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ATEX 2G/2D Certification for EKO.HY Hygienic Enclosures

28 October 2024
ATEX 2G/2D Certification for EKO.HY Hygienic Enclosures

Safety and hygiene guaranteed by IRINOX

We are proud to announce an important new certification for the stainless steel EKO.HY hygienic enclosures: ATEX 2G/2D Certification, which guarantees maximum safety for use in environments with potentially explosive atmospheres.

This certification is now available for all configurations of this model with dimensions up to W=1000 H=1100 D=450.
 

Versatile and Customisable Applications

Thanks to the flexibility of configuration, EKO.HY enclosures can be customised to each customer's specific needs, always guaranteeing maximum safety and hygiene.

With the new ATEX 2G/2D certification, EKO.HY enclosures are now even more suitable foruse in highly regulated industries with stringent safety requirements.

What is the difference between G and D in ATEX certification?

ATEX (ATmosphères EXplosibles) certification is a basic requirement for all electrical and mechanical equipment used in environments with potentially explosive atmospheres, such as chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries, and facilities where combustible gases, vapours, dust or fibres are present.

Type of atmosphere / Risk level

ATEX certifications are divided according to two main elements:

  1. ​Type of explosive atmosphere
  • Gases (G)
  • Dusts(D)

2. Risk level: Risk zones are divided according to the frequency and duration of the presence of explosive atmospheres.

Zones for Gases (G)
  • Zone 0: Explosive atmosphere always or for long periods (gases present > 1000 hours/year).
  • Zone 1: Explosive atmosphere probable during normal operation (gases present between 10 and 1000 hours/year).
  • Zone 2: Explosive atmosphere unlikely, and only for short periods (gases present < 10 hours/year).
Zones for Dust (D)
  • Zone 20: Explosive atmosphere always or for long periods (dust present > 1000 hours/year).
  • Zone 21: Explosive atmosphere likely to occur during normal operation (dust present between 10 and 1000 hours/year).
  • Zone 22: Explosive atmosphere unlikely and only for short periods (dust present < 10 hours/year).

Differences between ATEX Categories 2G/2D and 3G/3D

ATEX 2G/2D Certification
  • 2G and 2D indicate that the equipment is designed to operate in Zone 1 (gas) and Zone 21 (dust), where the presence of explosive atmospheres is likely during normal operation.
  • Level of protection: This is higher than in category 3G/3D, as this equipment must also guarantee greater safety in the event of a fault. They are suitable for situations where an explosive atmosphere is present more frequently and with greater risk.
  • Design: 2G/2D equipment must be designed to avoid sparks, dangerous surface temperatures and failures that could trigger an explosion.
ATEX 3G/3D Certification
  • 3G and 3D indicate equipment intended for operation in Zone 2 (gas) and Zone 22 (dust), where the presence of explosive atmospheres is unlikely and only for short periods.
  • Level of protection: This is lower than category 2G/2D. 3G/3D equipment offers basic protection for rare or occasional explosive atmospheres. They are only considered safe under normal operating conditions and are suitable for lower risk environments.
  • Design: Protection is sufficient to prevent explosion initiation in normal situations, but advanced protection is not required in case of failure or malfunction.

When to choose 2G/2D or 3G/3D?

ATEX 2G/2D

To be chosen when the working environment has frequent or probable explosive atmospheres (Zones 1 and 21), such as in chemical, pharmaceutical and petrochemical plants.

Discover IRINOX solutions for the Pharma sector!

This level of certification ensures that equipment is safe even in situations where the risk of explosion is relatively high or during breakdowns.

 

ATEX 3G/3D

Suitable for less critical applications, in areas where explosive atmospheres only occur under abnormal conditions (Zones 2 and 22), such as in some storage areas, wood processing plants or mills where dust is only present under certain conditions.

To sum up

The choice between ATEX 2G/2D and 3G/3D depends on the level of risk in the working environment. For environments with a high probability of explosive atmospheres, 2G/2D certification provides a higher level of safety and reliability, as offered by IRINOX's EKO.HY stainless steel hygienic enclosures.

For less risky environments, 3G/3D is an efficient and compliant solution.IRINOX, with its ATEX 2G/2D certification offer, confirms its commitment to providing safe, reliable and customised solutions, ideal for the most demanding sectors.