ATEX / DSEAR / Hazardous Area Classification

Explosion safety assessments for hazardous plants and equipment.

ExConform supports manufacturers, operators and engineering teams with ATEX and DSEAR assessment, hazardous area classification, ignition risk review, explosion protection documentation and dispersion modelling for credible release scenarios.

Hazardous area decisions need more than generic zoning templates.

We combine standards-based classification with release assessment, ventilation review, equipment context and engineering judgement.

ATEX Equipment Directive support for manufacturers
ATEX Workplace Directive and DSEAR support for operators
IEC 60079-10-1 and IEC 60079-10-2 zoning assessment
Dispersion modelling for non-standard release scenarios
Explosion safety responsibility

One subject, two different compliance perspectives.

Explosion safety assessment may be required as part of equipment conformity assessment for manufacturers, or as part of workplace risk management for operators and site duty holders.

Manufacturer / CE route
Operator / DSEAR route
Hazardous area zoning
Explosion protection basis
Two assessment perspectives

Explosion safety assessments for both sides of technical responsibility.

ATEX and DSEAR obligations depend on who is responsible for the equipment, the workplace and the risk controls. ExConform supports both manufacturer-side and operator-side assessments.

Manufacturer perspective

ATEX equipment assessment as part of CE compliance.

For manufacturers, OEMs and suppliers, explosion safety may need to be addressed under the ATEX Equipment Directive in the course of CE conformity assessment. This includes equipment category, intended use, ignition source assessment, technical documentation and interface with machinery safety.

ATEX Equipment Directive
CE conformity assessment interface
Ignition source assessment
Technical file support
Operator perspective

DSEAR and ATEX workplace assessment for hazardous operations.

For operators and site duty holders, hazardous area classification supports explosion protection strategy, equipment selection, ignition control, work procedures and workplace risk management under the ATEX Workplace Directive or DSEAR in the UK.

ATEX Workplace Directive
DSEAR assessment
Hazardous area zoning
Explosion protection documentation
Hazardous area classification drawing for a plant
Hazardous area classification

Clear zoning decisions supported by engineering reasoning.

Hazardous area classification defines where explosive atmospheres may occur, how often they may be present and what controls are needed around ignition sources, equipment selection and operational safety.

ExConform applies IEC 60079-10 Part 1 and Part 2 where appropriate, while also developing practical, site-specific or equipment-specific solutions where the standard does not provide sufficient or practicable guidance.

Gas and vapour zones
Dust hazardous areas
Release source review
Ventilation effectiveness
Assessment deliverables

Practical outputs for design, compliance and site safety decisions.

The outcome is not only a drawing. A defensible ATEX or DSEAR assessment should explain the technical reasoning, assumptions, limitations and actions needed to manage explosion risk.

Compressor vent hazardous area classification drawing
Classification drawings

Hazardous area zoning drawings

Zone extents, release locations, ventilation assumptions and layout-specific classification outputs for plant, packages, skids and process equipment.

Compressor vent hazardous area classification drawing detail
Explosion safety

Ignition risk and equipment suitability

Review of potential ignition sources, equipment suitability, surface temperature considerations and controls for hazardous areas.

Hazardous area classification chart
Technical justification

Documented assumptions and basis of safety

Clear explanation of release grades, ventilation conditions, material properties, zoning rationale and practical recommendations.

ATEX hazardous area classification chart
Standards and engineering judgement

IEC 60079-10 is applied carefully — not mechanically.

IEC 60079-10-1 and IEC 60079-10-2 provide important methods for classifying hazardous areas involving explosive gas atmospheres and combustible dust atmospheres. However, real industrial situations often involve complex releases, unusual ventilation conditions, confined arrangements or package-specific geometry.

Where standard examples are insufficient or impracticable, ExConform develops engineering-led solutions based on the release scenario, material behaviour, ventilation, operating conditions and risk control objectives.

IEC 60079-10-1 gas and vapour zoning
IEC 60079-10-2 dust zoning
Site-specific zoning rationale
Practical risk reduction recommendations
Assessment route

A structured route from hazardous material to defensible zoning.

ExConform follows a transparent assessment route that links materials, releases, ventilation and ignition controls to practical ATEX or DSEAR decisions.

01

Define scope

Identify equipment, workplace boundaries, hazardous materials, operating modes and assessment responsibilities.

02

Identify releases

Review release sources, grades of release, frequency, duration, pressure, flow and process conditions.

03

Assess ventilation

Consider indoor, outdoor, local, forced or natural ventilation and its effect on dilution and persistence.

04

Classify zones

Apply IEC 60079-10 methods, engineering judgement and modelling where required to define zone extent.

05

Document actions

Provide drawings, assumptions, recommendations and practical controls for equipment selection and risk reduction.

Dispersion modelling

Modelling support where simple zoning assumptions are not enough.

Some releases cannot be assessed confidently using generic distances or tabulated examples alone. ExConform provides dispersion modelling support to understand gas, vapour or dust cloud behaviour in more complex arrangements.

Compressor vent dispersion and hazardous area assessment
Release behaviour

Dispersion modelling for vents, leaks and releases.

Modelling can support decisions around zone extent, ventilation assumptions, dilution, gas cloud behaviour, credible release scenarios and the adequacy of proposed safeguards.

Compressor vent hazardous area classification model
Practical decisions

Engineering evidence for non-standard arrangements.

For compact equipment packages, compressor vents, enclosed modules, unusual layouts or congested plant areas, modelling can provide a stronger basis for hazardous area classification and risk reduction.

Typical support areas

ATEX and DSEAR support for hazardous systems and industrial equipment.

ExConform supports assessments for both new equipment and existing installations where explosion risk must be identified, justified and controlled.

Equipment and packages

Manufacturers, OEMs and packaged equipment suppliers.

Support for equipment intended for hazardous areas, packages that may create hazardous areas, machinery with flammable fluids, compressor packages, vents, skids and process modules.

Equipment category review
Ignition source assessment
Conformity documentation
Interface with machinery CE marking
Sites and workplaces

Operators, duty holders and hazardous workplaces.

Support for process areas, storage, transfer operations, ventilation arrangements, maintenance activities, hazardous substances and existing site zoning documentation.

DSEAR risk assessment support
Explosion protection documents
Equipment suitability review
Practical improvement actions
ExConform logo
ATEX / DSEAR consultation

Need a defensible hazardous area classification or explosion safety assessment?

Discuss your ATEX equipment assessment, DSEAR workplace assessment, hazardous area classification, IEC 60079-10 zoning challenge or dispersion modelling requirement with ExConform.

Typical topics ATEX · DSEAR · IEC 60079-10 · HAC · Zoning · Dispersion modelling
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