What is meant by potentially explosive atmosphere or ATEX?
What should be taken into account to make a selection of a fan for these types of applications?
Many installations in which we carry out harmless and totally normal activities at first glance, can pose a serious safety hazard since they
are potentially explosive areas.
When in a facility there is a machine such as a fan, a totally essential element for the renewal of air, the simple passage of air, dust or gas
through the fan can be a danger. These spaces or facilities are classified as EXplosive ATmospheres, hence the name of ATEX.
An explosive atmosphere is any mixture, under atmospheric conditions caused by the handling or storage activity, of air and flammable
substances in form of gas, steam or dust in which, after ignition, the unburned mixture is propagated.
Small particles coming from wheat flour, sugar, starch, cereals, milk powder in the food industry can be a danger because they have a
high explosive potential. Also the aluminum powder, brown coal, iron powder, wood dust, soot, sulfur have this same problem if they join the
Download guide about what is an ATEX environment and how to select a fan for explosive atmospheres.