1.This Directive applies to equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
2.Safety devices, controlling devices and regulating devices intended for use outside potentially explosive atmospheres but required for or contributing to the safe functioning of equipment and protective systems with respect to the risks of explosion are also covered by the scope of this Directive.
3.For the purposes of this Directive, the following definitions shall apply:
Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres
‘Equipment'’ means machines, apparatus, fixed or mobile devices, control components and instrumentation thereof and detection or prevention systems which, separately or jointly, are intended for the generation, transfer, storage, measurement, [X1control and conversion of energy and/or the processing] of material and which are capable of causing an explosion through their own potential sources of ignition.
‘[X1Protective systems’ means devices other than components of the equipment defined above which are intended to halt incipient explosions immediately and/or to limit the effective range of an explosion and which are separately placed on the market for use as autonomous systems.]
‘Components'’ means any item essential to the safe functioning of equipment and protective systems but with no autonomous function.
Explosive atmospheres
Mixture with air, under atmospheric conditions, of flammable substances in the form of gases, vapours, mists or dusts in which, after ignition has occurred, combustion spreads to the entire unburned mixture.
Potentially explosive atmosphere
An atmosphere which could become explosive due to local and operational conditions.
Equipment groups and categories
Equipment group I applies to equipment intended for use [X2in underground parts of mines, and in those parts of] surface installations of such mines, liable to be endangered by firedamp and/or combustible dust.
Equipment group II applies to equipment intended for use in other places liable to be endangered by explosive atmospheres.
The categories of equipment defining the required levels of protection are described in Annex I.
Equipment and protective systems may be designed for a particular explosive atmosphere. In this case, they must be marked accordingly.
Intended use
The use of equipment, protective systems, and devices referred to in Article 1 (2) in accordance with the equipment group and category and with all the information supplied by the manufacturer which is required for the safe functioning of equipment, protective systems and devices.
4.The following are excluded from the scope of this Directive:
medical devices intended for use in a medical environment,
equipment and protective systems where the explosion hazard results exclusively from the presence of explosive substances or unstable chemical substances,
equipment intended for use in domestic and non-commercial environments where potentially explosive atmospheres may only rarely be created, solely as a result of the accidental leakage of fuel gas,
personal protective equipment covered by Directive 89/686/EEC(1),
seagoing vessels and mobile offshore units together with equipment on board such vessels or units,
means of transport, i.e. vehicles and their trailers intended solely for transporting passengers by air or by road, rail or water networks, as well as means of transport in so far as such means are designed for transporting goods by air, by public road or rail networks or by water. Vehicles intended for use in a potentially explosive atmosphere shall not be excluded,
the equipment covered by Article 223 (1) (b) of the Treaty.
Editorial Information
X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Directive 94/9/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 March 1994 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (Official Journal of the European Communities L 100 of 19 April 1994).
X2 Substituted by Corrigendum to Directive 94/9/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 March 1994 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (Official Journal of the European Communities L 100 of 19 April 1994).
1.Member States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the equipment, protective systems and devices referred to in Article 1 (2) to which this Directive applies may be placed on the market and put into service only if, when properly installed and maintained and used for their intended purpose, they do not endanger the health and safety of persons and, where appropriate, domestic animals or property.
2.The provisions of this Directive shall not affect Member States' entitlement to lay down, in due observance of the provisions of the Treaty, such requirements as they may deem necessary to ensure that persons and, in particular, workers are protected when using the equipment, protective systems, and devices referred to in Article 1 (2) in question provided that this does not mean that such equipment, protective systems, or devices are modified in a way not specified in the Directive.
3.At trade fairs, exhibitions, demonstrations, etc., Member States shall not prevent the showing of equipment, protective systems, or the devices referred to in Article 1 (2) which do not conform to the provisions of this Directive, provided that a visible sign clearly indicates that such equipment, protective systems, and devices referred to in Article 1 (2) do not conform and that they are not for sale until they have been brought into conformity by the manufacturer or his authorized representative established in the Community. During demonstrations, adequate safety measures shall be taken to ensure the protection of persons.
Equipment, protective systems, and the devices referred to in Article 1 (2) to which this Directive applies must meet the essential health and safety requirements set out in Annex II which apply to them, account being taken of their intended use.
1.Member States shall not prohibit, restrict or impede the placing on the market and putting into service in their territory of equipment, protective systems, or devices referred to in Article 1 (2) which comply with this Directive.
2.Member States shall not prohibit, restrict or impede the placing on the market of components which, [X1accompanied by a written attestation of conformity as referred to in Article 8(3)], are intended to be incorporated into equipment or protective systems within the meaning of this Directive.
