Q&A: Which ATEX facilities are possible on a mixer?
Which ATEX facilities are possible on a mixer?
The ATEX guidelines prescribe that motors and instruments comply with the correct ATEX zoning. Think of electric motors, valves, level detectors, safety switches, temperature reading of bearings and explosion panels.
The zoning that a mixer must meet is determined by the MIE of the product to be processed. The MIE is a measure of the minimum energy (mJ) required to ignite a mixture of a combustible material with air or oxygen. The MIE is determined using a standardized procedure and can be found in various tables. There are 3 different classifications for dust explosions, zone 20, 21 and 22. To determine which zone is applicable, the ATEX 153 guideline must be followed.