Hazardous Area Classification (Hazardous Area Assessment)

A professionally executed hazardous area classification is the foundation of the safe and compliant operation of facilities where explosive atmospheres may occur. Exquintia performs hazardous area assessments in accordance with the ATEX Workplace Directive 1999/92/EC, the ATEX Equipment Directive 2014/34/EU, the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) for the United Kingdom, and internationally recognised standards including IEC 60079-10-1, IEC 60079-10-2, EN 1127-1, IEC 60079-14 and IEC 60079-17. These regulations and standards provide the technical framework for consistent, defensible and risk-based hazardous area classification.

Our hazardous area assessments are based on the actual operating conditions of each process. Emission sources, ventilation effectiveness, process conditions, material properties, operating temperatures, pressures and potential ignition sources are systematically evaluated. Where required, ventilation calculations, dispersion assessments and engineering evaluations are performed to establish technically justified hazardous area classifications that can be fully substantiated.

Every hazardous area classification is developed with practical implementation in mind. It provides the basis for Explosion Protection Documents (EPD), equipment selection, engineering design, inspections, audits and lifecycle management of hazardous installations. Our objective is not only regulatory compliance but also technically robust solutions that improve process safety, operational reliability and long-term asset integrity.

Exquintia has extensive experience in hazardous area classification within the chemical, pharmaceutical, food and feed, bulk solids, energy, hydrogen, battery energy storage (BESS), biogas, wastewater treatment and manufacturing industries. We support plant owners, engineering contractors and system integrators with technically sound, internationally recognised solutions for new installations, plant modifications, audits and global industrial projects.

ATEX Workplace Directive 1999/92/EC

ATEX Equipment Directive 2014/34/EU

UK DSEAR (Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002)

IEC 60079-10-1

IEC 60079-10-2

EN 1127-1

IEC 60079-14

IEC 60079-17