The operator's viewpoint of the ATEX directive 94/9/EC new regulations and rules for explosive atmospheres in Europe

The ATEX (French acronym for "explosive atmospheres") directive is law in Europe since the 1st of July 2003. In many ways it is a revolution from how directives have been written in the past. References to European standards (CENELEC) have been eliminated (new approach concept) and the directive is now open to any well established standards including also non European standards for equipment used in explosive atmospheres. Since many countries outside of Europe are strongly influenced by European directives, the consequences of this new directive are very far reaching. Users are confronted with the important task of analyzing the consequences of. the directive on the choice and application of electrical equipment and the operation of their facilities. The author presents the experience of a major end-user confronted with this directive. New vocabulary, new marking, and new certification documents require extensive training not only for electrical and instrumentation engineers, but also mechanical engineers since the directive applies also to non-electrical equipment. Topics such as variable speed drives, repairing of equipment are still to day not quite clear and a bit controversial. Also equivalence of notified bodies is an area of concern for the operator.