Hazardous Area Classification (ATEX)

Business Challenge

In July of 2003, the European Union enacted directives to protect the livelihood of employees who worked in highly explosive atmospheres. The Hazardous Area Classification (ATEX) 94/9/EC Equipment Directive is one of two mandatory safety measures that describe the type of equipment and work environment allowed in highly volatile and dangerous work areas. If an organization is involved with the European Union, they must comply with these safety requirements to protect their employees from dangerous work related harm.

Solution

What does Bureau Veritas offer with regard to ATEX?
Bureau Veritas/LCIE is a European Notified Body for all the modules of the ATEX Directive. ATEX 94/9/EC is a “new approach” directive. It assists Engineering companies, Manufacturers, Installers, Designers, Integrators, and Assemblers to focus on:

• Awareness of mandatory requirements
• Assessment of Ex-product manufacturing processes
• Verification of conformity of electrical and non-electrical products
• Doing business outside of Europe

ATEX concerns mines and surface industries as well as gas and dust explosive atmospheres. It defines the essential health and safety requirements applicable to products. It also concerns electrical and non electrical products and deals with potentially inflammable substances. The directive introduces new marking, requests checking of design and manufacturing, and stresses a manufacturer’s responsibility. 

Why Choose Bureau Veritas?

Recognition

Our Assistance and Expertise services help you design and develop products and systems that meet ATEX requirements. We assess and certify the compliance of your products, systems as well as your quality systems to the requirements of European and International regulations.

Knowledge and Expertise
Created in 1882, Bureau Veritas/LCIE benefits from a strong recognition, on a national and international level. Based in France and in China, Bureau Veritas/LCIE's teams of experts answer the increasing coming from industry in terms of security of electrical and electronic products.

Diversity

Bureau Veritas Electrical and Electronic Product Services encompasses some of the leading test and certification companies worldwide, including, ADT, Curtis-Straus and LCIE with a laboratory presence in China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Taiwan, United Kingdom and USA.

Training

Bureau Veritas currently staff experienced training instructors to provide training and seminars. We offer dedicated ATEX training sessions as well as specific services “REPARATEX” for qualifying repair shops of electrical motors.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the key recognitions and accreditations of Bureau Veritas/LCIE?

  Bureau Veritas/LCIE has carried out several recognition agreements specific to potentially explosive atmospheres with the following foreign bodies: CQST (China); NEPSI/SIPAI (China); UL, FM (United States); KGS, KTL (Korea); TIIS (Japan). Other agreements include: Bureau Veritas (Argentina), recognition of tests and factor inspection for access to the Argentinean market for low voltage electrical equipment and equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. UDIEE (Brazil), recognition of tests and factory inspections for low voltage electrical equipment and equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Other recognitions also include the US Coast Guard (United States), recognition of tests and certification.