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General, guidance and enforcement issues

ATEX is the name commonly given to the legal requirements for controlling explosive atmospheres and the suitability of equipment and protective systems used in them.

The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations, 2002 (DSEAR) states the legal requirements for managing the risk of fire, explosion or similar events arising from dangerous substances at the workplace.

There are two EU Directives ATEX 95 (94/9/EC) and ATEX 137 (1999/92/EC) concerning, respectively, the supply and the use of equipment in potentially explosive atmospheres. The term 'ATEX' is an acronym, derived from the French title of the 94/9/EC Directive above. HSE has produced a Quick guide to DSEAR[1] and the ATEX Directives.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) implemented ATEX 95 under The Equipment and Protective Systems for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 1996 (EPS Regulations). ATEX 95 concerns the supply of equipment, protective systems, components etc, where these are for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. BIS are responsible for policy issues, resolution of supply issues at EU level, appointing notified bodies in the UK, etc. The BIS website provides information on their responsibilities [4] and guidance on the EPS Regulations. (PDF) [5]

The user Directive, ATEX 137, is implemented by HSE under The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR). ATEX 137 concerns worker health and safety in those workplaces where potentially explosive atmospheres may be present.

The DSEAR and EPS Regulations are enforced in Britain by HSE and, in some circumstances, DSEAR is enforced by others (eg local authorities and petroleum licensing authorities).

They are complementary. DSEAR is concerned with the safe use of dangerous substances and requires employers to zone workplaces and select equipment and protective systems that meet the EPS Regulations. The EPS Regulations put the duty on manufacturers to supply suitable equipment for such purposes.

The Health and Safety Executive has published two sets of guidance and Approved Codes of Practice on DSEAR:

Link URLs in this page

  1. Quick guide to DSEARhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/fireandexplosion/dsear.htm
  2. Guidelines on the application of ATEX 95 https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/mechanical-engineering/atex_en
  3. guide on ATEX 137. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2003:0515:FIN:EN:PDF
  4. information on their responsibilities http://www.bis.gov.uk/atex
  5. guidance on the EPS Regulations. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20070603164510/http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file11278.pdf
  6. Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002. Approved Code of Practice and guidance L138 (Second edition)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l138.htm
  7. Unloading petrol from road tankers. Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002. Approved Code of Practice and guidancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l133.htm
  8. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/business-sectors/environmental-and-technical-regulations/technical-regulations/ec-product-directives/atex-directive
  9. Memorandum of guidance on the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsr25.htm
  10. Electricity at work: Safe working practiceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg85.htm
  11. Controlling fire and explosion risks in the workplacehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg370.htm
  12. Dangerous substances and explosive atmosphereshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l138.htm

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Updated 2025-04-17