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ATEX zone 1 (gas)

Risk of explosions in ATEX Zone 1

In an ATEX environment, there is a potentially explosive atmosphere. European directives have been established to minimize the risk of explosion in these hazardous areas, namely ATEX 153 and ATEX 114. The directives divide ATEX environments into various zones, each with its own risks and regulations. There are a total of three gas zones and three dust zones. This blog focuses on ATEX Zone 1, a gas zone.

Gas ATEX zones are categorized into Zone 0, 1, and 2. In these zones, an explosion can occur due to a mixture of air and flammable gas, vapor, or mist. Compared to Zone 0, ATEX Zone 1 has a lower risk of explosion because the presence of an explosive atmosphere is less frequent and of shorter duration. In ATEX Zone 1, an explosive atmosphere can occasionally occur during normal operating conditions (between 0.1% and 10% of the time). This does not mean that ATEX Zone 1 is less dangerous than Zone 0; it simply has a lower calculated risk based on the presence of an explosive atmosphere.

Directives for ATEX Zone 1

ATEX Zone 1 adheres to the same rules as ATEX Zone 2, with additional requirements due to the high risk during normal use. Common malfunctions and defects in devices must not ignite an explosive atmosphere. Applications commonly used in ATEX Zone 1 include distance measurements and monitoring explosive atmospheres using thermal imaging cameras.

Products and equipment used in ATEX zones are categorized into ATEX Equipment Group I and ATEX Equipment Group II.

Group I is exclusively for equipment used in underground mining or surface mining installations.
Group II applies to all other environments where there is a risk of explosion.

ATEX Equipment Group II is further divided into equipment categories 1, 2, and 3. Equipment used in ATEX Zone 1 falls under category 2 and must meet specific requirements outlined in ATEX Directive 114. This directive specifies the safety standards that explosive equipment must meet to ensure safe use. If a product meets these requirements and is certified, it must display the "Ex" logo.

Zone reduction

Lower ATEX zoning results in more cost-effective explosion-proof equipment. A combination of technical and organizational measures can reduce the risk level within a zone. For instance, ATEX Zone 1 can be downgraded to ATEX Zone 2 through certain measures.

DEKRA & ATEX Zones

DEKRA provides comprehensive support for complying with your ATEX obligations. We assess whether you are obligated under ATEX and prepare detailed explosion protection reports. As a notified body, we offer extensive testing capabilities. If you have questions about explosion protection or the different ATEX zones, feel free to contact one of our experts.

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