Changes to Entel I.S. Radio Approvals
Posted on May 01, 2009
The approvals for Entel’s Series 2.0 intrinsically safe radios now cover all ATEX gas groups, IIC and IIA. Both the HT900 and HT800 ranges are ATEX approved.
HT900 IIC/ IIB/ IEC Ex
Our HT900 Series 2.0 radios will now conform to the ATEX gas groups IIC and IIB of the European Union’s ATEX Directive 94/9/EC, the two most stringent gas group classifications for the most hazardous gases and vapours. In addition, it also conforms to the international IEC approval, which is a requirement for most countries outside the EU (additional approvals may be required in certain countries).
HT800 IIA
Our HT800 Series 2.0 radios will now conform to ATEX gas group IIA only, offering the maximum permitted RF output in any given application within mainland Europe. Both VHF & UHF variants offer up to 4 watts output.
Worldwide
Ordinarily, the HT800 radios will also be the preferred option for users outside the European Union and for certain EU-registered vessels exempt from EU jurisdiction. We believe that the ATEX approval, together with the IEC approval, is fast becoming the benchmark for intrinsically safe radios, not just within the EU, but worldwide.
ATEX Explained
ATEX is the popular name for the European Directive dealing with electrical equipment and protective systems for use in explosive atmospheres. The purpose of the directive is to provide a pan-European framework for marketing such equipment, allowing manufacturers and importers equal access to all member states.
The directive does not apply to medical, domestic, marine and military applications.
Although it is a European directive, ATEX products are commonly specified in other regions of the world since this is a simple, well recognised method of ensuring product suitability and quality.
The directive has two targets:
To ensure that equipment marketed in the EU is designed to prevent an ignition of an explosive atmosphere. (Ignition within equipment is permissable if this does not result in ignition of the surrounding atmosphere.)
To ensure that the manufacturing quality system is sufficiently rigorous to ensure the design safety features are always in place
NOTE: ATEX compliance does not guarantee general product safety – it covers only the explosion prevention characteristics.
The first target is achieved by requiring all equipment to be designed in compliance with a comprehensive set of rules known as the “Essential Health and Safety Requirements” (EHSRs)
The second target is achieved by requiring regular auditing of the manufacturing process with respect to the ignition prevention characteristics.
The only organisations permitted to audit to the ATEX directive are Notified Bodies. These are designated by the governments of individual EU member states.
Electrical equipment and protective systems for explosive atmospheres may be designed, manufactured and marketed by demonstrating compliance solely with the directive, but this is not common practice.
Compliance with the directive is usually demonstrated by designing the equipment in accordance with the relevant standards, followed by testing, inspection and analysis as appropriate.
The directive specifies who may carry out the work required to demonstrate compliance. This depends on the nature of the hazardous area in which the equipment is to be used. In most cases the directive requires third party certification of equipment and systems, where the third party is a Notified Body. This is often the same body that will audit the production quality arrangements, but this is not mandatory. For use in the least hazardous areas, self certification is permitted. However, since ensuring compliance with the directive and the standards is a specialised task, many manufacturers have such equipment certified by a Notified Body.
Product marking:
An ATEX compliant product will carry this mark:
This will be followed by a three part code, to indicate in which areas it may be used.
The first part of the code is a Roman numeral, I is for mining or II for surface use.
The second part is a category number to indicate the area of permitted use.
This is an Arabic number between one and three. One is for a highest risk area, three indicates the lowest risk.
This number preceded by an ‘M’ indicates mining use
The third part is a letter: ‘G’ for gas/vapour hazards or ‘D’ for dust hazards.
Equipment used across area boundaries or having multiple safety levels will have more complex marking.
NOTE: An ATEX product may also be subject to other EU directives
Useful References:
ATEX Guidelines (2nd Ed, Aug 08) available at: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/atex/standcomm.htm
Other Europa ATEX pages:
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/atex/index_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newapproach/standardization/harmstds/index_en.html
Health and Safety Executive ATEX web page:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/fireandexplosion/atex.htm#equipment
UK Gvt. ATEX web page
http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/sectors/sustainability/regulations/ecdirect/page12410.html
UK Gvt. ATEX guidelines:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file11278.pdf
