Revised safety measures for companies operating in hazardous environments mean your company may need specialist ATEX products.
Operating in hazardous and potentially explosive environments means you need specialist products and equipment to get the work done. In many cases, using ordinary tools and equipment in such settings doesn’t just present an immediate danger to those working in it, but it might also be in breach of prevailing regulations.
Although there are different safety laws in various parts of the world covering what kinds of equipment and machinery you can use in hazardous environments, in Europe, it’s governed by ATEX. The European Union brought in the rules in 2014, and member states subsequently adopted them to protect people and premises in industries with potentially hazardous or explosive risks.
Safety problems can arise in places where there are gases, vapours, combustible dusts or mists in the air that, if there’s a source of ignition, such as a spark from a machine, can trigger a fire or explosion. Typical settings where this might occur include the oil and gas industry, the petrochemical sector, mines, flour mills and more. And so, under the legislation, specialist ATEX products are required, instead of more usual ones.
Updated Guidelines for ATEX Products
Revised guidelines for the installation and use of ATEX products were issued at the end of 2017, following several meetings of an ATEX working group comprised of a number of stakeholders. Collectively, they form “a manual for all parties who deal with equipment and protective systems in potentially explosive atmospheres”, says the EU, and they contain clarifications relating to procedures on the use of relevant tools and equipment required for hazardous settings.
The guidelines cover a range of ATEX products, including electric motors, fixed and portable lighting, diesel engines, detection equipment such as instruments used to monitor currents and temperature (digital multimeters and infrared thermometers), isolators and switches and air conditioning and heating systems. The rules also cover communications equipment like mobile phones. Modified ATEX smartphones must be used, as these won’t create heat due to their electronics or static charges because of their plastic components.
ATEX-approved air conditioning units are a particular necessity in many explosive environments. These units are often required in hot climates, such as oil and gas facilities in the Middle East, and there’s a need to keep people and products cool without the risk of an explosion from the heat of standard air conditioning units. The ATEX variety is hermetically sealed and has additional components that won’t overheat and will keep running in the most challenging conditions.
Melding ATEX into Country-Specific Laws
Before ATEX, many countries already had laws and regulations concerning the use of equipment in potentially explosive settings. In the UK, they come under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR). This legislation requires that companies protect their workers from substances that could put their lives at risk due to explosions, fires or corrosion of metal.
ATEX was subsequently enacted in the UK via clauses in DSEAR and compels manufacturers of ATEX products to ensure they undergo testing and certification by a notified body. They must also be safe to use in hazardous settings and bear the “EX” symbol necessary for these kinds of products.
For procurement managers at companies with zones on their premises specified as having an explosive risk and that need ATEX products to ensure the safety of workers, sourcing the various specialist tools, equipment and machines can be daunting. But thanks to the internet, it’s possible to quickly find everything you need via online ATEX shops like ours.
Order all the ATEX products your company needs right here at the ATEXOnline store. You’ll find the best quality tools and equipment sourced in the UK, and we deliver worldwide. Get your ATEX products now.