Potentially explosive atmospheres require enclosures capable of containing internal deflagrations without propagating the ignition to the surrounding environment. The INTEK laboratory resolves this critical issue by performing rigorous overpressure and explosion tests, guaranteeing the total compliance of the equipment with the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU and preventing market delays for manufacturers.
Within a dedicated test facility, INTEK technicians prepare standard gas mixtures (hydrogen, acetylene, ethylene, propane, methane) verified with precision using a gas chromatograph. Qualification tests are based on the EN IEC 60079-0 standard for general requirements and EN IEC 60079-1 for flameproof enclosures. During the measurements, high-precision overpressure sensors, developed internally by the laboratory, are used to objectively monitor the structural stresses undergone by the enclosure and verify its mechanical integrity under severe operating conditions.
Validating ATEX tests at an accredited laboratory eliminates the risks of non-compliance and concretely accelerates time-to-market. The objective measurement of safety for explosion-proof enclosures ensures the technical documentation necessary both to obtain the CE marking in Europe and for export to international markets by adhering to the global IECEx scheme.
