ATEX Zone 21 in the Mixing Room. Permitted Equipment and Procedure in 6 Seconds.
ATEX zone classification (0/1/2 for gas, 20/21/22 for dust), the permitted equipment category, required PPE and safe work procedures: IgeraIndustria makes them instantly queryable from anywhere in your facility. No searching through the DSIE. No waiting for the EHS technician.
The hidden risk of poorly managed ATEX zones
ATEX regulation is technically complex and affects many diverse sectors: food, chemicals, textiles, wood, paper, pharmaceuticals and energy. The consequences of non-compliance range from maximum fines to criminal liability.
Up to €819,780
maximum LPRL penalty for very serious infringement in an ATEX installation (RD 144/2016)
Zone 20/21/22
(dust) most common in food, chemicals, textiles, paper and wood industries
Mandatory review
of the Explosion Protection Document (DSIE) every 3 years or after modifications
68% of companies
with ATEX zones have no documented safe work procedures per zone (industry estimate)
The problem is not a lack of willingness to comply: it is the accessibility of information. The on-site technician does not have time to search through the DSIE every time they need to know whether they can use a tool, which PPE to wear, or how to proceed before a maintenance intervention. IgeraIndustria puts all that information in every worker's pocket.
Instant ATEX query by zone and equipment
IgeraIndustria indexes your DSIE, zone maps, ATEX equipment register and work procedures to answer any query in real time.
Zone classification (0/1/2 and 20/21/22)
Query which ATEX zone applies to each area of your installation: type of explosive atmosphere (gas/vapour or dust), frequency of presence and geographic boundaries of the zone according to your DSIE and classification drawings.
Permitted equipment category per zone
Zone 0 or 20: Category 1 only (G or D). Zone 1 or 21: Category 1 or 2. Zone 2 or 22: Category 1, 2 or 3. IgeraIndustria answers what ATEX marking each piece of equipment you want to install or use must carry in each zone.
PPE required for work in ATEX zones
Antistatic clothing, conductive footwear, dielectric gloves, non-sparking tools: IgeraIndustria indicates the mandatory PPE for each zone according to your work procedure and RD 681/2003.
Safe work procedure for the zone
Before any intervention in an ATEX zone: hot work permit, verification of absence of explosive atmosphere, equipment lockout/tagout and evacuation procedure. IgeraIndustria retrieves the specific procedure for your installation.
DSIE verification (Explosion Protection Document)
Query the review status of the DSIE, the latest recorded modifications, which zones have been reviewed and which are pending update due to process or installation changes.
Applicable regulation by sector
Food (flour, sugar, cocoa), wood (sawmills, boards), textiles (fibres), pharmaceutical (powdered excipients), paper: each sector has particularities in the dust group (IIIA, IIIB, IIIC) and ignition temperature.
Fully indexed ATEX document management
ATEX compliance is not just about classifying zones: it means maintaining living, queryable documentation that demonstrates risk control to any Labour Inspectorate inspection or internal audit.
DSIE updated with zone drawings
The Explosion Protection Document (mandatory since RD 681/2003) with zone classification drawings, the inventory of ignition sources and the protection measures implemented, all indexed and queryable.
ATEX equipment register (certificates per unit)
Every piece of equipment located in an ATEX zone must have its ATEX conformity certificate registered. IgeraIndustria indexes the equipment register: model, ATEX marking, assigned zone, category and next periodic inspection.
Safe work procedures per zone
Written safe work procedures for interventions in each ATEX zone: hot work permit (PT-08), confined space access procedure for ATEX areas, ATEX equipment maintenance protocol.
Preventive maintenance plan for ATEX equipment
ATEX equipment requires specific maintenance to ensure the protection type remains effective: seal checks, enclosure integrity, casing condition and earth continuity verification.
Mandatory worker training (RD 681/2003)
Record of the specific ATEX training received by each worker accessing classified zones: date, training content, instructor and next renewal. Required at any Labour Inspectorate inspection.
Periodic inspection register
Electrical installations in ATEX zones require periodic inspections under the REBT and EN 60079-17. IgeraIndustria manages the inspection calendar and the history of results by area and equipment.
Complete ATEX regulatory framework
ATEX regulation is built on four main standards that IgeraIndustria has pre-indexed from day one, with no need for the customer to upload anything.
ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU — Equipment
Directive on equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Defines equipment categories (1, 2 and 3 for groups II Gas and II Dust), conformity assessment procedures and the essential health and safety requirements in Annex II. Mandatory for any manufacturer placing equipment for ATEX zones on the EU market.
RD 144/2016 — Transposition of ATEX equipment
Royal Decree 144/2016 transposing Directive 2014/34/EU into Spanish law. Establishes the penalty regime applicable in Spain for non-compliance in the placing on the market of ATEX equipment, recognised notified bodies and market surveillance procedures.
RD 681/2003 — Protection of workers
Royal Decree 681/2003 on the protection of the health and safety of workers exposed to risks from explosive atmospheres. Transposes Directive 1999/92/EC. Requires zone classification, preparation of the DSIE, worker training and coordination between concurrent companies in ATEX zones.
EN 60079 / EN 61241 — Zone classification
Technical standards for zone classification: EN 60079-10-1 for gas/vapour and EN 61241-10 for flammable dust. Complemented by EN 60079-17 (verification and inspection of electrical installations in ATEX zones) and EN 13463-1 (non-electrical equipment in explosive atmospheres).
How IgeraIndustria works for ATEX
Five steps from loading the DSIE to an instant on-site answer about which equipment is permitted in your ATEX Zone 21.
You index your DSIE and ATEX documentation
Upload the Explosion Protection Document, zone classification drawings, the ATEX equipment register, conformity certificates and safe work procedures by zone. IgeraIndustria processes and structures them by zone, equipment and regulation.
You connect the widget to your intranet or EHS system
Integration of a single line of code into your prevention portal, intranet or as a WhatsApp bot for on-site technicians. Workers can query from their phone while standing in front of the equipment to be worked on.
You query in plain language about the zone
“Can I use this angle grinder in the mixing room (Zone 21)?”, “What PPE do I need to enter Zone 20?”, “What is the maintenance procedure for the flour conveyor belt motor?”
Answer with exact citation to the DSIE and the regulation
IgeraIndustria answers indicating which equipment category is valid for that zone, the applicable work procedure according to your DSIE and the regulatory reference (RD 681/2003, EN 61241-10) that underpins the answer.
DSIE review and maintenance alerts
IgeraIndustria alerts when the DSIE is approaching its review deadline, when a registered ATEX equipment item has a pending periodic inspection, or when a process change may affect the existing zone classification.
IgeraIndustria in action — ATEX Zone 21 wood dust query
Query on which vacuum cleaner is permitted in Zone 21 (wood dust), answered with exact reference to the standard and the installation's DSIE.
Maintenance Technician
Zone 21 (dry wood dust), maximum surface temperature 200°C. Which vacuum cleaner can I use?
IgeraIndustria
DSIE Installation — Zone 21, Sanding Room — EN 61241-10
ZONE 21: Dust cloud present occasionally under normal operation
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT CATEGORY: Cat. 2D (use in Zone 21)
MAXIMUM SURFACE TEMPERATURE: T125°C (Group IIIA — non-conductive combustible dusts)
Compatible vacuum: must carry 〈Ex〉 II 2D marking with T≤125°C
Verified compatible refs: Ruwac NA2/90 Ex · Nilfisk IVB3 Ex · Kärcher NT 70/3 ATEX
⚠ Standard vacuum (no ATEX marking): PROHIBITED in Zone 21
Work procedure: see PT-ATEX-007, verify zone clear of dust before connecting
✓ EN 61241-10 · DSIE Rev.3 (2024-01) · Confidence: 99.1%
3
ATEX Zone 21 areas (wood dust)
45
ATEX-certified equipment units
0
incidents in 4 years — 2 Labour Inspectorate audits passed
We have three ATEX Zone 21 areas in the sawmill and sanding room. With 45 certified units and several external maintenance teams, the most frequent question was always the same: “can I use this equipment here?”. Before IgeraIndustria, we depended on someone from the EHS team being available to look it up in the DSIE. Now any technician —including contractors— gets the answer in seconds from their phone. Four years without any ATEX incident and two Labour Inspectorate audits passed with all documentary evidence in order.
*Representative testimonial based on results from real customers
Frequently asked questions — ATEX and explosive atmospheres
How do I classify whether a zone is 20, 21 or 22?
