Solenoid valves - Bürkert Fluid Control Systems

5. Approvals
In order to ensure the free exchange
of products on the European market
and guarantee that valves do not pose
a risk during operation, operational
safety for the operator and protection
for the environment is required in valve
technology as well.
Over the course of the years, individual
directives and national standards have
resulted in clear standards that have
been implemented in national or international
law by the legislature. These
recognized regulations ensure that
■ equipment items from different
countries are compatible
■ that manufacturers adhere to a set
of regulations regarding design
and production.
These regulations relate to the following
aspects:
■ Protection against risks and dangers
■ Interfaces between technical systems
■ Testing and inspections of products
■ Clear description of the content
and the characteristics of products.
Legal supervisory authorities require
that system operators use only equipment
which meets the necessary safety
requirements pursuant to these regulations.
Within its range of valves,
Bürkert has a large number of valves
which have been granted the corresponding
approvals both nationally
and internationally.
We shall briefly outline the approvals
and their content in the following.
Please refer to the separate “Approvals”
brochure for more detailed information.
5.1.
European explosion
protection
ATEX Directives
(formerly Explosion-Protection (EX)
Directives)
The Atex Directive covers equipment,
components and protection systems
for use in hazardous areas. It also applies
to safety facilities outside of hazardous
areas if they are required for
safe operation of equipment in the hazardous
area with respect to the risk
of explosion.
Content:
■ Applies to mining and all other
hazardous areas
■ Standard for fundamental safety
requirements
■ Applies to complete protection
systems
■ Applies to dust explosion
protection
■ Classification of the devices into
given categories which, in turn,
may be used in the corresponding
zones
■ Manufacturers’ quality systems
must comply with the precise
targets and must be certified by an
appointed testing facility
■ Identification with CE mark and
testing facility number
■ Inclusion of non-electrical equipment
in this scope of validity.
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