ACI: What Is An ATEX Fan?
Understanding the significance of ATEX fans in hazardous environments is crucial for safety. Learn about ATEX, its importance in various industries, and how ACI’s explosion-proof fans comply with rigorous safety standards and diverse application needs
ACI: What Is An ATEX Fan?
Understanding the significance of ATEX fans in hazardous environments is crucial for safety. Learn about ATEX, its importance in various industries, and how ACI’s explosion-proof fans comply with rigorous safety standards and diverse application needs
Explosion-Proof Fans: What is ATEX?
Specifying ATEX fans is critically important in hazardous environments. Not just in oil refineries, petrochemical plants and mines – where there is a high risk of explosion due to flammable gases – but also in applications such as:
- food processing – where supposedly harmless flour and sugar can pose an explosion risk
- paint spraying booths – flammable paints and solvents are applied in aerosol form; over-spraying can add to the risk
- machining shops – metal dust and chips generated during machining processes can accumulate in the environment and create an explosive dust atmosphere
- sewage treatment plants – anaerobic digestion processes used to break down organic matter produce biogas, which is primarily flammable methane
- recycling plants – sorting and shredding a wide range of materials can create an explosive atmosphere under certain conditions.
Specifying ATEX fans is critically important in hazardous environments. Not just in oil refineries, petrochemical plants and mines – where there is a high risk of explosion due to flammable gases – but also in applications such as:
- food processing – where supposedly harmless flour and sugar can pose an explosion risk
- paint spraying booths – flammable paints and solvents are applied in aerosol form; over-spraying can add to the risk
- machining shops – metal dust and chips generated during machining processes can accumulate in the environment and create an explosive dust atmosphere
- sewage treatment plants – anaerobic digestion processes used to break down organic matter produce biogas, which is primarily flammable methane
- recycling plants – sorting and shredding a wide range of materials can create an explosive atmosphere under certain conditions.
Pharmaceutical
Food Processing
OffShore Energy
Waste Recycling
ATEX is an acronym of the French term ‘Appareils utilisés en atmosphères explosibles’. (Apparatus for use in explosive atmospheres).
ATEX Directives And Key Concepts
There are actually two ATEX Directives:
- ATEX Equipment Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX 95) concerns the manufacturing and sale of equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. It provides guidelines for the design, production and assessment of equipment to ensure it doesn’t pose a risk in such environments. Manufacturers must conform to assessment procedures and CE mark their compliant products.
- ATEX Workplace Directive 1999/92/EC (ATEX 137) focuses on the safety of workers in potentially explosive atmospheres. It outlines accident-prevention measures. Employers must carry out risk assessments, establish protective measures and give workers the correct safety training.
ATEX classifies hazardous areas based on the likelihood of an explosive atmosphere occurring and the duration of its presence:
- Zone 0 – explosive gas or vapour is present continuously or for long periods.
- Zone 1 – explosive gas or vapour is likely to occur during normal operation.
- Zone 2 – explosive gas or vapour is not likely to occur during normal operation but might occur for short periods.
- Zone 20 – explosive dust or powder is present continuously or for long periods.
- Zone 21 – explosive dust or powder is likely to occur during normal operation.
- Zone 22 – explosive dust or powder is not likely to occur during normal operation but might occur for short periods.
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Device Groups In ATEX
The ATEX directive categorises equipment into two device groups: below-ground (Group I) and above-ground industries (Group II). These help to classify products based on the required protection performance and operation.
- Device Group I – equipment intended for use in underground mines where methane and/or coal dust can form explosive atmospheres. Mines are considered to have some of the most hazardous conditions due to the presence of flammable gases and dust, which can lead to explosions if proper precautions are not taken.
- Device Group II – equipment for surface industries – is further divided into six subgroups based onenvironments with gas (G) and dust (D):
- Category 1G for equipment with a very high level of ignition protection.
- Category 2G for equipment with a high level of ignition protection.
- Category 3G for equipment with a low level of ignition protection.
- Category 1D for equipment with a very high level of ignition protection.
- Category 2D for equipment with a high level of ignition protection.
- Category 3D for equipment with a low level of ignition protection.
Device Groups In ATEX
The ATEX directive categorises equipment into two device groups: below-ground (Group I) and above-ground industries (Group II). These help to classify products based on the required protection performance and operation.
- Device Group I – equipment intended for use in underground mines where methane and/or coal dust can form explosive atmospheres. Mines are considered to have some of the most hazardous conditions due to the presence of flammable gases and dust, which can lead to explosions if proper precautions are not taken.
