Hazardous Area Containers | Zone 1 | Zone 2

Hazardous Area Containers

Reftrade-UK hazardous area equipment is purpose built to work in defined Hazardous areas and all are compliant with the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU.

Reftrade UK currently undertake Hazardous area builds for the most highly regulated industries worldwide, our design team compile technical data files for submission to regulatory bodies for the requisite classification governed by the industry sector. These range from the Oil & Gas, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, military and renewables sectors.

The ATEX directive is the name commonly given to the two European Directives for controlling explosive atmospheres; describing what equipment and work environment is allowed in a potentially explosive atmosphere.

Capturing all client specifications;

ATEX Equipment Group – I or II
ATEX Equipment Category – 1 (Zone 0,20),2 (Zone 1,21) or 3 (Zone 2,22)
- G (Gas)
- D (Dust)
Protection Method
Gas Group
Dust Group

Hazardous area zones and equipment categories Hazardous places are classified in terms of zones on the basis of the frequency and duration of the occurrence of an explosive atmosphere.

Gases, Vapours and Mist

For gases, vapours and mists the zone classifications are:

Zone 0 – A place in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture with air of dangerous substances in the form of gas, vapour or mist is present continuously or for long periods or frequently.

Zone 1 – A place in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture with air of dangerous substances in the form of gas, vapour or mist is likely to occur in normal operation occasionally.

Zone 2 – A place in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture with air of dangerous substances in the form of gas, vapour or mist is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for a short period only.

Dusts

For dusts the zone classifications are:

Zone 20 – A place in which an explosive atmosphere in the form of a cloud of combustible dust in air is present continuously, or for long periods or frequently.

Zone 21 – A place in which an explosive atmosphere in the form of a cloud of combustible dust in air is likely to occur in normal operation occasionally.

Zone 22 – A place in which an explosive atmosphere in the form of a cloud of combustible dust in air is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for a short period only.

Hazardous area classification should be carried out as an integral part of the risk assessment to identify places (or areas) where controls over ignition sources are needed (hazardous places) and also those places where they are not (non hazardous places). Hazardous places are further classified in Zones which distinguish between places that have a high chance of an explosive atmosphere occurring and those places where an explosive atmosphere may only occur occasionally or in abnormal circumstances. The definitions of the Zones (which are included in DSEAR) also recognise that the chance of a fire or explosion depends on the likelihood of an explosive atmosphere occurring at the same time as an ignition source becomes active.

The directive requires traceability of a product to be ensured throughout the whole supply chain. Therefore, this directive clarifies requirements for manufacturers, authorised representatives, importers and distributors to make sure that products we place on the market comply with this directive.

Datasheets

Hazardous