The outlook for global unity in hazardous-area equipment

Modifications to the National Electrical Code (NEC) and Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) have created changes and complications in the marking and approvals of new explosion-protected products. Instead of making the practice of consolidating approvals for globalized products simpler, Canada and the US have gone in different directions. This, in turn, may confuse many who manufacture, specify, install, and inspect explosion-protected equipment. Europe adopted the ATEX Directive, which creates a new method of approving explosion-protected equipment for Europe. Previously, equipment and materials had to pass equipment and construction standards that limited new ideas and techniques. Now, due to the ATEX Directive, manufacturers have the opportunity to build and test explosion-protected equipment to the new Directive 94-3, which is based on performance testing. This new system may revolutionize the hazardous area industry as well as trade throughout Europe by freeing up manufacturers to use new inventive types of equipment and construction standards.