Directive 94/9/EC (ATEX)
From 1 July 2003, devices and protective systems sold for use in hazardous areas with explosive atmospheres must be approved in accordance with the EU Directive 94/9/EC. This Directive harmonises the various requirements formerly applicable within the EU with the aim of achieving a uniform level of safety and removing barriers to trade.
Directive 94/9/EC also supplements earlier directives. One particular innovation of the directive is that non-electrical devices such as pneumatic drives now also have to be approved.
Today, you will be able to choose from 7,700 Festo products which are certified for the various explosion-protection categories. More will follow. We are working on this with maximum effort.
For detailed information about ATEX and the implementation of a Festo product range co-ordinated with it, see the brochure Pneumatics and explosion protection