DIRECTIVE ATEX 94/9/EC

Posted in News - 09/01/2003


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Equipment for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres

On 1st July 2003, the Directive 94/9/EC (ATEX - ATmosphères EXplosives) became effective and enforces on equipment and systems for use in potentially explosive atmospheres in the territory of the European Community.

The Directive relates not only to electrical equipment, but also to all kinds of machines, materials, apparatus, fixed or mobiles devices, control components and instrumentation thereof and detection or prevention systems which, separately or jointly, are intended for the production, transport, storage, measurement, control and conversion of energy, or the processing of materials and which are capable of causing an explosion through their own potential source of ignition.

The environments (petrochemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, painting manufacturing, texture dyeing, paper production, woodworking, etc) where basically power transmission equipment are installed, are involved by the Directive ATEX and therefore, speed reducers are included both as geared motors and gearboxes alone.

The Series ATEX of VARVEL units identified by the following codes

  • Serie RC «ATEX 03RC»
  • Serie RD «ATEX 03RD»
  • Serie RP «ATEX 03RP»
  • Serie XA «ATEX 03XA»
  • Serie RS «ATEX 03RS»
  • Serie RT «ATEX 03RT»

are according with the Directive Atex and therefore, qualified to installation in areas of Group II, Category 2 and 3 with explosion danger in presence of gas (Zone 1 or Zone 2) and of combusti¬ble dust (Zone 21 or Zone 22).

According with the Directive Atex, the gearboxes of Series VARVEL-ATEX are marked
II 2 GD ck IP66
Tmax=120°C or
Tmax= 135°C Tamb -20/+55 °C
where:

  • II Group II (surface industries)
  • 2 Category 2
  • G Explosive atmosphere with presence of gas, clouds, vaours in Zone1 (2G) and Zone2 (2G and 3G)
  • D Explosive atmosphere with dust presence in Zone 21 (2D) and Zone 22 (2D and 3D)
  • b Trigger Source Control « b »
  • c Construction Safety «c»
  • k Dipping in liquid «k»
  • Tmax Max. Surface Temperature
  • Tamb Ambient Temperature
  • ATEX 03XX Deposited Technical File Ref. No.
  • IP66 Protection

The relevant Technical Files are deposited at Notified Body of European Community.