ATEX/Explosion-Proof Compliance Pages on Changzhou Manufacturer Websites: How Should They Be Accepted?

Direct answer: ATEX is not "stick an Ex mark on it" or "an IECEx certificate is enough". The EU ATEX product directive 2014/34/EU covers equipment, protective systems and components intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. The core is: equipment group/category matching the Zone, the conformity route by category (categories 1/2 usually need a notified body; category 3 can self-declare), technical documentation/DoC/instructions, CE + Ex marking, and how customers/users select and maintain the equipment. A manufacturer's ATEX page should state which products are in scope, category/Zone, certificates/notified body, technical file, marking, instruction languages, changes and customer data. Otherwise, when an EU customer asks "what is the Ex certificate number, which Zone does the category match, is non-electrical equipment covered, can IECEx replace ATEX," the answer becomes an ad-hoc explanation.

This guide is for explosion-proof motor/electrical, chemical/pharma/oil-and-gas equipment, dust handling, fan/pump/valve, sensor and automation-integration manufacturers in Changzhou and nearby areas. It explains how to write and accept an ATEX page. Information is current to 2026-11-03. It is a review of public rules and project practice, not EU legal, explosion-protection certification, notified-body or site-safety advice; the specific scope, category, Zone, certificate and marking depend on the directive, the notified body, national rules and the user's site assessment.

How does the ATEX page relate to machinery, RoHS, WEEE, energy label and workplace ATEX?

The machinery page answers "machinery CE/technical file"; the RoHS/REACH page answers "material substances"; the WEEE page answers "EEE take-back"; the energy-label page answers "energy/EPREL"; the ATEX page answers "can the equipment be used in an explosive atmosphere, category/Zone, certificate/marking". Product ATEX (2014/34/EU) and workplace ATEX (1999/92/EC) are different: the former governs placing equipment on the market, the latter governs employer Zone classification/selection/management—neither replaces the other.

Common breakpoints: treating an IECEx certificate as ATEX; treating CE as "ATEX certification"; not knowing categories 1/2 need a notified body; missing non-electrical equipment (mechanical sparks/hot surfaces); category/Zone mismatch; certificate scope not covering the actual model; Ex marking missing group/temperature/EPL; instructions lacking explosion-protection installation/maintenance requirements; the supplier "guessing" the customer's Zone. A page that states scope, classification, route, documents, marking and red lines gives R&D, quality and export one playbook.

This page map is editorial; ATEX product duties follow Directive 2014/34/EU and the European Commission ATEX page.

Which products are in ATEX scope?

ATEX covers equipment, protective systems, components and control/adjusting devices intended for potentially explosive atmospheres, including electrical and non-electrical equipment: motors, luminaires, switches, sensors, instruments, fans, pumps, valves, actuators, control cabinets, dust handling and mechanical drives. The atmosphere may be gas/vapour/mist (G) or dust (D); the location may be mining (group I) or surface (group II). Non-electrical equipment can be in scope through sparks, hot surfaces, static or friction—electrical-only explosion protection is not enough.

Common misjudgements: judging only "has electricity"; treating dust environments as ordinary industrial; missing batteries/power supplies/sensors; accepting "the customer says Zone 1" without confirmation; selling a component separately without component documents; excluding non-electrical machinery (couplings/fans/valves). Scope must be decided per model/configuration/environment; the page can explain how the company assesses/supports, but must not classify the customer's site Zone.

This scope split is editorial; definitions, exclusions and component rules follow Articles 1/2 and the notified body/competent authority.

How do Zones and categories correspond?

Gas/vapour/mist: Zone 0 (continuous/long-term), Zone 1 (likely in normal operation), Zone 2 (unlikely/short-term); dust: Zone 20/21/22 for similar frequencies. Surface equipment (group II) category 1 applies to Zone 0/20, category 2 to Zone 1/21, category 3 to Zone 2/22; mining equipment uses group I (M1/M2). Higher category (1 is highest) means stricter requirements, but final selection also depends on the site assessment, gas/dust group, temperature class/EPL and protection type.