- Device Group II – equipment for surface industries – is further divided into six subgroups based onenvironments with gas (G) and dust (D):
- Category 1G for equipment with a very high level of ignition protection.
- Category 2G for equipment with a high level of ignition protection.
- Category 3G for equipment with a low level of ignition protection.
- Category 1D for equipment with a very high level of ignition protection.
- Category 2D for equipment with a high level of ignition protection.
- Category 3D for equipment with a low level of ignition protection.
Air Control Industries
Explosion-Proof ATEX Fans
For an explosion (or fire) to occur, three factors must be present: a fuel of some form, oxygen and an ignition source (such as a spark).
ATEX environments are high risk because they contain both oxygen and a fuel source (flammable gas or dust). So ignition sources must be prevented at all costs – but fans have electric motors. Sparks inside the motor must be eliminated so they never reach the explosive gases inside or outside the motor.
There are various ways in which this can be done. One of the protection concepts we utilise for fans is Increased Safety (Ex e). This involves designing electrical equipment and enclosures in a way that reduces the likelihood of sparking or arcs that could ignite a flammable atmosphere. Others include:
- Ex d (Flameproof)
- Ex d (e) (Flameproof with Increased Safety)
- Ex t (Protection by Enclosure).
Also, the fan and motor housing must not reach the ignition temperature of the gas or dust present (which would result in an explosion or fire). This is achieved by ensuring the surface temperature of the equipment (commonly known as the ‘T’ rating) is kept below the ignition temperature of the surrounding gas or dust.
This could mean adding a brass, copper or PTFE lining to the area near the impeller so – in the unlikely event of there being contact between blade and housing – there are no sparks or heat build-up from friction
We currently manufacture explosion-proof fans for the following categories:
- 2G (Zone 1– gas)
- 2D (Zone 21 – dust)
- 3G (Zone 2 – gas)
- 3D (Zone 22 – dust).
There are hundreds of ATEX fans in our catalogue. They are manufactured from stainless steel, mild steel and aluminium – based on the materials that are right for your application and the explosion risk associated with your atmosphere.
ACI’s ATEX fans feature:
- flow rates up to 200,000 m3/hr
- pressure up to 150 mbar
- a choice of motor types
- fan case options
- special paints to suit.
- accessories including inlet/discharge spigots and guards, inlet filters, pedestals and flexible connections.
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How We Test ATEX Fans
All ACI ATEX fans are designed and manufactured to:
- BS EN 14986:2017 – for the design of fans working in potentially explosive atmospheres.
- BS EN ISO 80079-36:2016 – for non-electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres (basic method and requirements).
- BS EN ISO 80079-37:2016 – for non-electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres:
– non-electrical type of protection constructional safety (c)
– control of ignition source (b)
– liquid immersion (k).
Many of our ATEX fans can also be manufactured to meet IECEx regulations.
IECEx stands for the International Electrotechnical Commission System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres. The main difference is that the IEC Ex scheme is standards based, whereas the ATEX is directive based. No type certificate is issued by the Notified Body (NB) for IEC Ex; instead a certificate of conformity is provided.
The IECEx system aims to facilitate international trade by providing a globally recognised framework for the certification of equipment used in potentially explosive environments.
How We Test ATEX Fans
All ACI ATEX fans are designed and manufactured to:
- BS EN 14986:2017 – for the design of fans working in potentially explosive atmospheres.
- BS EN ISO 80079-36:2016 – for non-electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres (basic method and requirements).
- BS EN ISO 80079-37:2016 – for non-electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres:
– non-electrical type of protection constructional safety (c)
– control of ignition source (b)
– liquid immersion (k).
Many of our ATEX fans can also be manufactured to meet IECEx regulations.
IECEx stands for the International Electrotechnical Commission System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres. The main difference is that the IEC Ex scheme is standards based, whereas the ATEX is directive based. No type certificate is issued by the Notified Body (NB) for IEC Ex; instead a certificate of conformity is provided.
The IECEx system aims to facilitate international trade by providing a globally recognised framework for the certification of equipment used in potentially explosive environments.
Get expert technical advice on ATEAX and IECEx FANS
We offer expert technical guidance on specify ATEX and IECEx fans for potentially explosive atmospheres. Our applications engineers can help you to specify fans that meet all your safety, output and efficiency requirements.
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