The European Directive 94/9/EC has been adopted in order to standardize explosion protection (Ex protection) throughout Europe. This directive regulates the requirements for the characteristics of explosion-proof equipment and protection systems. Since 1st of July 2003 it will only be permissible to market items of explosion-proof electrical and mechanical equipment in Germany and the other European countries if these items have been certified in accordance with the new regulations. The evaluation can only be performed by a test center that has been accredited and notified in Brussels specifically for the testing and certification of products in accordance with ATEX.

 

Baumer Hübner, Berlin, achieved ATEX 95 in September 2002 and is offering incremental encoders and tacho generators that fulfill the ATEX directive.

This means that system manufacturers can now make use of the new components that meet ATEX 95 and look to the future with confidence. A subsequent approval of the complete system has thus been made considerably simpler.