Magnets and ATEX

The ATEX Directive (ATEX: ATmospheres EXplosibles) is a European regulation aimed at ensuring a high level of protection for workers and for the environment where explosive atmospheres are present or may be present.

ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU is intended for equipment manufacturers and describes the requirements for designing, manufacturing and marketing equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive environments. The directive provides guidance as well as standards to ensure that equipment cannot be a source of ignition and can be used safely in explosive environments.

Directive 1999/92/EC is intended for users and serves to protect workers from the risks to which they are exposed in explosive conditions in the workplace. The directive requires employers to assess and control potential risks, take appropriate safety measures and adequately instruct workers.

Within ATEX, a distinction is made between gas and dust environments. Many magnetic separation applications take place in dust environments.

Areas with a risk of explosion are subdivided into various zone categories, depending on the frequency of potentially explosive conditions. We divide equipment suitable for use in ATEX zones into three categories: 1, 2 and 3. These correspond to the protection levels: very high, high and normal.