ATEX Zones: A Comprehensive Guide To Explosion Risk Safety

In any commercial or industrial workplaces where combustible dusts can build up, the risk of explosion becomes a major health and safety issue. By having classified ATEX Zones, you can help manage and minimise that risk. Managing ATEX Zones is essential for workplace safety so employees are protected and businesses comply with health and safety and industrial hygiene regulations. Following the launch of the HSE’s Dust Kills campaign, we take a comprehensive look at ATEX Zones, what they are, and the essential role they play in keeping industrial environments safe.

What is ATEX?

‘ATEX’ is an abbreviation for the French ‘ATmosphères EXplosibles’, meaning ‘explosive atmosphere’. It’s based on two EU directives, 94/9/EC (ATEX 95) and 99/92/EC (ATEX 137), that regulate industrial equipment and protective systems used in potentially explosive atmospheres, ensuring they’re safe and suitable for high-risk conditions. 

ATEX guidelines are mandatory for UK and European businesses to follow. Alongside regular ATEX explosive dust removal, they help to reduce explosion risks in workplaces with flammable dusts or gases. It’s also essential for businesses to have ATEX insurance liability with certification issued for insurance and HSE purposes to protect employees and equipment.

What are ATEX Zones?

ATEX Zones are classified areas based on the presence and potential of explosive atmospheres. These zones help employers and occupational hygienists identify the most likely workplace areas and make sure restrictions are in place to avoid or prevent potential explosions. 

Proper zoning is crucial for business risk management in any industry where combustible dust or gas is common. This is particularly relevant in sectors such as textile and pharmaceutical manufacturing, chemical production, and paper and sawmills, where the risk is higher.

How are ATEX Zones divided?

ATEX Zones are divided into two main groups – one for gases (zones 0, 1, and 2) and one for dust (zones 20, 21, and 22). While there are similarities between them, businesses will usually be in one camp or the other. Here’s how they break down:

Gases

• Zone 0: Areas where an explosive or flammable gas atmosphere is continuously present, such as inside storage tanks.
• Zone 1: Areas where an explosive or flammable gas atmosphere is likely to be present but not continuously, such as near storage tanks or equipment that could leak.
• Zone 2: Areas where an explosive or flammable gas atmosphere is unlikely under normal circumstances.

Dusts

• Zone 20: Areas where combustible dust is consistently present. 
• Zone 21: Areas where combustible dust is present occasionally or during normal operations, such as in dust collection equipment or near processing machinery.
• Zone 22: Areas where combustible dust is not usually present, but if it does occur, it only lasts for a short time.

What industries are affected by ATEX Zones?

ATEX Zones are essential in many different sectors where combustible materials, especially dusts, are part of everyday business operations and could be health, fire, and explosion risks. These can include:

• Grain mills and storage facilities
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Metalworking and foundries 
• Textile manufacturing
• Chemical production
• Food processing
• Paper mills
• Sawmills and woodworking

Having classified ATEX Zones is vital for your business if you fall into one of the sectors listed above and could prevent disastrous consequences. 

Steps for ATEX Zones in your workplace

Many businesses need help assessing challenging ATEX Zones, such as limited access to expert advice or difficulty identifying hidden dust hazards. If you haven’t yet done so, and your business is affected by combustible dust or gas, you should properly assess ATEX Zones in your workplace by getting a qualified occupational hygienist to carry out a structured risk assessment. Here are some of the essential steps:

1. Identify hazards: understand where explosive gases or dusts are or may build up.
2. Ignition sources: Check ignition or heat sources and how dangerous they could be.
3. Classify the danger: Understand when or how often explosions could happen.
4. Implement change: Take appropriate safety measures for each zone, such as equipment modifications, regular dust removal, and good ventilation.

Employers also play an important role in having safe ATEX Zones for their staff and have a key responsibility to maintain standards in all ATEX environments, including: 

• Regular training: On safe practices, hazard awareness, and emergency response.
• Equipment maintenance: Inspected and maintained in compliance with safety standards.
• Routine inspections: To prevent the build-up of combustible dust and identify areas needing extra hazard control.

ATEX regulation compliance benefits for your business

If your business produces combustible dusts or gases as part of your operations, identifying ATEX Zones should be a priority and will benefit your business. That way, you can ensure health and safety and compliance with occupational hygiene standards, hazardous substance control, and insurance. Here’s why:

Reducing risk

By managing explosive dust and gas hazards and complying with ATEX regulations, you reduce the risk of explosion-related accidents, create a safer workplace for employees, reduce the likelihood of equipment damage, and improve workplace air quality. Regular inspections and explosive ATEX hazardous dust removal are key to maintaining safety in all these high-risk areas.

Business reputation

ATEX compliance shows your commitment to workplace safety and responsibility. With a strong reputation for safety management, you reinfirce client relationships and boost business credibility, while building trust with employees and insurers. 

Legal and financial issues

Together with the safety benefits, following ATEX regulations is essential for legal compliance. In the UK, there are strict rules for workplaces with explosive atmospheres in the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR). By not complying, you could face costly fines, legal action, and even loss of operating licenses. It can also reduce your insurance premiums.

Explosive dust removal from Prestige Professional

Managing ATEX Zones is essential for any business where combustible dusts can be a safety risk. With risk assessments, good combustible dust removal, and full ATEX regulation compliance, you can protect your employees and hit safety standards with confidence. With specialist ATEX cleaning and hazardous dust removal services from Prestige Professional, we can help you achieve it. 

For complete peace of mind, our highly skilled team of ATEX cleaning experts can safely and efficiently clean hazardous dust from all areas with a range of fully insulated, spark-free cleaning systems. IPAF-trained to work at height using mobile elevating work platforms, we can clean even the hardest-to-reach areas, so your business stays compliant and safe.

For more information on our ATEX cleaning services, contact the Prestige Professional team today, call 01752 424873 or email .