ATEX Directive

Ensure Compliance with the ATEX Directive

If you manufacture or sell equipment or protective systems for use in or in conjunction with potentially explosive atmospheres in the European Union, your products need to conform to the ATEX (ATmospheres EXplosibles) directive.

The ATEX directive’s scope includes safety devices, controlling devices, and regulating devices, as well as equipment intended for use outside potentially explosive atmospheres, but required for or contributing to the safe functioning of equipment and protective systems.

Through factory inspections and field evaluations, TÜV Rheinland, as a notified body, can test and certify your product to the ATEX directive.

Benefits at a Glance

With ATEX services from TÜV Rheinland, you can:

  • Ensure compliance with occupational health and safety requirements worldwide, ensuring employee and facility safety
  • Reach full product safety compliance and certification prior to product placement
  • Gain an edge over your competition in the global marketplace with an approval mark from a global notified body
  • Benefit from our explosion protection experts, located across the globe, available to help identify local requirements and assist with certification
  • Access a common shared-networked database, reducing waiting time for documents to be transferred between agencies through conventional methods
  • Dramatically reduce approval times and costs by using harmonized standards and common test protocols
  • Reduce risk of company liability with documented safety standards
  • Benefit from our quick turn around time, years of experience and expertise

Our Services for the ATEX Directive

We provide our clients with everything they need to comply with the ATEX Directive. If you are manufacturing or selling equipment, protective systems, and some specified devices in the European Union, intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, you will need to conform to the ATEX Directive.

This includes electrical and mechanical equipment and protective systems for use on the surface, below ground, and on fixed offshore installations. It relates to all equipment, protective systems, safety devices, controlling devices, regulating devices and components (defined as any item essential to the safe functioning of equipment).

Compliance with the ATEX Directive became mandatory on July 1, 2003. Manufacturers of equipment that fall under the scope of the ATEX Directive are responsible for meeting the general requirements of Annex II by applying all relevant standards based on the design and “protection methods” of the product.

The ATEX Directive is a CE Marking Directive, which means products that fall under the scope of the directive are subject to CE marking.

Our Approach

TÜV Rheinland’s ATEX approach is as follows:

  • Determine all applicable directives and standards
  • Decide on a conformity route (certain products or protection methods employed in the products require mandatory involvement of an accredited notified body)
  • Test products to all applicable requirements and evaluate test reports and findings
  • Provide customer with a report

If you are interested in TÜV Rheinland’s ATEX services, you may also be interested in these testing services:

Products Covered

  • Safety devices
  • Controlling devices
  • Regulating devices