ATEX Guideline Edition 6 Ex.plained
If you work with ATEX equipment, you may have seen that the ATEX 2014/34/EU Guidelines moved from Edition 5 (2024) to Edition 6 (2026).
Spare Parts: Maintenance Is Still Maintenance
You have an ATEX-certified pump in service. After five years, a seal, bearing, or terminal block fails. The classic questions may come "do we need a new ATEX certificate?", "does the spare part need CE + Ex marking?" And "are we placing a new product on the market? Replacing worn or defective parts is maintenance — not placing a new product on the market. As long as the spare part replaces an existing function, and does not itself become a new item of equipment or a standalone ATEX component, so ATEX does not suddenly apply to the spare part.
Practical example is like replacing a mechanical seal with a newer equivalent – it is OK, no ATEX certification needed. Selling a complete drive unit that can operate independently - that may be ATEX equipment
"Simple" Products: Not Everything Needs an Ex Marking
And the product is E.g a hand valve, a ladder, a hand tool, a pressure relief valve, … The key phrase is as always the "own ignition source". Edition 6 clearly confirms that slow-moving, human-powered products, no heat generation, no sparks and no independent energy source. These are outside the scope of ATEX. E.g A manually operated valve with polymer parts – it is Out of scope. A hand pump operated by human force – it is Out of scope. A battery-powered pump – it is a different story — other legislation applies. Authorities can still restrict unsafe products — but not because of ATEX.
Digital EU Declarations of Conformity: Finally Official
You deliver 200 ATEX devices to different sites. Each one includes printed instructions and printed EU Declaration of Conformity. As usual half of them are lost within a year. Edition 6 officially allows digital EU Declarations of Conformity, as long as safety-critical info is still available in paper form, a paper copy can be requested free of charge, a clear link or QR code is provided, and documents stay available for the product's lifetime, and at least 10 years after placing on the market. E.g QR code on the nameplate - EU DoC online. Cloud document system - fully acceptable. "Digital only, no paper on request" – it is not acceptable. This brings ATEX into line with modern digital compliance systems.
Instructions for Use: Paper Where It Matters
Your product manual includes explosion safety warnings, wiring instructions, and optional configuration steps. Need to be printed? Edition 6 introduces a risk-based approach where safety-critical instructions are written – so paper is required, on-safety information - digital allowed, but paper version → must be available on request. Manufacturers must consider who the user is, where the product is used, whether digital access is realistic. E.g explosion warnings – paper, parameter settings - PDF / online, full manual downloadable - encouraged. This reflects more how people actually work today.
Electrical Trace Heating: The Big Technical Change
This is the most important technical clarification in Edition 6. Trace heating systems often fail audits because of the heating cable is certified, but the system behaviour is not clear. Edition 6 finally separates two concepts. A) Stabilised Design (simple, robust), where the cable limits its own temperature and no complex control logic needed. E.g self-limiting heating cable, temperature class inherent and CE marking possible before installation. B) Controlled Design (complex, higher risk), where temperature control + limiter required, correct sensor placement is critical and installation quality affects safety. E.g independent limited, defined failure behaviour, installer qualifications specified, BUT "Just add a limiter and it's safe" - explicitly rejected. Edition 6 warns about false safety assumptions when limiters are misused. The system manufacturer remains responsible, so subcontractors must meet defined qualifications and Notified Bodies assess the whole system, not just parts.
What Did NOT Change (and That's Good News)
Edition 6 does not change the ATEX scope, the equipment categories, the conformity assessment routes, the Essential Health and Safety Requirements and the ATEX product vs ATEX workplace boundary. So if your equipment was compliant yesterday, it still is today.
Edition 6 it tells manufacturers, installers, and users: "If you understand your product, define responsibilities clearly, and document reality — you are on solid ground."
Edition 6 sum up:
Keep up the good work!
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