| ATEX is the name commonly given to the | | | | most dangerous levels of potential explosive risk |
| European directives for controlling explosive | | | | whilst zone 2 are areas that have the potential, |
| atmospheres and the standards of equipment and | | | | albeit remotely. |
| protective systems used in them. ATEX is now | | | | In zoning their areas many companies assume |
| law in all European Union countries with companies | | | | that all zones have to offer the same protection |
| that have potentially explosive atmospheres legally | | | | against explosions and they spend vast sums |
| obliges to ensure all equipment in ATEX zones | | | | ensuring all electrical equipment satisfies Zone 0. |
| complies with the directive. | | | | However, this is not the case and many |
| Explosive atmospheres do not just occur in | | | | manufacturers in the food industry are literally |
| chemical facilities. Explosive atmospheres are | | | | wasting money in ensuring all equipment satisfies |
| actually incredibly common in the food production | | | | the ATEX directives. |
| industry. Many substances from flour, coffee, | | | | In many areas labelled as Zone 2 for instance |
| sugar and even custard can hold the potential to | | | | specialist intrinsically sealed industrial computers, |
| cause an explosion. | | | | printers and monitors are installed at great cost |
| Dust is the primary reason for explosive | | | | when in fact a simple and cheap conventional PC |
| atmospheres. If an area has a high constitution of | | | | could be used as long as it is housed in a Zone 2 |
| say organic dust (such as custard or sugar) a | | | | industrial computer enclosure. |
| small spark could be enough to set off a | | | | Zone 2 industrial computer enclosures are available |
| catastrophic explosion. | | | | from many manufacturers and these intrinsically |
| For this reason, industries that deal with such | | | | sealed cabinets are vastly cheaper, even including |
| substances have to zone-off all their areas. Zone | | | | the housed PC than a bespoke sealed industrial |
| 0 is described in ATEX as having the highest and | | | | computer. |