ATEX Certification for the European Union

• Comprises equipment intended for use in the underground parts of mines, and to those parts of surface installations of such mines, likely to become endangered by firedamp and/or combustible dust, compromising equipment Categories M1 and M2 as set out in the Annex I of the Directive.
  • Category M1 – equipment in this category is required to remain functional for safety reasons when an explosive atmosphere is present and are characterized by integrated explosion protection measures functioning in such a way that:
    • In the event of failure of one integrated measure, at least a second means of protection provides for a sufficient level of safety; or,
    • In the event of two faults occurring independently of each other, a sufficient level of safety is ensured.
  • Category M2 – equipment in this category is intended to be de-energized in the event of an explosive atmosphere being detected.

• Comprises equipment intended for use in other places likely to become endangered by explosive atmospheres, compromising equipment Categories 1, 2 and 3 as set out in Annex I of the Directive.
  • Category 1 – this category comprises equipment designed to be capable of remaining within their operational parameters, stated by the manufacturer, and ensuring a very high level of protection for their intended use in areas in which explosive atmospheres caused by mixtures of air and gases, vapors, mists or air/dusts mixtures are highly likely to occur and are present continuously, for long periods of time or frequently.
  • Category 2 – this category comprises equipment designed to be capable of remaining within their operational parameters, stated by the manufacturer, and based on a high level of protection for their intended use, in areas in which explosive atmospheres caused by mixtures of air and gases, vapors, mists or air/dust mixtures are likely to occur.
  • Category 3 – this category comprises equipment designed to be capable of keeping within its operational parameters, stated by the manufacturer, and based upon a normal level of protection for its intended use, considering areas in which explosive atmospheres caused by mixtures of air and gases, vapors, mists or air/dust mixtures are unlikely to occur and if they do occur, do so infrequently and for a short period of time only.

• Zone 0 – a place in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture with air of flammable substances in form of gas, vapor or mist is present continuously or for long periods or frequently.
• Zone 1 – a place in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture with air of flammable substances in form of gas, vapor or mist is likely to occur in normal operation occasionally.
• Zone 2 – a place in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture with air of flammable substances in form of gas, vapor or mist is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for a short period only.

• Zone 20 – a place in which an explosive atmosphere in the form of a cloud of combustible dust in air is present continuously, or for long periods or frequently.
• Zone 21 – a place in which an explosive atmosphere in the form of a cloud of combustible dust in air is likely to occur in normal operation occasionally.
• Zone 22 – a place in which an explosive atmosphere in the form of a cloud of combustible dust in air is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for a short period only.

Mines Susceptible to Firedamp

• IIC – Acetylene & Hydrogen
• IIB + H2 – Hydrogen
• IIB – Ethylene
• IIA – Propane

• IIIC – Conductive Dust
• IIIB – Non-Conductive Dust
• IIIA – Combustible Flyings

• “da” – flameproof (for EPL Ga or Ma)
• “db” – flameproof (for EPL Mb or Gb)
• “dc” – flameproof (for EPL Gc)
• "eb” – increased safety (for EPL Gb or Mb)
• "ec” – increased safety (for EPL Gc)
• “ia” – intrinsic safety (for EPL Ga or Ma)
• “ib” – intrinsic safety (for EPL Gb or Mb)
• “ic” – intrinsic safety (for EPL Gc)
• “ma” – encapsulation (for EPL Ga or Ma)
• “mb” – encapsulation (for EPL Gb or Mb)
• “mc” – encapsulation (for EPL Gc)
• “nA” – non-sparking (for EPL Gc)
• “nC” – protected sparking (for EPL Gc)
• “nR” – restricted breathing (for EPL Gc)
• “o” – oil immersion (for EPL Gb)
• “op is” – inherently safe optical radiation (for EPL Ga, Gb or Gc)
• “op pr” – protected optical radiation (for EPL Gb or Gc)
• “op sh” – optical system with interlock (for EPL Ga, Gb or Gc)
• “pv” – pressurization (for EPL Gb or Gc)
• “px” – pressurization (for EPL Gb or Mb)
• “py” – pressurization (for EPL Gb)
• “pz” – pressurization (for EPL Gc)
• “q” – powder filling (for EPL Gb or Mb)

• “ta” – protection by enclosure (for EPL Da)
• “tb” – protection by enclosure (for EPL Db)
• “tc” – protection by enclosure (for EPL Dc)
• “ia” – intrinsic safety (for EPL Da)
• “ib” – intrinsic safety (for EPL Db)
• “ma” – encapsulation (for EPL Da)
• “mb” – encapsulation (for EPL Db)
• “mc” – encapsulation (for EPL Dc)
• “p” – pressurization (for EPL Db or Dc)

• “d” – flameproof
• “c” – constructional safety
• “b” – control of ignition
• “k” – liquid immersion
• “p” – pressurization

• Level of protection assigned to equipment based on its likelihood of becoming a source of ignition and distinguishing the differences between explosive gas atmospheres, explosive dust atmospheres, and the explosive atmospheres in mines susceptible to fire damp.
  • EPL Ma – equipment for installation in a mine susceptible to firedamp, having a very high level of protection, which has sufficient security that it is unlikely to become an ignition source in normal operation, during expected malfunctions or during rare malfunctions, even when left energized in the presence of an outbreak of gas.
  • EPL Mb – equipment for installation in a mine susceptible to firedamp, having a high level of protection, which has sufficient security that it is unlikely to become a source of ignition in normal operation or during expected malfunctions in the time span between there being an outbreak of gas and the equipment being de-energized.
  • EPL Ga – equipment for explosive gas atmospheres, having a very high level of protection, which is not a source of ignition in normal operation, during expected malfunctions or during rare malfunctions.
  • EPL Gb – equipment for explosive gas atmospheres, having a high level of protection, which is not a source of ignition in normal operation or during expected malfunctions.
  • EPL Gc – equipment for explosive gas atmospheres, having an enhanced level of protection, which is not a source of ignition in normal operation and which may have some additional protection to ensure that it remains inactive as an ignition source in the case of regular expected occurrences (for example failure of a lamp).
  • EPL Da – equipment for explosive dust atmospheres, having a very high level of protection, which is not a source of ignition in normal operation, during expected malfunctions, or during rare malfunctions.
  • EPL Db – equipment for explosive dust atmospheres, having a high level of protection, which is not a source of ignition in normal operation or during expected malfunctions.
  • EPL Dc – equipment for explosive dust atmospheres, having an enhanced level of protection, which is not a source of ignition in normal operation and which may have some additional protection to ensure that it remains inactive as an ignition source in the case of regular expected occurrences (for example failure of a lamp).