Zone classification for flammable dust clouds is based on the frequency and duration of the presence of the explosive cloud. Zone 20: dust cloud present continuously, frequently or for prolonged periods during normal operation (e.g. inside silos, hoppers, conveyors). Zone 21: dust cloud present occasionally under normal operating conditions (e.g. discharge areas, surroundings of filling equipment). Zone 22: dust cloud not present under normal conditions, or only briefly (e.g. areas adjacent to Zone 21 where accidental spillage may occur). The reference standard for classification is EN 61241-10 (dust) and EN 60079-10-1 (gas).
How often must I review the DSIE (Explosion Protection Document)?
The Explosion Safety Document (DSIE) must be reviewed whenever substantial modifications occur to the workplace, processes or equipment that may affect explosion risks. In addition, recommended practice under RD 681/2003 and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work guidelines is to review the DSIE periodically at a maximum interval of 3 years even if no changes have occurred, to ensure it reflects the current state of the installation and advances in technical knowledge.
What happens if I install non-ATEX equipment in a classified zone?
Installing equipment without ATEX certification in a classified zone is a very serious infringement of RD 144/2016 and RD 681/2003. The consequences are: (1) Administrative penalty: up to €819,780 for a very serious infringement under the LPRL. (2) Criminal liability in the event of an accident (Articles 316-317 of the Criminal Code for offences against worker safety). (3) Invalidation of public liability insurance if the incident arises from regulatory non-compliance. (4) Precautionary suspension of activity by the Labour Inspectorate. ATEX equipment must carry the 〈Ex〉 marking with the correct category for the zone.
Who can perform ATEX zone classification?
ATEX zone classification must be carried out by a person or team with specific technical knowledge in the field: specialist prevention technicians, engineers with ATEX training or companies specialised in industrial safety. There is no mandatory official qualification for the classifier in Spain, but the result of the classification must be documented in the DSIE with identification of the responsible technician. For Seveso installations or high-risk sites, it is recommended that classification be performed or validated by an authorised inspection body (OCA).
Do I need specific training to work in ATEX zones?
Yes. RD 681/2003 (transposing Directive 1999/92/EC) establishes that workers carrying out activities in areas with explosion risk must receive sufficient training and information on: the specific hazards of their work zone, the content of the DSIE applicable to their area, the equipment and tools permitted in each zone, safe working procedures (hot work permits, maintenance procedures) and evacuation plans in the event of an emergency. Training must be documented and renewed periodically.
Does ATEX affect electrical installations as well as equipment?
Yes, and it is one of the most critical aspects. All electrical installations (panels, cables, junction boxes, motors, luminaires, instrumentation) located in ATEX zones or passing through them must be ATEX-rated or adequately protected. Types of electrical protection for gas zones include: Ex d (flameproof enclosure), Ex e (increased safety), Ex ia/ib (intrinsic safety) and Ex p (internal pressurisation). For dust: Ex tD (enclosure protection against dust). The electrical installation must be verified by an authorised installer with ATEX qualification under the Low Voltage Electrotechnical Regulations (REBT).
IgeraIndustria Plans — ATEX and Explosive Atmospheres
No commitment. Cancel any time.
Starter
For installations with few ATEX zones and basic documentary query needs for equipment and procedures.
- Up to 3 ATEX zones indexed
- ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU + RD 681/2003
- Basic DSIE indexed
- 500 queries/month
- Equipment register up to 20 units
- Email support
Professional
For industrial installations with multiple ATEX zones, dozens of certified equipment units and external maintenance personnel.
- Up to 15 ATEX zones indexed
- DSIE + drawings + procedures indexed
- Unlimited equipment register
- DSIE review and maintenance alerts
- 3,000 queries/month
- Priority support
Enterprise
For industrial groups with multiple installations, hundreds of ATEX equipment units and contractor and business activity coordination management.
- Unlimited ATEX zones
- Multi-plant and multi-installation
- CMMS/ERP integration
- Unlimited queries
- 99.9% uptime SLA
- Dedicated customer success
Make your ATEX documentation queryable from any mobile device. Start today.
- 14-day free trial — no credit card required
- ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU and RD 681/2003 pre-indexed from day 1
- Upload your DSIE, zone drawings and equipment register
- DSIE review and ATEX equipment maintenance alerts