Implementation of Directive 1999/92/EC : some concerns for the definition of ATEX zones

Jacques Chaineaux (1) , Lionel Perrette (1)

1 INERIS - Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques

Directive 1999/92/EC is to be implemented within a year. It requires the determination of hazardous zones where an explosive atmosphere (ATEX) may occur. This zoning is expected to be accurate. So is to be the evaluation of effects associated with an ignition of the so defined ATEX zones. Hence, physical phenomena which are involved in the formation of ATEX, namely leak and vaporization of a flammable liquid, leak of a flammable gas, dispersion of a layer of combustible dust, must be taken into account and quantified. It is not recommended to oversize a zone, nor to design a zone having such a small volume that the effects of an ignition would be negligible.

Domains: Engineering Sciences [physics]

Jacques Chaineaux, Lionel Perrette. Implementation of Directive 1999/92/EC : some concerns for the definition of ATEX zones. International Conference on Explosion Protection, Nov 2002, Francfort, Germany. pp.15-22. ⟨ineris-00976148⟩