WHEN AND WHY TO REQUEST PUMPS WITH ATEX CERTIFICTION AND MARKING

SAFETY PRINCIPLES
If flammable substances or solvents are used, in certain conditions their dispersion in the surrounding air can form an explosive mixture which, if triggered, can give rise to an explosion and fire.
It is very important to consider this possibility because, in case of damage to the health of employees, the law provides for stiff penalties and even penal consequences for the employer whenever the cause of the accident is due to the use of unsuitable equipment.
Even non-electrical equipment like the Arrow pumps which operate in such environments must be made in such as way that they are not the cause of triggering during normal or abnormal conditions.

POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERE
A “potentially explosive atmosphere” is an atmosphere susceptible of becoming an explosive atmosphere due to local and/or operating conditions.
For the purposes of Directive 94/9/EC :
An explosive atmosphere consists of a mixture of flammable substances in the gaseous state, vapours, mists and dusts with air in certain atmospheric conditions where, after triggering, combustion propagates together with the unburnt mixture.

ATEX DIRECTIVE

ATEX derives from the French ATmospheres EXplosibles and is the name of two European Directives that regulate “potentially explosive atmospheres”. The first Directive 94/9/EC, regards electrical and non-electrical materials for potentially explosive atmospheres and aims to bring together the different laws of EU member countries for the equipment and protection systems envisaged for these hazard zones.

The second Directive 99/92/EC, prescribes the minimum protection requirements regarding the safety and health of workers exposed to risks of explosive atmospheres.

In particular, our pumps comply with Directive 94/9/EC and Standards EN 13463-1: Non-electrical equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres – Basic method and requirements and EN 13463-5: Non-electrical equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres - Part 5: Protection for constructive safety "c".

The main differences between Directive 94/9/EC and the previous Directives is the fact that now all the possible triggering sources, even of non-electrical type, are considered (e.g. mechanical impacts, overheating, etc.) and that the Directive applies to all the products (even non-electrical) that are used in a potentially explosive atmosphere.

The products (electrical and non-electrical) that are used in potentially explosive atmospheres must be certified and marked as required by Directive 94/9/EC.
Therefore, according to the zones where their use is provided for, they must undergo testing by special Notification Bodies authorised and recognised on a European level, and which can subsequently certify the equipment.
Such certification must be specified on the product dataplate as illustrated below

OBJECTIVES OF THE CLASSIFICATION OF PLACES

Classification of the places is a method for analysing and classifying the place where explosive atmospheres can form, in order to facilitate the correct choice and installation of devices to be used with safety measures in such places, taking into account the groups and temperature classes of the gases.

ZONES
Hazardous places are classified according to the following zones:

ZONA 0 : an area where an explosive atmosphere is continually present or present for long periods or frequently, due to the presence of gases, vapours or mists (EN 60079-10). For example, inside the drum or the container of a flammable substance or solvent.

ZONA 1 : an area where the formation of an explosive atmosphere due to the presence of gases, vapours or mists will probably occur occasionally during normal operation (EN 60079-10). For example, the area around the drum or container of the flammable substance or solvent but provided there is a constant and sure change of fresh air.

ZONA 2 : an area where the formation of an explosive atmosphere due to the presence of gases, vapours or mists will probably not occur and/or if it occurs it persists only for short periods (EN 60079-10). For example in other areas in the department where flammable substances are handled but where a constant change of fresh air is guaranteed.

ATEX GUARANTEE OF CONFORMITY WITH DIRECTIVE 94/9/EC

CESI (Italian Experimental Electrotechnical Centre) or DNV (Det Norske Veritas) are bodies recognised on a European and world level for checking and certifying the suitability requirements of equipment working in environments with presence of flammable substances and solvents.
Z.P.ARROW has obtained ATEX certification according to the directive (94/9/CE) for some pump models specially designed for safe use inside these potentially dangerous zones.
Their ATEX marking is a guarantee of safety at your firm, if you use flammable substances and solvents.

LABEL, MARKING AND ITS MEANING