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ATEX-CERTIFIED VENTILATION SOLUTIONS
Safely extract solvent fumes and fine particles
We can supply fans for potentially explosive atmospheres to maintain safety in hazardous conditions
ATEX environments can be found in places where work activities create or release flammable gases or vapours, such as vehicle paint spraying, or in workplaces handling fine organic dusts such as grain flour or wood. If there is enough of the substance mixed with air, then all it needs is a source of ignition to cause an explosion. An ATEX-Certified Fan can help mitigate the risks by safely extracting air contaminated by fumes or particles from the workplace.
ATEX is short for the French term ‘Atmosphères Explosibles’ and is the name commonly given to the two European Directives for controlling explosive atmospheres:
You can see more detail on what ATEX is and what it means here.
We ensure that our products meet the essential health and safety requirements of the ATEX Directive and undergo the appropriate conformity assessment procedures. Compliance is demonstrated through internal assessment and documented within a technical file, which is lodged with an independent third-party body. At Woods we use CSA Group Testing Limited (formerly Sira NB 0518). Once certified, the equipment is marked by the 'EX' symbol to identify it as such. The fan is also labelled clearly to advise what it is suitable for.
ATEX-Certified Fans can be roughly split into two types:
1) Standard designs – our ATEX-certified fans carry our certification, and we can advise you as to whether they are suitable for your application.
2) Configured or bespoke design – you need to tell us the required category; we’ll design and build a fan to meet your needs and get it certified.
ATEX Certification ensures that the fan or any other equipment or protective system is fit for its intended purpose and that adequate information is supplied with it to ensure that it can be used safely.
By adding special features to our JM Axial range, we can offer a range of standard ATEX-Certified fans.
These features include an ATEX motor with additional insulation around the terminals, an ATEX duct-mounted terminal box with ATEX glands and conduits, and a spark-minimising track and wider tip gap. We also use two rotor fixings so that should one fail, the impeller won’t hit the casing and cause a spark.
Our standard ATEX-compliant JM fans are suitable for:
For Gas Group IIC and Dust Group IIIC, and for temperature classes T5 and T6, a bespoke solution would be required but that can be quoted for once we have the environment details.
Unfortunately, we cannot supply fans for:
It should also be noted that the larger terminal box and wider gap between the impeller and the case, reduce the efficacy of the fan; it is likely that you’ll need a larger fan to achieve the level of volume and pressure required.
All fans require regular servicing to ensure optimum performance, and those operating in explosive atmospheres require particularly careful maintenance. Fans must be kept free from everyday dust and debris, as well as regularly cleaned of the chemicals, dusts or fibres they are designed to extract. Maintenance and inspection should always be carried out in accordance with the instructions provided in the ATEX Operation & Maintenance (O&M) manual.
Our Service Department can arrange one-off visits or provide a maintenance contract to help ensure your fan continues to operate safely and efficiently.
If you would like to discuss ATEX fans for your workplace or arrange a service visit, get in touch.
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