Common gaps: category 2 used in Zone 0; Zone 2 equipment sold into Zone 1; ignoring gas group (IIA/IIB/IIC) and temperature class (T1–T6); confusing dust cloud/dust layer temperatures; EPL (Ga/Gb/Gc/Da/Db/Dc) not matching the category; mixed categories in an assembly without explanation. The page can provide a category/Zone table, but must say "final selection is confirmed by the user's site assessment/notified body" and not make the selection for the customer.

This mapping is editorial; final selection also considers gas/dust group, temperature class/EPL, protection type and site assessment—follow the directive/standards/notified body.

How should the conformity route be chosen?

Surface group II: category 1/2 equipment usually requires a notified body (EU type-examination + production quality assurance/product verification etc.); category 3 can generally use internal production control (self-declaration), subject to the directive annex/certificate. Group I mining equipment has its own requirements. Components/protective systems may follow separate rules. Choosing the wrong route (self-declaring when a notified body is required) is high-risk; the body must be notified for ATEX (NANDO), and the certificate must cover the actual model/configuration.

Acceptance checks: product category/Zone; whether a notified body is required; body number/scope; certificate type/number/validity; quality-assurance mode; technical file; DoC; whether changes trigger re-assessment. Common gaps: category 1/2 with self-declaration only; a non-ATEX body; a certificate covering one model only; expired/suspended certificate; enclosure/circuit/software changes not assessed; treating an IECEx certificate as ATEX type-examination.

Routes follow the directive annexes, notified-body scope and NANDO; this is not certification advice.

What goes into the technical file, DoC and instructions?

The technical file must demonstrate compliance with the ATEX essential health and safety requirements: product description/drawings/circuits/structure, risk assessment (ignition sources/hot surfaces/static/mechanical sparks), applicable standards (EN 60079 series/EN ISO 80079 etc.), tests/calculations, Ex marking, instructions, quality-assurance records. The DoC states manufacturer/product/directive/standards/notified body (where applicable)/signature; instructions cover installation, use, maintenance, repair and special conditions (ambient temperature, gas/dust group, limits). Keep the file and provide it with the product/customer as required (the exact retention period follows the directive/national rules).

Common gaps: a technical file with only test reports; no ignition-source risk assessment; outdated standards; Ex marking inconsistent with the certificate; instructions missing "do not open while energized/special conditions/maintenance interval"; missing languages; DoC missing the notified body/standards; changes not updated. The website can say "DoC/certificate/instructions available on request", but must not publish a customer's/model's full technical file.

Technical file/DoC/instructions follow the directive annexes, applicable standards and notified-body opinion.

How should Ex marking and the nameplate be accepted?

The nameplate/marking usually includes CE, Ex symbol, equipment group/category (e.g. II 2 G), protection type (d/e/i/p etc.), gas/dust group (IIA/IIB/IIC, IIIA/IIIB/IIIC), temperature class (T1–T6) or dust temperature, EPL (Ga/Gb/Gc/Da/Db/Dc), manufacturer/model/serial, notified-body number (where applicable), special-condition symbol/warning. Marking must match the certificate/technical file/DoC; CE alone or "Ex" alone is not enough. IECEx marking does not replace ATEX marking.

Acceptance checks: content/order/legibility/durability; nameplate model matches the certificate; temperature class/EPL matches the environment; notified-body number; special conditions ("for use only..."); multilingual instructions; tamper warning. Common gaps: missing group/temperature class; CE/Ex mixed up; old certificate marking; nameplate too small/peeling; market versions mixed; IECEx logo treated as ATEX.

Marking follows the directive, applicable standards and notified-body certificate; exact format/order is confirmed per product.

How should the notified-body certificate and quality assurance be accepted?

Check whether the body is notified for ATEX (NANDO), the certificate type (EU type-examination/quality assurance), certificate number/version/validity, covered models/configurations, applied standards/versions and special conditions; whether the quality-assurance mode covers the factory/production line; whether changes/suspension/withdrawal affect shipments. A certificate is not "permanently valid": standards revisions/design changes/factory transfers may require re-assessment.

