Geared products have ATEX compliance covered

ATEX directive 94/9/EC (also known as ATEX 95 or ATEX 100A) and the CE Marking Directive came into force in all EC member states from 1st July, and compliance is compulsory for anyone designing, manufacturing or selling equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. The directive covers electrical and nonelectrical equipment and is not only relevant to obvious industry sectors such as oil and gas and chemical manufacturing.

It also impacts on a range of other areas endangered by potentially explosive atmospheres created by the presence of flammable gases, vapours, mists or dusts.

These may include plants handling cereal, animal feed, paper, wood, coal and flour, or locations where solvents are used extensively.

David Brown, a Textron Power Transmission company, is now equipped to provide full Ex compliant badging and certification where required for its range of standard gearboxes and geared motors, through self certification as allowed by the directive.

Products that meet the requirements of the ATEX Directive are marked by the manufacturer with the CE Mark and the Ex mark, along with the name and location of the manufacturer, designation of series or type, serial number, year of construction, Ex symbol followed by equipment group and category.

David Brown standard gearboxes can be supplied against Group 2 or 3 for surface industries; ATEX defines categories of equipment specified by their protection characteristics.

It also designates the hazardous location zones where they can be used: Zones 1 and 2 for gases, vapours and mists; Zones 21 and 22 for dusts.

David Brown Engineering has for some time been supplying mechanical products to meet the ATEX requirements in anticipation of enforcement.

The company has undertaken a programme of risk assessment and product evaluation in preparation for the ATEX enforcement as part of a wider TPT initiative, with special attention devoted to the installation and maintenance protocols.

Commercial Manager for Standard Products Richard Irons, who has been closely involved with the ATEX programme, explains: "Safety is a vital element in the design and manufacture of all our products, and as a matter of course we pay particular attention to critical areas such as lubrication and surface temperatures.

Service factors are an additional consideration to maintain the ATEX standard, so we insist that maintenance schedules and installation procedures, such as electrical grounding, are followed precisely