Regulation & compliance
ATEX
Two EU directives for explosive atmospheres: one for equipment manufacturers, one for employers operating hazardous areas.
ATEX — Directives 2014/34/EU (equipment) and 1999/92/EC (workplaces)
- Category
- Regulation & compliance
- Scope
- EU
- Edition / refs
- 2014/34/EU · 1999/92/EC
MSA output
- ATEX assessment
- Risk assessment (EN ISO 12100)
- CE Technical File
What is ATEX?
ATEX refers to two EU directives. Directive 2014/34/EU — often called ATEX 114 or the equipment directive — covers equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, and places obligations on manufacturers. Directive 1999/92/EC — ATEX 137 or the workplace directive — sets minimum requirements for protecting workers and places duties on employers.
Both matter to machine builders and integrators. Machines installed in hazardous areas must use equipment of the right group and category, and machinery that handles flammable gases, vapours, mists or combustible dusts can create hazardous zones of its own. In Great Britain the equivalent regimes are the Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2016 and DSEAR 2002.
Who it applies to
- Manufacturers of equipment for use in explosive atmospheres
- Machine builders and integrators supplying into chemical, pharmaceutical, food, dust-handling and energy sites
- Employers and site operators with hazardous areas
- Process safety engineers assessing explosion risk
Key requirements
- 01
Explosion risk assessment
Assess the likelihood and persistence of explosive atmospheres, the presence of ignition sources and the scale of the anticipated effects (1999/92/EC).
- 02
Hazardous area classification
Zones 0, 1 and 2 for gases, vapours and mists; Zones 20, 21 and 22 for combustible dusts.
- 03
Equipment selection
Category 1 equipment for Zone 0/20, Category 2 or 1 for Zone 1/21, Category 3, 2 or 1 for Zone 2/22 (Group II, surface industries).
- 04
Explosion protection document
The employer documents the risk assessment, the zones and the measures taken, and keeps it up to date.
- 05
Equipment conformity (2014/34/EU)
Meet the essential health and safety requirements, follow the conformity assessment route for the equipment category, apply the Ex marking and issue an EU Declaration of Conformity.
- 06
Non-electrical ignition sources
Assess mechanical ignition sources such as hot surfaces, friction and sparks — for example using EN ISO 80079-36.
Summary for orientation only. Always refer to the current official text of ATEX and any applicable legislation.
MSA for ATEX
What MSA generates
Evidence produced from your engineering inputs, traceable end to end and exported to Word, PDF or Excel.
ATEX assessment
An ATEX assessment produced as part of the machinery safety package.
Risk assessment (EN ISO 12100)
Explosion hazards captured alongside every other machine hazard, in one register.
CE Technical File
ATEX evidence included in the technical documentation, traceable to its inputs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ATEX 114 and ATEX 137?
ATEX 114 (2014/34/EU) is a product directive for manufacturers of equipment used in explosive atmospheres. ATEX 137 (1999/92/EC) is a workplace directive requiring employers to assess explosion risks, classify zones and protect workers.
Does my equipment need a notified body?
It depends on group and category. Category 1 equipment and Category 2 electrical equipment require EU-type examination by a notified body. Category 3 equipment follows internal production control; for Category 2 non-electrical equipment the technical documentation is also lodged with a notified body.
What applies in Great Britain?
DSEAR 2002 implements the workplace requirements, and the Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2016 cover equipment supply.
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