ATEX Pumps

Pumps and other equipment used in areas where there is, or could be, a potentially flammable mixture of air and either gas or dust must conform to any relevant local regulations. In Europe, these are the known as the ATEX regulations and the EU Directive that applies is 94/9/EC.  More specifically, in the UK, any location in which people are working and where gas, flammable vapours or dust might be found falls under the DESEAR Regulations (The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002). 

What do you need to do?

The installer and operator of equipment in ATEX areas assesses the risks and assigns a Zone classification to the work area such as Zone 2 or Zone 1 e.g. by referring to BS EN 60079-10-1:2009 and BS EN 60079-10-2:2009.  Equipment operators need to bear in mind that the area might be designated Hazardous even though the pump may be handling a non-flammable liquid. Equally, just because the pumped fluid may be flammable, this would not automatically create an Explosive Atmosphere provided that special consideration is given to the pump construction and installation.

You then need to provide us with the following information:

• Required application flow rate and discharge pressure
• Nature of the liquid to be pumped including:
• Description of the liquid (including full chemical name)
• Liquid Temperature
• Any solids content e.g. abrasives
• Special characteristics e.g. corrosive
• Liquid feed pressure at the pump inlet, or height of supply tank
• Duty cycle (Continuous/hours per day etc)
• Ambient temperature
• ATEX Zone Classification of the installation area
• Details of the gas or dust hazard, including Gas Group if Zone 1
• Maximum permissible surface temperature (e.g. T3, T4)
• Any special requirements you may have

What do we do?

We will then offer a suitable pump or equipment package that meets the required ATEX Equipment Group and Category according to the Zone where it will be used:

Here at Cat Pumps UK we offer a standard specification of bareshaft pumps for use in both Zone 2 and Zone 1 areas. These are designated II 2G cb IIB T4 for use in most flammable gas environments except Zone 0 and are available for applications between 1 to 300 L/min and for pressures up to 700 bar.

We also build motorised pump skids and packages, incorporating ATEX motors to the required configuration, together with transmissions, guards and other components.  The two categories most commonly offered are:

• Pump, motor and transmission for use in Zone 2 gas hazard areas, designated II 3G IIB T3
• Pump, motor and transmission for use in Zone 1 gas hazard areas, designated II 2G cb IIB T3

These packages can be constructed as either direct-drive via a suitable flexible coupling or with a speed-reducing transmission depending on the flow rate specified. They can also be upgraded to the more demanding T4 category when required.

On delivery, we will supply a signed Declaration of Conformity for the completed equipment together with full instructions for Installation, Operation, Servicing and Repair.

Applications:

Our ATEX pumps are commonly offered for diverse applications including the Oil & Gas, Process Plant, Energy and Industrial sectors for:

• Cleaning and Wash-Down systems
• Accumulator Charging for BOPs
• HPUs (High Pressure Units)
• Produced Water Re-Injection
• Oil Well Stimulation Vessels
• Chemical Process
• Gas Turbine Cleaning
• Hydrostatic Testing
• Hydraulics and Fluid Power
• Chemical Injection and Dosing

View our ATEX Certified Brochure

View our Underwater Clean Up with ATEX Cat Pumps Case Study

For more information of to discuss a specific application, please contact us and speak to one of our qualified engineers.