Issue link: https://onenorgren.uberflip.com/i/504900
4 For further information www.imi-precision.com ATEX Solutions IMI Precision Engineering: Your Reliable Partner for Maximum Explosion Protection In order to apply a single level for health and safety requirements and to overcome barriers of trade within Europe, national regulations for explosion prevention were harmonised in 1975 with the European Frame Directive 76/117/ EEC. The new EC Directive 94/9/EC was established in 1994. This Directive is widely known as "ATEX" – which derives from the original working title "ATmosphère EXplosible". Since July 1, 2003 only the ATEX Directive remains binding. This means that all Ex equipment approvals obtained under previous directives are no longer valid – only devices and safety systems that comply with the ATEX Directive may be allowed onto the market. ATEX Directive 94/9/EC expands earlier guidelines by including non-electric components such as pneumatic actuators. These now have to be certified. In addition to Directive 94/9/EC, which is concerned with the requirements of equipment and protective systems another directive – 1999/92/EC exists. This is concerned with the requirements for the erection, installation and operation of systems. How can explosions occur? IExplosive atmospheres (Ex areas) are prerequisite for an explosion and can be found where a mixture of air, flammable gases, vapours or dusts are being produced, transformed or stored in the presence of oxygen. Typical sources of Ignition > Hot Surfaces > Flames and Hot Gases > Mechanically Generated Sparks > Electrically Generated Sparks > Electro-statically Generated Sparks > Adiabatic Compression > Electro-Magnetic Radiation > Ionising Radiation > Chemical Reactions > Ultra-sound > Flashes