Common gaps: the body is not notified for the scope; the certificate covers only a prototype; certificate model≠production nameplate; QA audit expired; factory transfer not notified; standards revision not assessed; shipping during suspension; treating a test report as a certificate. The website can say "EU type-examination by body X (number)", but must state the scope/number/validity—not just a logo.

Certificate/QA acceptance follows the notified-body certificate, NANDO and directive annexes; this is not certification advice.

Which ATEX data will customers ask suppliers for?

EU customers/users typically ask for: model/configuration; equipment group/category; Zone suitability; protection type; gas/dust group; temperature class/EPL; Ex certificate/notified body/number; DoC; technical-file summary; instructions (language); nameplate/Ex marking photo; special conditions; maintenance/inspection requirements; change notification. The data must map to a specific model/certificate, not a company-wide "explosion-proof statement".

Deliver an "ATEX data pack": cover (manufacturer/date/version/contact) + model list + category/Zone/Ex parameters + certificate/DoC + technical-file index + instructions + nameplate photo + special conditions + change log. What customers fear most is "the certificate model does not match, the Zone is wrong, the temperature class is missing, and the instructions lack explosion-protection maintenance." Define versioning and update triggers (design/standards/factory/certificate changes).

This data list is editorial; specific fields/formats follow the customer contract, certificate and competent-authority requirements.

How should the website ATEX page be written?

A public page should include: applicable products/categories; Zone mapping; electrical/non-electrical scope; conformity route (categories 1/2 notified body, 3 self-declaration); certificate/notified body; Ex marking explanation; technical file/DoC/instructions; special conditions; customer data request; change/version; contact. Write verifiably: state model/category/Zone/Ex parameters/certificate number; do not just show an Ex logo or "ATEX certified".

Separate "public information" from "customer documents": certificates/technical files/DoCs are provided per customer/contract, while the public page explains coverage and process; do not publish customer site Zone/process information. If supplying a machine builder, state that the company supports with component/certificate data and do not claim the whole machine is certified. Multilingual pages should match sales countries; do not use "ATEX certification" instead of "directive conformity assessment".

This page structure is editorial; external claims must be truthful and verifiable, per the directive, certificate, customer contract and competent authority.

What must not be written?

High-risk claims: "ATEX certificate" (ATEX is a directive conformity assessment, not a single certification; certificates are issued by notified bodies under a mode); "IECEx = ATEX" (international scheme, not EU law); "CE = ATEX" (also needs Ex marking/category/certificate); "category 3 needs a notified body" (generally self-declaration, subject to the directive); "all products are explosion-proof" (scope/category); "the certificate covers all models"; "the supplier selects the customer's Zone" (site assessment is the user's responsibility); "lifetime validity" (standards/design/factory changes require re-assessment). These are inaccurate or misstate responsibility.

Safer wording: "compliant with 2014/34/EU, category II 2 G, Ex d IIB T4 Gb"; "EU type-examination by body X (number)"; "technical file/DoC/instructions available on request". External promotion must also comply with advertising/fair-competition law; customer names/cases need authorisation.

These red lines are editorial; whether a claim is false advertising/non-compliant is determined by regulators and the contract, and this is not legal/certification advice.

Go-live acceptance checklist

Ten checks: scope/category, Zone mapping, conformity route, certificate/notified body, technical file/DoC, Ex marking, instructions/special conditions, customer data pack, page wording, and version/changes. Each needs an owner, evidence and review date. The pass condition is not "the page has an Ex logo", but that a customer can see which Zone the model is for, the category/Ex parameters, the certificate scope and what is still missing.

Before go-live, run one real model through: scope → category/Zone → route → certificate → technical file/DoC → marking → instructions → customer data pack → page wording. Any step that fails is a gap in the page or the process.

This checklist is editorial; specific compliance requirements follow the directive, notified body, standards and competent authority.

Who should read this, who should not, and what decisions does it support?

