ATEX is the name of the European standard for equipment designed for use in potentially explosive environments. The standard defines the severity of risks and the types of protection used to eliminate the possibility of an explosion for a given product.
To obtain ATEX certification, products are sent to a registered notified body to perform tests to ensure that the relevant criteria are met. Upon successful completion of testing, certification is granted, which must be referenced on the product. The classifications cover both flammable gas and dust environments for electrical and non-electrical (mechanical) potential sources of heat or sparks that can initiate combustion.
