Explosionsgefährdeten

Explosionsgefährdeten is a German term used to describe environments, materials, or devices that may encounter an explosive atmosphere or contribute to an explosion. In practice, the preferred phrases are Explosionsgefährdete Bereiche or Ex-Bereiche, which designate zones with explosion hazards and establish safety requirements.

In industrial context, explosion risk is governed by standards such as the European ATEX directives (2014/34/EU) and EN standards. Explosive atmospheres are organized into zones (for gases and vapors) and zones (for dusts) to reflect the likelihood and duration of the hazard. Zone 0 (gas) or Zone 20 (dust) denotes areas where a hazardous atmosphere is present continuously or long-term; Zone 1 or Zone 21 denotes areas where such atmosphere can occur during normal operation; Zone 2 or Zone 22 denotes areas where it is unlikely and only for short periods. The classification guides the selection of equipment and protective measures.

Measures include a formal explosion protection concept, risk assessment, and the use of Ex-certified equipment and protective methods (e.g., Ex d flameproof, Ex i intrinsic safety, Ex n non-sparking). Additional measures include gas or dust detection, ventilation, inerting, procedure controls, maintenance, and training.

Applications include chemical plants, oil and gas facilities, mining, grain handling, pharmaceutical production, and waste-processing plants.