It suits manufacturers in Changzhou and nearby areas that export explosion-proof motors/electrical, chemical/pharma/oil-and-gas equipment, dust handling, fans/pumps/valves, sensors and automation-integration products to the EU. It also suits R&D, quality, export, legal and website teams assessing an ATEX page. It does not suit businesses that do not sell to the EU, whose products are not for explosive atmospheres, or want one page to replace certification/site assessment.

Read it if an EU customer is pressing for Ex certificates/DoC/Zone selection; you are launching a new model/market; you are building or revising a website ATEX page; or you need to separate machinery, RoHS, WEEE, energy label and ATEX. Skip it if you treat IECEx as ATEX, CE as everything, or select the customer's Zone. It supports self-review of scope, Zone, route, certificate, documents, marking, data pack and page wording.

This role split is editorial; specific duties follow the R&D/quality/compliance/export policy.

FAQ

What is the difference between ATEX and IECEx?

ATEX is the EU product directive 2014/34/EU for CE/Ex marking and EU market access; IECEx is an international IEC explosion-protection certification scheme, not EU law. An IECEx certificate can support the technical evidence but cannot replace ATEX conformity assessment/CE/Ex marking; the standards/marking systems also differ.

How do categories 1/2/3 map to Zones 0/1/2 and 20/21/22?

Surface group II: category 1 applies to Zone 0/20, category 2 to Zone 1/21, category 3 to Zone 2/22; mining uses group I (M1/M2). Final selection also considers gas/dust group, temperature class/EPL, protection type and site assessment—not category alone.

Which categories require a notified body?

Category 1/2 equipment usually requires a notified body (EU type-examination + quality assurance/product verification etc.); category 3 can generally use internal production control/self-declaration. Follow the directive annexes, product type and notified-body opinion; the body must be notified for ATEX (NANDO).

Is non-electrical equipment covered by ATEX?

Yes. ATEX covers electrical and non-electrical equipment; fans, pumps, valves, drives and dust handling can be ignition sources through sparks, hot surfaces, static or friction. Electrical-only explosion protection is not enough; non-electrical parts also need assessment/documents/marking where applicable.

Does CE mean ATEX?

No. CE is a conformity mark under applicable law; ATEX also requires Ex marking, equipment group/category, protection type, gas/dust group, temperature class/EPL, technical file, DoC and instructions. CE without Ex parameters does not prove suitability for an explosive atmosphere.

How long are certificates/technical files kept, and what about changes?

Keep the technical file/DoC as required by the directive/national rules; when design, structure, circuits, software, standards versions or factory/line change, assess whether retesting/re-notified-body review/certificate update is needed. Do not assume a certificate is valid forever, and do not ship while it is suspended/expired.

One-sentence takeaway

A Changzhou manufacturer's ATEX page should not be "an Ex logo". It should turn scope/category, Zone mapping, notified-body route, certificate/technical file, Ex marking, instruction special conditions and the customer data pack into a verifiable checklist—so a customer can see which Zone the model is for, what the certificate covers and what is still missing.

Method and limitations

This is a review of public rules and project practice, not an audit or legal opinion on any company's product, explosion-protection certification, notified body or site Zone. No undisclosed customer certificates, technical files or site information were used. Scope, category, route, marking and acceptance items are editorial suggestions, not certification/legal conclusions. Specific scope, category, Zone, certificate and marking depend on the directive, notified body, national rules and the user's site assessment.

Sources and scope

Information is current to 2026-11-03. The following are EU official/legal pages; their articles, annexes and standards control.

1. Directive 2014/34/EU on equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX), adopted 26 February 2014, OJ L 96, published 29 March 2014: EUR-Lex. Scope, categories, conformity assessment, technical file, DoC, CE/Ex marking.
2. European Commission, Equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX): European Commission. Application from 2016-04-20, scope, notified bodies and the "voluntary certificates" warning.
3. Directive 1999/92/EC on minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres: EUR-Lex. Workplace Zone classification/user duties, distinct from product ATEX.
4. European Commission, Harmonised standards — equipment for explosive atmospheres (ATEX): European Commission. EN 60079/EN ISO 80079 and other harmonised standards.