The ATEX Directive and IEC Standards

The KIRK 4080 handset has been approved (certified) by Danish UL Demko to comply with the ATEX directive.  (For specific national regulations, you may have to contact your national authorities) The ATEX name derives from the French: ATmospehére EXplosible.  The primary purpose of the.Directive 94//9/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 23 March 1994 – the ATEX directive - is to protect the workforce against the risk of explosions in working environments. The directive sets out essential requirements only. The requirements have been defined in detail in the following standards:

• European standard EN 50014
• European standard EN 50020

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has developed standards parallel to the European standards:

• International standard IEC 60079-0
• International standard IEC 60079-11

The standards are not all compulsory, but describe approved methods on how to comply with the purpose of the directive. The national implementation of the standards is secured by national legislation, typically by authorities and ministries regulating working environments, fire protection etc.

Local implementation of the standards is secured by fire protection agencies and organisations. They will direct companies with potentially explosive working environments on how to define the different classes of zones in potential explosive environments.

Useful page links

	Intrinsically safe - explanation			Label information
	European and IEC standards			4080 handset use and installation advice