Editorial Information
X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Directive 94/9/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 March 1994 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (Official Journal of the European Communities L 100 of 19 April 1994).
1.Member States shall regard as conforming to all the provisions of this Directive, including the relevant conformity assessment procedures laid down in chapter II:
equipment, protective systems, and devices referred to in Article 1 (2) accompanied by the EC declaration of conformity referred to in Annex X and bearing the CE marking provided for in Article 10,
the components referred to in Article 4 (2), accompanied by the certificate of conformity referred to in Article 8 (3).
In the absence of harmonized standards, Member States shall take any steps which they deem necessary to bring to the attention of the parties concerned the existing national technical standards and specifications regarded as important or relevant to the proper implementation of the essential health and safety requirements in Annex II.
2.Where a national standard transposing a harmonized standard, the reference for which has been published in the Official Journal of the European Communities, covers one or more of the essential health and safety requirements, the equipment, protective system, device referred to in Article 1 (2), or the component referred to in Article 4 (2), constructed in accordance with that standard shall be presumed to comply with the relevant essential health and safety requirements.
Member States shall publish the references of national standards transposing harmonized standards.
3.Member States shall ensure that appropriate measures are taken to enable the social partners to influence the process of preparing and monitoring the harmonized standards at national level.
F11.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.The Commission may adopt any appropriate measure with a view to ensuring the practical application in a uniform manner of this Directive in accordance with the procedure laid down in paragraph 3.
[F23. The Commission shall be assisted by a standing committee (hereinafter referred to as ‘ the Committee ’ ).
Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 3 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC (2) shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.]
4.The Standing Committee may furthermore examine any question relating to the application of this Directive and raised by its chairman either on the latter's initiative, or at the request of a Member State.
Textual Amendments
F1 Deleted by Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on European standardisation, amending Council Directives 89/686/EEC and 93/15/EEC and Directives 94/9/EC, 94/25/EC, 95/16/EC, 97/23/EC, 98/34/EC, 2004/22/EC, 2007/23/EC, 2009/23/EC and 2009/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Decision 87/95/EEC and Decision No 1673/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance).
F2 Substituted by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 September 2003 adapting to Council Decision 1999/468/EC the provisions relating to committees which assist the Commission in the exercise of its implementing powers laid down in instruments subject to the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the EC Treaty.
1.[X2When a Member State ascertains] that equipment, protective systems or devices referred to in Article 1 (2) bearing the CE conformity marking and used in accordance with their intended use are liable to endanger the safety of persons and, where appropriate, domestic animals or property, it [X1shall take all appropriate measures] to withdraw such equipment or protective systems from the market, to prohibit the placing on the market, putting into service or use thereof, or to restrict free movement thereof.
The Member State shall immediately inform the Commission of any such measure, indicating the reasons for its decision and, in particular, whether non-conformity is due to:
(a)failure to satisfy the essential requirements referred to in Article 3;
(b)incorrect application of the standards referred to in Article 5 (2);
(c)shortcomings in the standards referred to in Article 5 (2).
2.The Commission shall enter into consultation with the parties concerned without delay. Where the Commission considers, after this consultation, that the measure is justified, it shall immediately so inform the Member State which took the initiative and the other Member States. Where the Commission considers, after this consultation, that the action is unjustified, it shall immediately so inform the Member State which took the initiative and the manufacturer or his authorized representative established within the Community. Where the decision referred to in paragraph 1 is based on a shortcoming in the standards and where the Member State at the origin of the decision maintains its position, the Commission shall immediately inform the Committee in order to initiate the procedures referred to in Article 6 (1).
3.[X1Where equipment, a protective system or a device referred to in Article 1(2) which] does not comply bears the CE conformity marking, the competent Member State shall take appropriate action against the person(s) having affixed the marking and shall so inform the Commission and the other Member States.
4.The Commission shall ensure that the Member States are kept informed of the progress and outcome of this procedure.
Editorial Information
X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Directive 94/9/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 March 1994 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (Official Journal of the European Communities L 100 of 19 April 1994).
X2 Substituted by Corrigendum to Directive 94/9/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 March 1994 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (Official Journal of the European Communities L 100 of 19 April 1994).
[F2Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission ( OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23 ).]
Textual Amendments
F2 Substituted by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 September 2003 adapting to Council Decision 1999/468/EC the provisions relating to committees which assist the Commission in the exercise of its implementing powers laid down in instruments subject to the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the EC Treaty.