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EXPLOSION PROTECTION - Basics & Terms
ATEX
ATEX is synonymous with the EU's ATEX guidelines. The word ATEX is composed of the French term ATmosphère EXplosibles
EX lights
ATEX or EX luminaires are equipment which is approved for areas of the gas EX and dust EX zones according to the ATEX directive 2014/34/EU. For which ATEX areas the respective operating means can be used is the ATEX marking which is mounted on the operating means.
Group division
Group I: Underground mining, M1 Ex-hazard operation / M2 Ex-hazard shutdown.
Group II: other industries, such as Chemistry, mills
Ignition point
The ignition point is the lowest temperature at which combustible substances (vapors, gases, dusts, etc.) start to burn with air in the right mixing ratio.
IP-Protection
| Code number 1 - Protection against foreign bodies | Code number 2 - Protection against water | |||
| 0 | no protection | 0 | No protection | |
| 1 | Protection against solid foreign objects with Ø > 50mm | 1 | Protetcion against dripping water | |
| 2 | Protection against solid foreign objects with Ø > 12,5mm | 2 | Protetcion against falling dripping water (up to 15% inclination of the working medium) | |
| 3 | Protection against solid foreign objects with Ø > 2,5mm | 3 | Protetcion against spraying water (up to 60° vertical) | |
| 4 | Protection against solid foreign objects with Ø > 1mm | 4 | Protetcion against spraying water (from any direction) | |
| 5 | Protetcion against dust (in a harmful amount) | 5 | Protetcion against water jets (any angle) | |
| 6 | Dustproof | 6 | Protetcion against strong water | |
| 7 | Protetcion against temporary submergence | |||
| 8 | Water proof | |||
Temperature classes
EX areas in which ex-protected equipment are operated, are classified into six temperature classes. The temperature class is the max. permissible surface temperature, which must not be reached or exceeded at + 40 ° ambient temperature at any point and never at the surface of the equipment.
| Class | Mixture temperature range | Ignition temperature of combustible substances e.g. | |
| T1 | > 450°C | Propane 510°C | |
| T2 | > 300°C- ≤ 450°C | Acetylene 305°C | |
| T3 | > 200°C - ≤ 300°C | Diesel 220°C - 300°C / Petrol 220°C - 450°C | |
| T4 | > 135°C - ≤ 200°C | Diethylether 170°C | |
| T5 | > 100°C - ≤ 135°C | ||
| T6 | > 85°C - ≤ 100°C | Carbon Monoxide 85°C |
The max. surface temperature must be less than the ignition temperature of the medium surrounding the explosion-proof equipment.
Types of protection
| Electrical explosion protection - basic standard Gas-Ex EN 60079-0 | |
| "d" = pressure proof encapsulation EN 60079-1 | |
| "p" = overpressure sealing EN 60079-2 | |
| "q" = sand encapsulation EN 60079-5 | |
| "o" = oil encapsulation EN 60079-6 | |
| "e" = increased safety EN 60079-7 | |
| "i" = intrinsic safety EN 60079-11 | |
| "o" = oil encapsulation EN 60079-5 | |
| "m" = Encapsulation EN 60079-18 | |
| Electrical explosion protection - Basic standard dust-Ex EN 61241-0 | |
| "tD" = Protection by housing EN 61241-1 | |
| "pD" = Overpressure protection EN 61241-2 | |
| "iD" = intrinsic safety EN 61241-11 | |
| "mD" = Encapsulation EN 61241-18 |
Zone classification Gas/Dust
| GAS Zones | |
| GAS Zone 0 / Cat. 1G | Area in the explosive atmosphere as a mixture of air and combustible gases, vapors or mists, for long periods or frequently. |
| GAS Zone 1 / Cat. 2G | Area in which an explosive atmosphere can occasionally form as a mixture of air and combustible gases, vapors or mists during normal operation. |
| GAS Zone 2 / Cat. 3G | Area in which an explosive atmosphere as a mixture of air and combustible gases, vapors or mists does not occur normally or only briefly during normal operation. |
| DUST Zones | |
| DUST Zone 20 / Cat. 1D | Area in the explosive atmosphere as a mixture of air and combustible gases, vapors or mists, for long periods or frequently. |
| DUST Zone 21 / Cat. 2D | Area in which an explosive atmosphere can sometimes form as a mixture of air and combustible gases, vapors or mists during normal operation. |
| DUST Zone 22 / Cat. 3D | Range in which an explosive atmosphere as a mixture of air and combustible gases, vapors or mists normally does not occur, or only briefly, during normal operation. |
