for use in explosive atmospheres and its use by employees working in those settings.
Such places in need of specialist equipment include flour and grain mills, where dust is combustible and may result in an explosion if there’s a trigger, like heat or a spark from an electrical unit; paint-spraying facilities and the fine mists given off; the oil, gas and petrochemical sectors; mines; and many other areas deemed hazardous in commercial operations.
Different ATEX Zones and Equipment Requirements
Under the ATEX rules, different places in a company with the potential for an explosion are classified into zones, with various requirements for specialist equipment like an ATEX torch, air conditioning and heating units, portable lighting, isolators and switches and lots of other kinds of ATEX gear.
The different zones indicate the risk or danger to life they present because of potentially explosive gases, dust, mists and vapours. Examples of the many zones include:
- Zone 0: This is an area where there’s a continual presence of an explosive gas-air mix, and it remains for long periods.
- Zone 1: Here, gas vapours are detected as present in the air, presenting the real risk of an explosion occurring, should something like a spark from a machine or tool trigger one.
- Zone 2: These are places in a work environment where it’s not likely that an explosion will occur during normal working operations, but the risk is still there.
- Zones 20, 21 and 22: Areas with combustible dust in the air, either for long or short periods and the likelihood of it causing a blast if there’s a source of ignition.
How Are ATEX-Approved Torches Safer Than Usual Ones?
ATEX torches and flashlights are modified versions of more common handheld lamps and are designed for safe use in the most critical of hazardous places where there’s real potential for a fire breaking out or an explosion to occur. They’re essential spark-proof tools that won’t overheat or generate a spark that could be the trigger for something catastrophic to happen.
An ATEX torch will typically have several light outputs powered by safer LED units and can be used in most ATEX zones but particularly 0, 1 and 2. Some ATEX-approved torches have a shoulder strap for easier carrying and use and can run continuously for long stretches — over 24 hours with some makes.
ATEX torches will carry the “EX” mark that proves they’ve undergone rigorous testing and certification so that they are safe to use in risky environments. And because of the harsh and challenging workspaces they’re frequently used in, ATEX torches are built to be robust, so they can withstand drops from heights and not break.
Using ATEX-approved torches in dark and dangerous places will ensure workers can safely get on with the job and not be left in the dark.
The ATEXOnline shop has the ATEX-approved torches you need to help employees working in hazardous environments. Order yours now.