Cornelsen takes process safety extremely seriously.  As such, Cornelsen engineers in both the UK and Germany have undergone the following training and certification in line with DSEAR guidelines.

• ATEX Competency
• ATEX Hazardous Area Equipment Training
• DSEAR Area Classification & Risk ASsessment

What is ATEX?
ATEX is the name commonly given to the framework for controlling explosive atmospheres and the standards of equipment and protective systems used in them.  It is based on the requirements of two European Directives:

1) Directive 99/92/EC (also known as ‘ATEX 137’ or the 'ATEX Workplace Directive’) on minimum requirements for improving the health and safety protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres

2) Directive 94/9/EC (also known as ‘ATEX 95’ or ‘the ATEX Equipment Directive’) on the approximation of the laws of Members States concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

What is an explosive atmosphere?
In DSEAR, an explosive atmosphere is defined as a mixture of dangerous substances with air, under atmospheric conditions, in the form of gases, vapours, mist or dust in which, after ignition has occurred, combustion spreads to the entire unburned mixture.
Atmospheric conditions are commonly referred to as ambient temperatures and pressures. That is to say temperatures of –20°C to 40°C and pressures of 0.8 to 1.1 bar.

Explosive atmospheres in the workplace
In Great Britain the requirements of Directive 99/92/EC were put into effect through regulations 7 and 11 of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR).
The requirements in DSEAR apply to most workplaces where a potentially explosive atmosphere may occur. Some industry sectors and work activities are exempted because there is other legislation that fulfils the requirements. These exemptions are listed in regulation 3 of DSEAR.

What does DSEAR require?
DSEAR requires employers to eliminate or control the risks from dangerous substances – further information on these requirements can be found on the DSEAR web page[7]. In addition to the general requirements, the Regulations place the following specific duties on employers with workplaces where explosive atmospheres may occur.

Classification of areas where explosive atmospheres may occur
Employers must classify areas where hazardous explosive atmospheres may occur into zones. The classification given to a particular zone, and its size and location, depends on the likelihood of an explosive atmosphere occurring and its persistence if it does. Schedule 2 of DSEAR contains descriptions of the various classifications of zones for gases and vapours and for dusts.

Note: The above information is reproduced from HSE website http://www.hse.gov.uk/fireandexplosion/atex.htm

ATEX Briefing notes.pdf