A common EU directive, 94/9/EC, also known as ATEX, is attempting

to reduce the risk in connection with explosive environments in the industry.

The objective of ATEX is to secure uniform guidelines for all of the European

Union, so that the risk of explosion and subsequent personal injury

as well as damage to the machinery is minimized.

Primarily, ATEX is relevant to companies handling potentially explosive

concentrations of dust from wood, aluminium, plastic, flour, sugar or other

organic materials, for example, as well as fumes and vapours from petrol,

acetone and batteries.

All ATEX-products from Geovent are manufactured in compliance with the

directive 94/9/EC.

It is the responsibility of the individual employer to obtain zone-classifications

in the company concerned, and often this is carried out in cooperation

with the local fire-fighting authorities.

For further information regarding ATEX, please refer to the AT-instruction

C.0.9 concerning dust explosions or to our website www.geovent.dk.

In the future, European companies have to asses whether there is a risk

of explosion in connection with their production as a result of ignition of an

atmosphere, consisting of air mixed with flammable gases, vapours, fluid,

mist/aerosols or flammable dust mists.

If the answer is yes, the risk must be assessed as the foundation of a

classification of the area(s) in danger of explosion. In addition to this, the

company must take precautions in order to avoid explosions and to draw

up documentation.

The central principle is to divide the company into zones on basis of the

risk of explosion and its consequences. In this connection, it is necessary

both to consider the type and the volume of leak, ventilation, safety

systems and the potential ignition sources, as for instance electrostatic

charge, electrical installations and mechanically generated sparks. The

assessment is to apply to existing equipment as well as to new acquisitions

of machinery and equipment. A complete instruction manual is supplied

with a Geovent Atex product as well as approved certifications.