ATEX Standards Updates

In 2007, the EN 50014 series of technical standards began to be withdrawn and, in their place, superseded by EN 60079 counterparts which align more with their IEC equivalents.

This has an impact on manufacturers of ATEX products certified to EN 50014 series, who have a requirement to ensure that compliance is maintained in line with current requirements.

Four years on and products certified to EN 50014 standards are still available on the market, leading to some confusion over whether such products must be re-certified to the newer harmonised standards, or whether the products are still acceptable to be used in “Hazardous Areas”.

To help clarify the issue, Sira’s Certification Manager, David Stubbings, discusses the recent changes in technical standards and the points you need to know in order to comply with the Directive.

The Legislative Situation

The ATEX Directive requires that technical knowledge, which can change rapidly, must be taken into account as far as possible and utilised immediately. This has led to questions over who decides what is the latest technical knowledge (sometimes referred to as ‘The state of the art’).

Generally it is accepted that the issue of new or revised standards is an advancement of technical knowledge, although if the standard doesn’t incorporate a technical change affecting the product, why would there be a need to update the certification? Firstly, the manufacturer must determine whether changes to the standards apply to their product. Secondly, if the changes affect the testing of the product and the requirements are more onerous, the certification or technical file should be updated.

The Clarification Sheet N° ExNB/10/397/CS published by the Co-ordination of Notified Bodies Equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres on Council Directive 94/9/EC (ATEX) helps define equipment modifications in relation to introduction of new technical standards. It defines modifications to standards (and thus the impact on manufacturers and their certified products) into three main areas -

• Minor and editorial changes
• Extensions
• Major technical changes

To read the full article click  >>HERE<<

More information:
Sira Certification Tel: +44 (0) 1244 670 900

Email: info@siracertification.com

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