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What are explosion proof ATEX certificate standards?

An ATEX certificate is needed to demonstrate that an equipment can be safely operated in a potentially explosive athmosphere created by the presence of flammable gas, vapour, mist or clouds of combustibe dust.

ATEX certificates are issued only by European Notified Certification Bodies, such as PTB or DEKRA EXAM in Germany, CESI or IMQ in Italy, BASEEFA in UK and many others.

The ATEX Certificate, officially known as "EC Type Examination Certificate," is issued following the examination of the equipment Technical File and testing, according to the relevant standards that are applicable for each specific type of explosion protection applied to the equipment such as flameproof or dust proof containers, intrinsically safe electrical devices, and etc.

Once the ATEX certificate is obtained the manufacturer must also get from a Notified Body a certification of the production: it is a control of the manufacturing activities based on ISO 9001 and focused on the ATEX requirements of the product.

Ahhh. And what sort of classifications does this fall under?

In North America, hazardous environments are classed by general types of flammable atmospheres:
*CLASS I Locations with flammable gas or vapor
*CLASS II Locations with flammable dust
*CLASS III Locations with flammable fibres or flyings

They are divided into 2 operating conditions:
DIV 1 Explosive conditions exist under normal operating conditions
DIV 2 Explosive conditions exist under abnormal operating conditions

They are grouped into 7 more specific types of flammability:
GROUP A Acetylene
GROUP B Acrolein, Butadiene, Ethylene Oxide, Hydrogen, Propylene Oxide
GROUP C Ethylene, Ethyl Ether, Cyclopropane, Butadience
GROUP D Propane, Ethane, Butane, Benzene, Pentane, Heptane, Acetone, Methyl, Ethyl, Keytone, Methyl, Alcohol, Ethyl Alcohol
GROUP E Various metal flyings: Aluminum, Magnesium, Titanium, Zinc, Tin + others
GROUP F Coal Dusts - Carbon Black, Charcoal, Coal, Coke Dusts
GROUP G Various Dusts & Fibres: Alfalfa to Wood Flour

These are defined by 14 temperature codes for Auto-Ignition Temperatures, as defined in the U.S. and Canadian Electrical Codes. (In Europe and most other international locations, more thorough IEC standards are recognized.) The Temperature Code defines the maximum surface temperature of the equipment, which must not exceed the auto-ignition temperature of the hazardous environment.

Hmmm...thanks a ton!

Anytime