New guidelines for the ATEX product directive

In November the 4th edition of the ATEX Guidelines was released. The guidelines are intended to be a manual for all parties who deal with equipment and protective systems in potentially explosive atmospheres and who are affected by Directive 2014/34/EU, commonly referred to as the ATEX (“Atmosphères explosibles”) “product” directive. The ATEX Directive carries specific obligations for the person or entity who makes products available on the market and/or puts products into service, be it the manufacturer, its authorized representative, the importer or the distributor.

The guidelines clarify certain matters and procedures regarding the relevant equipment and protective systems which are used in potentially explosive atmospheres. The guide’s objective is to help find a common understanding of the Directive and its provisions among government representatives, stakeholders and interested parties such as manufacturers, trade associations and bodies in charge of establishing standards. The guides intention is removal of obstacles and difficulties related to the free market of equipment and protective systems within the scope of the Directive, namely the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA).

The guidelines provide an overview on:

• Preamble to the ATEX Directive – The Citations and the Recitals
• The Articles of the ATEX Directive
• The Annexes to the ATEX Directive
• Application of Directive 2014/34/EU alongside others that may apply
• Application of Directive 2014/34/EU to specific equipment
• Borderline list – ATEX products
• Specific marking of explosion protection drawn from Directive 84/47/EEC
• Useful ATEX websites

Download the guidelines here: ATEX 2014-34-EU Guidelines – 4th Edition November 2022