ATEX-rated manufacturing covers facilities equipped to operate safely in areas where a potentially explosive atmosphere could form - typically from flammable vapours, gases or combustible dusts. Since Brexit, the UK has its own equivalent regime, commonly referred to as UKEX, alongside the underlying DSEAR duty on employers.
Key points
- In Great Britain, explosive atmosphere requirements are implemented through DSEAR and the Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2016.
- Post-Brexit, the UK operates its own UKEX/UKCA marking framework for equipment, mirroring the EU's ATEX technical requirements but with a separate UK conformity assessment route.
- Employers must classify areas where explosive atmospheres may occur into defined zones (Zone 0, 1 and 2 for gases/vapours, with equivalent dust zones), and prepare a formal Explosion Protection Document.
- Only equipment conforming to UKEX requirements can be used in a workplace where a potentially explosive atmosphere may form.
What This Capability Involves
A manufacturer with ATEX/UKEX-rated manufacturing capability has classified their hazardous areas into the appropriate zones, holds a documented Explosion Protection Document, and uses UKEX-conforming equipment throughout any zoned area of their facility.
When You Need This Capability
You need a manufacturer with this capability if your process involves flammable vapours, gases or combustible dusts at concentrations that could form an explosive atmosphere - closely related to flammable liquid manufacturing and solvent-based production.
Regulatory Considerations
DSEAR places a legal duty on employers to eliminate or control risks from dangerous substances, including conducting an explosion risk assessment, classifying hazardous areas into zones, and preparing an Explosion Protection Document. Equipment used in classified zones must conform to UKEX requirements, assessed by UK-approved bodies. Confirm with a prospective manufacturer that their zoned areas and equipment are correctly classified and rated for your specific process.
What Rating Actually Covers
An ATEX-rated area is one that has been assessed for explosion risk, classified into zones according to how likely an explosive atmosphere is to be present, and equipped throughout with equipment suitable for that zone. The rating applies to specific areas of a site rather than to the site as a whole, so a manufacturer may have rated areas that do not include the plant your product would use.
It is worth asking which areas are rated and whether the vessels, filling lines and storage relevant to your product all fall within them. A product that can be made in a rated area but must be filled in an unrated one has a gap that needs resolving - see ATEX and flammable atmospheres.
Dust as Well as Vapour
Explosive atmospheres are commonly associated with solvent vapour, but combustible dusts create the same category of risk and are more often overlooked. Many organic powders form explosive clouds when handled, particularly during charging, milling, sieving and transfer.
If your product involves powder handling, ask specifically how dust explosion risk is assessed and controlled - containment, extraction, earthing and explosion protection on equipment. Manufacturers experienced in powder blending will have concrete answers; those working mainly with liquids may not have considered dust at all.
Questions to Ask a Manufacturer
- Do you have a current Explosion Protection Document covering the relevant production area?
- What zone classification applies to the area where our product would be processed?
- Is your equipment in that area UKEX-rated and appropriate for the zone?
- What experience do you have with our specific flammable vapour, gas or dust hazard?
Related Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Is UKEX the same as ATEX?
The technical requirements are closely aligned, but UKEX is the UK's own post-Brexit conformity assessment regime, using UK-approved bodies rather than EU notified bodies - confirm which marking a manufacturer's equipment carries for UK use.
Does every chemical manufacturing facility need ATEX/UKEX zoning?
No - only areas where a potentially explosive atmosphere could genuinely form, based on the specific substances and process conditions involved. Not every facility or process requires this.
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Search the DirectoryLast reviewed: August 2026. Regulation and guidance change — verify anything you rely on against the primary source. Tell us if something here is out of date.