ATEX ZONING
ATEX Zoning – Classification of Explosive Areas.
If your company handles flammable gases, vapors, mists, or combustible dusts, ATEX zoning is a legal obligation that cannot be ignored. Title XI of Legislative Decree 81/2008 requires Employers to classify environments where potentially explosive atmospheres may form, adopt appropriate prevention measures, and draft the Area Classification Document. MTM Consulting performs this service with the same expertise it applies to ATEX consultancy for CE marking of products, ensuring an integrated and comprehensive vision.
What is ATEX zoning
ATEX zoning is the systematic classification of workplaces based on the probability and duration of the presence of potentially explosive atmospheres. It is the mandatory starting point for any safety intervention in environments with explosion risks: from selecting suitable equipment and training workers to defining the prevention and protection measures to be adopted. Incorrect or incomplete classification exposes the company to sanctions and, above all, to serious risks for worker safety.
ATEX zone classification
ATEX zones are classified based on the type of flammable substance present and the frequency with which the potentially explosive atmosphere forms. For flammable gases, vapors, and mists:
- Zone 0: potentially explosive atmosphere present continuously or for long periods
- Zone 1: potentially explosive atmosphere likely to occur occasionally in normal operation
- Zone 2: potentially explosive atmosphere not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for a short period only
For combustible dusts, the corresponding zones are:
- Zone 20: flammable dust cloud present continuously or frequently
- Zone 21: flammable dust cloud likely to occur occasionally in normal operation
- Zone 22: flammable dust cloud not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for a short period only
Who must perform ATEX zoning
ATEX zoning concerns three categories of subjects: employers of companies using flammable substances or combustible dusts; designers of plants or machinery that generate or may generate a potentially explosive atmosphere; and companies making modifications to machinery or plants in explosion-risk environments. In all these cases, it is mandatory to classify the areas and verify the ATEX compliance of all installed equipment.
The MTM Consulting zoning service
- Preliminary analysis of substances present and production processes
- Technical site inspection at the facility
- Classification of ATEX zones according to Legislative Decree 81/2008 and CEI EN 60079 standards
- Drafting of the Area Classification Document required by law (Explosion Protection Document)
- Verification of ATEX CE compliance for equipment installed in classified zones
- Indication of necessary adjustment interventions for non-compliant equipment
MTM Consulting integrates ATEX zoning with ATEX consultancy for CE marking (Directive 2014/34/EU), offering a unique service that covers both aspects. We operate from Monza and Turin for companies throughout Italy.
RESOURCES.
- Directive 2006/42/EC - Machinery Directive
- Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230
- Directive 2014/34/EU - ATEX Directive
- Directive 2014/68/EU - PED Directive
- Directive 2014/35/EU - Low Voltage Directive
- Directive 2014/30/EU - Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive
- Directive 2012/19/EU - WEEE Directive
- Directive 2011/65/EU - RoHS Directive
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