CE and ATEX Assessment of a Blower System for Plastic Granulate Conveying
A side channel blower used for plastic granulate conveying may look like a standard machine. However, the real application can introduce additional CE, safety engineering and process safety questions.
The Practical Situation
A manufacturer or plant integrator supplies a blower system for plastic granulate conveying. The system may include a side channel blower, electric motor, frequency converter, filter, silencer, pipework, sensors, control cabinet and grounding connections.
Depending on the exact delivery scope, the conformity route may change. A single blower with motor is usually easier to assess than a complete conveying system with controls, sensors, filters and process interfaces.
Complete Machine or Partly Completed Machinery?
A side channel blower with motor that can generate airflow or vacuum will often be considered a complete machine. It can perform its intended function independently.
If only a blower stage is supplied without motor or drive system, it may be more realistic to assess it as partly completed machinery. The important principle is that functionality decides — not the fact that the blower will later be installed into a larger system.
CE Compliance
For a standard blower used in plastic granulate conveying, machinery safety is usually the starting point. The assessment should consider rotating parts, access during maintenance, hot surfaces, noise, safe installation and correct user information.
If a frequency converter, sensor system or electronic control is used, EMC becomes important. Cable lengths, grounding, shielding, filters and installation conditions should be clearly defined.
- Machinery classification and intended use
- Risk assessment and protective measures
- EMC and electrical safety review
- Operating instructions and warnings
- EU Declaration of Conformity or Declaration of Incorporation
- Technical documentation for the supplied scope
The ATEX Question
Plastic granulate itself is not automatically an ATEX issue. However, fine plastic dust can be generated during conveying, abrasion, filling, filtering or material handling.
The project team should ask whether dust can be generated, whether dust can accumulate, whether a dust-air mixture can become explosive, whether the blower is installed in a hazardous area and whether dusty air passes through the blower.
Internal and External ATEX
For blower systems, two different ATEX situations should be distinguished. External ATEX means the blower is installed in an area where an explosive atmosphere may occur outside the equipment, for example near a silo, filter unit or filling station.
Internal ATEX means an explosive atmosphere may exist inside the equipment, for example where dust-laden air passes through the blower or connected conveying system. These two cases are not the same and must be assessed separately.
CE Compliance
We assess product classification, applicable directives, technical documentation, manuals, declarations and CE marking strategy for the blower or complete conveying system.
Safety Engineering
We review guarding, emergency stop integration, safe access, lockout points, unexpected start-up prevention, filter blockage detection and safety-related control functions.
Process Safety
We assess dust explosion risk, electrostatic discharge, ignition sources, material build-up, abnormal operating scenarios and the interface with the wider production process.
Typical Mistakes
1. Assuming a standard blower is always simple. The blower may be standard, but the application may not be.
2. Ignoring plastic dust. Plastic granulate may generate fine dust, which can create explosion risks in certain conditions.
3. Assuming an ATEX motor is enough. The complete blower system must be assessed, not only the motor.
4. Treating EMC as a component issue only. A CE-marked frequency converter does not automatically guarantee EMC compliance of the complete installation.
5. Forgetting integration risks. Interfaces with filters, pipes, silos, valves and controls can create new hazards.
Recommended Assessment Approach
A practical assessment should define the exact delivery scope, determine whether the product is complete or partly completed machinery, identify applicable legislation, review mechanical and electrical risks, check whether dust can create an explosive atmosphere and distinguish internal ATEX from external ATEX.
The assessment should also review grounding, electrostatic risks, ignition sources, safety functions, customer instructions and the technical documentation required for the supplied scope.
Key Takeaway
A blower system for plastic granulate conveying may look like a simple machine, but the conformity route depends on the real application.
The crucial question is not only whether the blower has CE marking. The crucial question is whether the blower system has been assessed for its actual use, including machinery safety, EMC, electrical safety, dust, ATEX and process integration risks.
Need Support?
We support machine manufacturers, importers and plant integrators with CE conformity assessment, blower and compressor classification, complete vs. partly completed machinery review, ATEX relevance checks, dust explosion and process safety interface review, EMC and electrical safety documentation, functional safety review and delta assessment for modified or imported equipment.
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