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The ‘ATEX Directive’ governing machinery and equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres was introduced into UK law on 1st July 2003.

There is in preparation an International Standard “Design of fans working in potentially explosive atmospheres” EN14986. This is currently in final draft stage awaiting a formal vote for approval and will probably be published during 2006.

The Fan Manufacturers Association, of which B.O.B. Stevenson is a long-term Member, has been the UK driving force in discussing and agreeing this standard. B.O.B.’s representatives have attended a number of FMA meetings on this topic.

At a meeting in June 2005 it was agreed that the Fan Manufacturers Association would produce an ‘interpretative’ document that will establish the UK best practice for the industry. This should be published during 2006.

The ATEX Directive can be achieved via self certified compliance and it is therefore possible to lodge a technical file for a particular fan with a test house, subject to renewal every 10 years.

ATEX Certification can also be achieved by independent tests conducted by a NAMAS registered laboratory.

Neither route is without significant expense and neither allows for generic tests. For a given fan range each particular impeller diameter and motor size would require testing. Consequently a fan manufacturer would have to submit too many tests to certify their entire range of fans.

We therefore inform you that B.O.B.’s fans do not currently comply with the ATEX Directive and that we do not intend to pursue ATEX certification at least until industry best practice has been established.

Our current approach is to supply standard fans incorporating some of the ATEX design features outlined in the draft standard, such as: increased impeller tip clearances, anti spark protection and increased earth bonding. However we make no claim that these are ATEX certified.

We do however fit ATEX certified motors and terminal boxes to our fans so that the electrical installation alone may be completed to comply with the directive.

When ordering a fan for explosive atmospheres as a minimum the customer must inform us of the zone classification (0,1,2) the category (1,2,3) and the group (G or D).

We would be prepared to self certify a particular fan design via registering a technical file in return for a volume order or help with the costs for individual orders.

B.O.B. would politely point out that very few of the numerous companies within the fan industry have actually achieved ATEX certification of fans.

B.O.B. Stevenson Limited
Coleman St, Derby, DE24 8NL
Tel: +44 (0) 1332 574112 - Fax: +44 (0) 1332 757286
E mail: sales@bobstevenson.co.uk