What are ATEX Directive ?

Directive　2014/34/EU

Equipment and Protective Systems intended for use in potentially Explosive Atmospheres

* ATEX compliant products are applicable to Europe only.

|Outline of ATEX directive

Since 1st July 2003, equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres within the EU is required to comply with the ATEX directive.

■CE Marking and ATEX

All equipment within the scope of the Directive must bear the CE marking and comply with the directive's requirements. ATEX Directive incorporates conventional European standards for explosion-proof equipment.

■Objective of the ATEX Directive

Major objective of the ATEX Directive is as follows:

◎Preventing electrostatic discharge

◎Preventing ignition likely to be caused by electrical sparks generated from friction, shock, and wear

◎Preventing ignition under the influence of elevated temperatures due to friction, shock, and wear

◎Concentrating on the duties of the manufacturers

◎Certifying equipment to the ATEX directive by Zone/Category

■Zone/Category classification

The ATEX directive defines the categories of equipment and protective systems, which can be used in the corresponding zones as per the following table:

Zone	Equipment category	Presence of the explosive atmosphere
Zone0	Category1	Continuously or for long periods > 1000 hours/year
Zone1	Category2	Occasionally 10 to 1000 hours/year
Zone2	Category3	Rarely or for short periods < 10 hours/year

|SMC's Support

■SMC's products corresponding to ATEX Directive

SMC's products that are within the scope of the ATEX Directive include electrical equipment and mechanical equipment such as pneumatic actuators (cylinders). SMC prepares pneumatic equipment for all industries that is compliant to the ATEX Directive to help our customers make a system corresponding to the Directive.

■Certification Procedure

Our products are categorized to electrical and non-electrical products, and tested and certified as following procedure:

ATEX Category	Certification method	Certified by	Certification method	Certified by
	Electrical products (Solenoid valve, Auto switch, Serial Transmission System , Electro-pneumatic positioner, etc.)	Non-electrical products (Cylinder, Rotary actuator, etc.)
Category1	1.Technical file 2.Quality audit 3.Type approval test	Certification authority Certification authority Certification authority	1.Technical file 2.Quality audit 3.Type approval test	Certification authority Certification authority Certification authority
Category2	1.Technical file 2.Quality audit 3.Type approval test	Certification authority Certification authority Certification authority	1.Technical file 　(to be stored in the certification authority) 2.In-house production control	SMC SMC
Category3	1.Technical file 2.In-house production control	SMC SMC	1.Technical file 2.In-house production control	SMC SMC

AIR CYLINDER/ATEX DIRECTIVE/COMPACT CYLINDER 55-CQ2