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The Atex directive was first published in Spain on April 8 of 1996 in the BOE like a royal ordinance 400/ 1996, it dictates the minimum dispositions that should complete devices and systems of protection for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
A potentially explosive atmosphere is defined like that mixture with the air, in atmospheric conditions of inflammable substances in gases form, fog or powder, in which, after an ignition the combustion spreads to the entirety of the mixture not burned. Any atmosphere that can be converted in explosive due to local circumstances of operation, is what we call a potentially explosive atmosphere.
According to ATEX directive, the zones with presence of explosive atmospheres are divided in two main groups:
I GROUP:
Includes those underground works and their surface facilities where a potential danger because of the presence of methane and/ or combustible powder exists.
GRUPO II:
Places in which there is danger of formation of explosive atmospheres that are not included in I Group.
As a way of protection, it should be understood a series of constructive rules of the materials and electric devices of such form that they could be capable for their employment with security in an explosive atmosphere.
A schematic summary of the characteristics of the several ways of protection complied by national and international regulations is detailed in the following chart:
TYPE OF PROTECTION
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Norm |
type |
Scheme |
Protection Mode |
CENELEC EN 50019 |
e |
|
Increased safety: |
CENELEC EN 50018 |
d |
|
Flameproof enclosure: |
CENELEC EN 50020 |
i |
|
Intrinsically safety: |
CENELEC EN 50016 |
p |
|
Pressurization: |
CENELEC EN 50015 |
o |
|
Immerse in oil: |
CENELEC EN 50017 |
q |
|
Powder Filling: |
CENELEC EN 50028 |
m |
|
Encapsulation: |
CENELEC EN 50021 |
n |
|
Simplified: |
|
s |
|
Special: |