ATEX rating

[duncanelliot]

Hi there,

I am trying to find out more about EN 50014:1997 (electrical apparatus for potentially explosive atmospheres –Also know as ATEX) and more specifically its application to the tunnel environment.

Essentially I would like to know what ATEX rating (zones 0,1 or 2)would a cable tunnel located in London would fall under.

Many thanks,

 

[kchayfie]

You will need to know more information before a zone rating can be applied to the tunnel, for example:

what sources are present that have the potential to cause an explosive atmosphere? e.g. sewers, methane in the ground that could build up (like it does in mines), etc.

what kind of ventilation will you have in the tunnel? will there be cooling fans that would produce dozens of air changes per hour or perhaps the tunnel is only open at each end and the air will pretty much sit in there and stagnate?

Once you know where the explosive atmosphere can come from and how long it is likely to be hanging around, you can assess how likely you are to have an explosive atmosphere and you can assign the correct zone.