ATEX 2014/34/EU

ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU — Equipment for Explosive Atmospheres

Directive 2014/34/EU is the European legal framework governing equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Manufacturers and importers placing such equipment on the EU market must comply. Replaces ATEX 95 (94/9/EC).

Organisme: EU
Family: Hazardous Areas
Première publication: 2014
Dernière révision: 2014 (applicable from April 2016)
Prochaine révision: EU is working on aligning with the New Legislative Framework, no major revision planned
Statut: current
Accès: Free (EU directive text)

Structure du document

Directive 2014/34/EU

Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres

Replaces 94/9/EC (ATEX 95). Sets the Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSRs) and the conformity assessment procedures (CE marking) for equipment placed on the EU market intended for use in Ex environments.

Concepts clés

Scope: All electrical AND non-electrical equipment, protective systems, devices and components intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Includes mechanical equipment that could be an ignition source (rotating machinery, brakes generating heat).
Equipment Groups: Group I = mining (firedamp). Group II = surface industries (gas + dust).
Categories: Cat 1 (Zone 0/20 — very high level), Cat 2 (Zone 1/21 — high), Cat 3 (Zone 2/22 — normal). G for gas, D for dust. Example marking : 'II 2 GD' = surface, Cat 2, both gas and dust.
Notified Body(NB): Independent organization designated by EU member state to perform conformity assessments. Examples : PTB (Germany), INERIS (France), DEKRA, TÜV. Notified Body number on certificate (e.g., 'PTB 0102').
EU Type Examination: Module B of the conformity assessment. NB examines the design and prototype, issues EU Type Examination Certificate. Required for Cat 1 and Cat 2 equipment. Cat 3 can use Module A (manufacturer self-declaration) for gases.
Quality Assurance modules: Module D : Production QA system audited by NB. Module E : Product QA system. Module F : Product verification (per-item NB inspection). Manufacturers choose based on production volume and product type.
Technical File: Manufacturer must maintain a technical file for each product : risk assessment, design, manufacturing controls, test reports, type examination certificate. Available to market surveillance authorities on request, retained 10 years after last unit.

Notes & guidance

What ATEX 2014/34/EU actually requires of manufacturers

If you sell equipment intended for hazardous areas on the EU market — whether you manufacture in the EU or import from elsewhere — you must comply with ATEX 2014/34/EU. CE marking with the Ex symbol is mandatory.

The compliance steps :

Risk assessment : identify potential ignition sources, evaluate against EHSRs (Annex II of the Directive)
Design per harmonized standards : the IEC 60079 series mostly. Compliance with harmonized standards gives “presumption of conformity” to EHSRs.
Conformity assessment : appropriate module(s) depending on category
Technical file assembly and maintenance
Declaration of Conformity (EU DoC) signed by manufacturer
CE + Ex marking affixed to product
Notified Body involvement for Cat 1 and Cat 2 (mandatory) ; Cat 3 gas can self-declare
Market surveillance preparedness : authorities can request documentation, perform unannounced audits

Conformity assessment modules per category

Category	Module B (EU Type Exam by NB)	Production QA
Cat 1 G/D, Cat M1	Mandatory	Module D (Production QA), E (Product QA), or F (Verification) — all by NB
Cat 2 G/D, Cat M2	Mandatory	Module D, E, or F by NB
Cat 3 G	NOT mandatory (self-declaration possible)	Internal Production Control sufficient
Cat 3 D	Mandatory	Module D, E, or F

This is why Cat 3 G equipment (Zone 2 gas) is dramatically cheaper to certify than Cat 2 — no Notified Body involvement, no recurring audits.

The 2014 vs 1994 differences

The 1994 directive (94/9/EC, popularly called “ATEX 95” because of its number in old EU directive numbering) was largely re-numbered in 2014 with minor technical changes :

Alignment with the “New Legislative Framework” — more rigorous market surveillance, traceability obligations
Importers and distributors share responsibility (not just manufacturers)
Documentation retention 10 years (was 10 years before, stricter now)
EU declaration of conformity must be in the language of the destination Member State

Technically, equipment certified to 94/9/EC remains valid (no retrospective requirement). New certifications since April 2016 are issued against 2014/34/EU.

CE / Ex marking — what must appear

[CE marking]   [NB number]   |II 2 G   Ex db IIC T4 Gb   IECEx PTB 14.0123X
                                    Manufacturer name, type, serial, year
                                    ATEX certificate number : PTB 14 ATEX 0567 X

The components :

CE marking : indicates compliance with applicable EU directives (could be multiple ; Ex equipment often combines with EMC, Low Voltage, RoHS, etc.)
NB number : the 4-digit Notified Body number who issued the certificate, only present if NB involved (Cat 1/2)
Ex marking per IEC 60079-0 : the technical specification of suitable zones
Certificate references : ATEX certificate (mandatory in EU), IECEx certificate (optional, indicates global usability)

“X” suffix on certificate — important detail

A certificate ending in “X” (e.g., PTB 14 ATEX 0567 X) has specific conditions of use documented in the certificate. Common conditions :

Restricted ambient temperature range
Specific cable gland required
Additional bonding requirements
Limited operating modes

Installation must respect these conditions. Missing the X suffix conditions = non-compliant installation, even if equipment is properly marked.

Ongoing harmonization with the EU Machinery Regulation 2027

The EU Machinery Regulation 2027 (replacing Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC) will harmonize more tightly with ATEX for machines used in hazardous areas. Currently, a Cat 2G compressor must comply with BOTH Machinery Directive AND ATEX 2014/34/EU — two separate technical files, two sets of audits. The future regulation aims to streamline this for genuine Machinery+Ex equipment.

Industries concernées

Equipment manufacturers (sensors, motors, lights, switches) selling in EU
Importers of Ex equipment into EU
EU distributors of Ex equipment