ATEX 137 Directive

The ATEX 137 Directive is an important factor when carrying out a Risk Inventory & Evaluation (RI&E) at e.g. manufacturing companies or companies that process combustible substances. The ATEX 137 Directive has been mandatory since 1 July 2006.

ATEX 137 Directive

The ATEX 137 Directive’s official name is as follows:
Directive 1999/92/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1999 on minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres (15th individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC).

The ATEX 137 Directive is a continuation of the ATEX 95 Directive and applies to owners or users of equipment (employers). The explosion protection document (EPD) describes how to eliminate or control explosion risks; this document does not have to be verified by a core expert. The basic aim of the ATEX 137 Directive is to create the minimum safety level required in order to prevent the risk of explosion. Safety must be examined on the basis of all the steps in the process that are likely to take place at a company.

Obligations for employers under ATEX 137

  • Carrying out a risk assessment, including explosion risks
  • Compiling coordination procedures
  • Compiling a zoning plan
  • Compiling an explosion protection document (EPD)
  • Carrying out periodic inspections and instructions
  • Training everyone who comes into contact with areas where there is a risk of explosion, or who works in such  areas

 

Areas to which the ATEX 137 Directive does not apply

The ATEX 137 Directive does not apply to areas used for the medical treatment of patients, gas appliances (90/396/EC), explosives or chemically unstable substances, exploitation industries, and road, air and water transport. However, this directive does apply to all means of transport which are used at explosive locations.

D&F, your ATEX expert

D&F Consulting B.V. is an expert on ATEX and works for end users as well as for manufacturers of EX equipment. The practical application of ATEX legislation and regulations is one of our core activities; it’s not a service we provide ‘as an extra’. Thanks to many years of experience, we’re able to compare the pros and cons of the prescribed safety measures in order to arrive at the best possible solution.

D&F has an independent approach. And we’ve been able to achieve considerable cost savings in lots of different fields.

  • If you’d like to find out how D&F can be of service to you, please mail us at info@denf.nl.

Explosion protection training courses

  • ATEX 95 training course
  • ATEX 137 training course
  • ATEX Master Class: 8-day explosion protection training course

ATEX trilogy (free of charge)

  • TIP: Ask us to send you the free ATEX booklet on explosion protection (pocket size).
    Note: this handy booklet is only available in Dutch!