Installation and maintenance of ATEX equipment
Certified equipment only stays safe if it is properly installed and maintained. Three standards govern its life on site.
Installation (EN/IEC 60079-14)
- Check suitability: category or EPL compatible with the zone, gas group and temperature class compatible with the substances present.
- Follow the instructions of the manufacturer: tightening torques, cable cross-sections, mounting positions.
- Choose the right cable glands and close unused entries with certified stopping plugs. See choosing an ATEX cable gland.
- Never modify a certified enclosure: no drilling, no unplanned components. Any modification must be made or approved by the manufacturer.
- Provide equipotential bonding and earthing.
Inspection (EN/IEC 60079-17)
The standard provides for three grades of inspection:
| Grade | Content |
|---|---|
| Visual | What can be seen without tools or opening: damage, corrosion, marking, cable glands |
| Close | Visual inspection plus simple tools, without opening the enclosure: tightening, fixings |
| Detailed | With the enclosure opened, de-energised: condition of gaskets and flamepaths, terminals, connections |
An initial inspection is carried out before commissioning, followed by periodic inspections whose interval depends on site conditions (no more than 3 years without expert advice).
Repair (EN/IEC 60079-19)
The flamepaths of Ex d enclosures must not be reworked on site: a scratch or a knock on a flamepath surface can compromise protection. Repairs to certified equipment must comply with the 60079-19 standard and should ideally be entrusted to the manufacturer.
What we do for you
As the manufacturer, we supply the instructions, original parts and expertise for your replacements and upgrades. Our ATEX training courses, with our partners, also prepare your teams.