Companies that manufacture explosion-proof equipment and systems for the global market must conform to applicable explosion protection standards.
ATEX
ATEX (ATmosphere EXplosibles – French for Explosive Atmospheres) is the formal name given to the two European Directives for controlling explosive atmospheres.
There are two European Directives in place for the control of explosive atmospheres: Directive 1999/92/EC (also known as ‘ATEX 153’ or the ‘ATEX Workplace Directive’)
Directive 2014/34/EU (also known as ‘ATEX 114’ or ‘the ATEX Equipment Directive’)
ATEX Certification
ATEX is the European certification given to equipment tested and approved to be intrinsically safe in potentially explosive atmospheres.
Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX) cover a range of products, including those used in chemical plants, food manufacturing plants, flour mills, pharmaceutical production, and other areas where a potentially explosive atmosphere may be present.
ATEX is not harmonized with NFPA combustible dust standards and is not considered by OSHA an acceptable certification for electrical equipment used in hazardous locations.
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NFPA 652 – Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 652, Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dusts, provides requirements for the management of combustible dust fire and explosion hazards and directs the user to appropriate NFPA industry or commodity-specific standards. The standard also ensures that crucial needs are addressed consistently across industries, processes, and dust types.
Click here for more information about NFPA 652 – Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust.
IECEx

IECEx is a global standard to ensure that explosion-proof equipment and systems are safe for use in countries participating in the IECEx system. To be validated against the IECEx Certified Equipment Scheme, manufacturers need to obtain the Certificate of Conformity (CoC), validation of the technical report (ExTR), and the quality assurance report (QAR).
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Because combustible dust issues are complex and incidents can be devastating, it’s essential to use experienced, independent, and professional engineers to help design and install powder handling systems.