Can You Provide Me with a Certificate According to the ATEX Directive for the Purchased Belts?

This is a very common question. ATEX 94/9/EC and ATEX 2014/34/EU are European Union directives for equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. This is an environment where mixtures of gases, vapors, mists or dusts are formed which may ignite under certain operating conditions. They apply to a wide range of products.

The answer is clear. Drive belts cannot be certified to meet the requirements of European Directive 94/9/EC (ATEX 95) as they do not in themselves constitute a potential source of ignition and they are therefore not subject to this provision. Only machines, equipment and protective systems intended for use in explosive atmospheres must be certified.

Drive belts alone cannot be tested for the ATEX directive. The entire drive system of which the belts are part must always be taken into account. The drive system can be a potential source of ignition due to electrostatic charge or overheating.

ContiTech therefore recommends that only belts with a non-flammability certificate UL 94 HB (self-extinguishing) be used in potentially explosive atmospheres together with a certificate of electrical conductivity (antistatic) for each individual belt. Experience has shown that with the correct choice of belt and pulley, the drive unit does not pose any risk, even in potentially explosive atmospheres.