A review on ATEX designation and Hazardous areas

Hazardous Areas are all areas where explosive mixture of flammable materials would be produced, processed, transported or stored, especially in chemical, petrochemical , Oil and Gas industries and mines, In hazardous Areas safety has critical importance.
To provide the highest possible safety and protect workers from the risk of explosive atmospheres there are mandatory standards and codes for all electrical and mechanical equipment to be used in potentially explosive atmospheres. ATEX comes from ATmosphere EXplosive and ATEX  approved devices are equipments with special mechanical and electrical features, which makes it safe to use them in Hazardous Areas.       

Zone Classifications:
Zones 0, 1 & 2 are for gas atmosphere and Zones 20, 21 & 22 are for dust atmosphere
Zones 0 & 20: Explosive atmospheres permanent or long time or frequent
Zones 1 & 21: Explosive atmosphere occasionally
Zones 2 & 22: Explosive atmosphere rarely



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  • - ATEX Designation and Hazardous Area