ATEX DIRECTIVE IMPACT ON MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OR COMPLIANCE OF FLAME ARRESTERS From the first of July 2003, all manufacturers, including those outside the European Union, who wish to sell flame arresters in any of the European member states will be required to conform to the ATEX Directive 94/9/EC. This directive defines a unified set of objectives for equipment and protective systems for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. And manufacturers must translate these into design, manufacturing and performance tests for their products. Flame arresters come within the definition of a protective system. The Old Approach Explosive Atmosphere Directive, which is currently still in force will cease to be so after the 30th June 2003. Where conformity with the Old Approach Explosive Atmosphere Directive was only voluntary, conformity with the ATEX Directive will be mandatory in all European Member States from the 1st July 2003 onwards. In addition, from the first of July 2003 all users will be required to conform to the ATEX 137 Workplace Directive. A transitional period of three years has been set to allow all existing users in all European member states to achieve conformity with this directive. Essentially this workplace directive requires users to properly classify their hazardous areas and ensure that equipment and protective systems used in these areas is fit for purpose and at least of an equivalent standard to that of equipment being produced under the ATEX Directive. Under the ATEX Directive manufacturers are permitted to use any standards since the use of standards remains voluntary. However in legal terms it is recommended that where a transposed harmonized European standard exists, this should be given preference. National Standards such as British or DIN Standards and International Standards such as IEC series of standards can be used IF it can be shown that these represent the latest state of the art or there is no European Standard. Under the new legislation, the standard that applies to flame arresters is EN ISO 16852, which sets a higher standard than previous National Standards and users and manufacturers alike are advised to use this standard. E-mail: qnet@ce-mark.com