Many End-users and Distribution partners of JSP Safety have requested guidance on the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in designated ATEX areas.

Although the current PPE Regulation 2016/425 requires the products to be designed to “avoid any electric or electrostatic discharge”, the text brings little information on the applicable and relevant testing protocols that could verify said properties.

In the meantime, the ‘ATEX’ directive 2014/34/UE specifically excludes from its scope Personal Protective Equipment. Consequently PPE cannot be the object of an EC Type Certificate to the ATEX directive.
 

As an Above the Neck PPE Manufacturer and specialist, JSP Safety received numerous enquiries for so called “ATEX certified” Industrial safety helmets, or alternatively for “helmets certified to EN 13463-1:2009”. It seems necessary to remind all stakeholders:

1)    EN 13463-1 :2009 was withdrawn on 31-10-2019. Whilst products previously tested to this standard may still retain their properties, the standard itself cannot be used anymore to claim any specific conformity.

2)     The replacing standard is EN ISO 80079-36 – where ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) denotes a globally recognized standard.

To evaluate their performance for static charge accumulation, JSP Safety has taken a selection of its PPE products to testing according to EN 80079-36 as well as EN 60079-32-2. These tests were performed at the GIG-PIB Central Mining Institute of Katowice in Poland, whose expertise is well recognized and sought for, notably by the mining and Oil & Gas sectors. The GIG-PIB Institute is an accredited Notified Body for the ATEX Directive.

With EN 80079-36 referring to the various classifications of ATEX designated areas 0,1,2,20,21,22, as EN 13463-1- :2009 used to, JSP Safety is pleased to confirm that the tested products can therefore be used in these areas without any concern for static charge accumulation. The table over the page lists the products tested, referencing the main material and test report reference. Copies of the test reports are available upon request.

(Updated 05/04/2024)

JSP Safety, based on the above-mentioned tests, hereby confirms the products’ suitability for use in ATEX 0,1,2,20,21,22 designated areas, with for methane explosion risk the qualifications a, b and c, and for coal dusts explosion risk the qualifications A and B.

The above-mentioned test results and documents are only valid for the mentioned JSP Safety products and approved combinations.

JSP Safety does not endorse other combinations or use with products from other manufacturers.

The JSP Safety teams remain available should you need any further information, and you can also contact technical.service@jsp.co.uk