Hazardous — ATEX
ATEX compliance
for powder handling.
Two EU directives govern equipment and workplaces where combustible dust can form explosive atmospheres. TLG designs powder systems to meet them from the first drawing.
In brief
ATEX is the EU framework for explosive atmospheres: Directive 2014/34/EU covers the equipment placed in classified zones, and Directive 1999/92/EC covers the workplace — zoning, risk assessment and protective measures. For powder plants, compliance means dust-zoned areas (zones 20/21/22) equipped with correspondingly categorised equipment.
In detail
What it means for a powder plant.
Most food powders — milk powder, flour, sugar, starch — are combustible dusts. Where they can form clouds or layers, the plant owner must classify zones, and every item of equipment inside a zone must carry the matching ATEX category: Category 1 for zone 20 (interior of silos and convey lines), Category 2 for zone 21, Category 3 for zone 22.
TLG's role is the engineering half: dust hazardous-area classification drawings, equipment selection with the right markings, ignition-source control (earthing, bonding, temperature limits), and explosion protection — venting, suppression or isolation — designed into vessels rather than retrofitted.
- Equipment directive
- 2014/34/EU — categories 1, 2, 3 for dust (D)
- Workplace directive
- 1999/92/EC — zoning, DSEAR-style risk assessment
- Dust zones
- Zone 20 / 21 / 22 by presence of explosive atmosphere
- TLG scope
- Classification drawings · equipment selection · protection systems
Common questions
Frequently asked questions.
- What does ATEX stand for?
- From the French 'ATmosphères EXplosibles'. It names the two EU directives governing explosive atmospheres: 2014/34/EU for equipment and protective systems, and 1999/92/EC for workplace safety where such atmospheres can occur — including combustible powder dusts.
- Does ATEX apply to powders as well as gases?
- Yes. ATEX covers dust atmospheres explicitly — combustible powder clouds and layers are classified into zones 20, 21 and 22, parallel to the gas zones 0, 1 and 2, and equipment is categorised and marked for dust (D) duty accordingly.
- Is ATEX required in New Zealand?
- ATEX is EU law, but New Zealand's framework (AS/NZS 60079 series under the Health and Safety at Work regulations) follows the same IEC zoning principles, and exporters often specify ATEX or IECEx equipment for international acceptance. TLG engineers to whichever regime the site and its markets require.
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