ATEX derives its name from the French term ATmosphères Explosibles (potentially explosive atmospheres). ATEX certification refers to the conformity assessment system stipulated in Directive 94/9/EC on Equipment and Protective Systems for Potential Explosive Atmospheres, issued by the European Commission on March 23, 1994. It came into mandatory force on July 1, 2003, and was subsequently replaced by the new Directive 2014/34/EU.

This directive covers machinery and electrical equipment used in both mining and non-mining environments, applicable to locations with flammable gases, vapors, mists, and dusts. Equipment must pass conformity assessment procedures and bear the CE mark to be placed on the European market.

The scope of equipment covered by the ATEX directive is extremely broad, generally including fixed offshore platforms, petrochemical plants, flour mills, and other equipment suitable for use in locations with potential explosive atmospheres.

At present, the ATEX directive is a mandatory directive, meaning all explosion-proof equipment entering the EU market must comply with all standard requirements stipulated by the ATEX directive, which is collectively referred to as ATEX certification.

To control the safety performance of explosion-proof equipment, the EU restricts that only European Notified Bodies (NBs) can issue ATEX certification certificates. Previously, there were 24 NBs related to the ATEX directive, and as of May 21, 2014, a total of 67 European institutions had obtained EU notification authorization. Well-known and authoritative ATEX directive Notified Bodies include TÜV Süd, TÜV Nord, TÜV Rheinland, DNV, SGS, ITS, BV, QS, DEKRA, EUROFINS, UL, and CSA, among others.

Many customers have raised questions about the verification of ATEX certificates. It is worth noting that there is no unified official website for querying ATEX certificates. To verify the authenticity of a certificate, one must consult the issuing body directly, with inquiries only available through the platforms provided by individual ATEX Notified Bodies.

STS has established stable and good cooperative relationships with major European Notified Bodies. We can assist enterprise customers in addressing technical and procedural issues related to EU ATEX certification, including the designation of issuing bodies. For more information, please stay tuned to us!