Specialist flooring · ATEX

ATEX flooring for explosive atmospheres

Q: How do I find out which zone my area falls into?

Zone classification is the employer’s responsibility (Slovak Government Regulation No. 393/2006 Coll.). In practice it is usually prepared by an expert panel, which typically includes a site representative, a process engineer, an electrical design engineer, and a health and safety officer and fire safety officer. The panel works to EN IEC 60079-10-1 and EN 60079-10-2. You will find the result in your site documentation: in the written explosion protection document and usually also in the report on the determination of external influences. We design the floor build-up to match the classification.

Q: What is the difference between an ATEX floor and an ESD floor?

An ESD floor protects sensitive electronics from damage by static electricity; a floor for explosive atmospheres is about preventing the ignition of an explosive atmosphere. For explosive atmospheres, TRGS 727 gives a floor resistance to ground below 10⁸ Ω. For ESD, below 10⁹ Ω is enough, and the person, footwear and floor are also assessed together as a system. The requirements overlap but are not interchangeable: an ESD floor with a resistance above 10⁸ Ω does not meet the TRGS 727 value, and a floor for explosive atmospheres will not automatically pass the ESD test with footwear.

Q: How often should resistance be measured after installation?

Slovak Government Regulation No. 393/2006 Coll. does not explicitly set an annual interval. The employer sets the scope and intervals of checks in the operating rules and regularly reviews the measures taken. We recommend measuring at least once a year, and always after a change in cleaning method, after repairs or after alterations. That is because contamination, such as paint and oil residues, and floor-care products containing wax can raise the resistance.

Q: We’re a small workshop. Do we need a floor for explosive atmospheres?

It depends on what you do in the workshop. Working with flammable solvents, thinners or petrol can create an explosive atmosphere. Watch out for wood dust too: from sanding, in extraction systems and in filters. Machining steel without flammable liquids does not usually create one, but dust from grinding aluminium or magnesium is combustible and, in air, explosive. Whether an explosive atmosphere exists is determined by the employer on the basis of an explosion risk assessment. At a free site survey we go through your documentation and propose a suitable build-up.

Q: Will a measurement report help at an inspection or with an insurance claim?

A report of the measured floor resistance documents a measure taken against electrostatic discharge, so we recommend filing it with the written explosion protection document under Slovak Government Regulation No. 393/2006 Coll. Compliance with that regulation is checked by the labour inspectorate. Whether and on what terms an insurer pays out is determined by the individual insurance policy.

Q: Can a floor for explosive atmospheres also meet HACCP requirements?

Yes, for example in food mills, where the dust can be explosive and hygiene requirements apply at the same time. HACCP is the operator’s system, not a property of the floor. Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 (Annex II) requires the floor to be non-absorbent, washable, and easy to clean and, where necessary, to disinfect. So you need a system that is dissipative and also meets these hygiene requirements.

A dissipative floor below 10⁸ Ω that, together with dissipative footwear, drains static charge from people in explosive atmospheres.

Get a no-obligation quote +421 948 143 981 obchod@epoxidovo.sk

Price on request

In practice, an ATEX floor means a dissipative (electrostatically conductive) epoxy floor for areas where an explosive atmosphere of flammable gases, vapours, mists or dust can form. The abbreviation ATEX (from the French ATmosphères EXplosibles) is the common name for the European directives on explosive atmospheres.

The legal framework for workplaces: Directive 1999/92/EC (ATEX 153, formerly ATEX 137), in Slovakia Government Regulation No. 393/2006 Coll. The employer classifies areas into zones and sets out the measures, including protection against electrostatic discharge, in a written explosion protection document. The regulation gives no specific value for floor resistance. That comes from the German technical rule TRGS 727, which is not binding in Slovakia but can be used as a technical reference: for zones 0, 1 and 20, and for zone 21 where dusts have a minimum ignition energy of up to 10 mJ, it requires a floor with a leakage resistance below 10⁸ Ω. Directive 2014/34/EU (in Slovakia, Government Regulation No. 149/2016 Coll.) applies to equipment, not to floors.

How an ATEX floor works and when you need one

Even a discharge of static electricity can ignite an explosive atmosphere. Charge builds up when people walk, when trolleys roll and when plastic packaging is handled. On an ordinary, insulating floor a person can charge up to several kilovolts, and the energy of a discharge from their body can exceed the minimum ignition energy (MIE) of the vapours of common solvents. A dissipative floor, together with dissipative footwear, continuously drains this charge to earth.

Charge from people, trolleys and packaging
It builds up when people walk, when trolleys roll and when plastic packaging is handled.
Dissipative layer below 10⁸ Ω
Conductive fillers, such as carbon fibres, carry the charge to the copper tapes. The value is verified by measuring resistance to ground on the finished floor.
Copper tapes
They connect the dissipative layer to the earthing points. The number of points is set by the system’s technical data sheet: for Sikafloor-392 ECF, one point per 200 to 300 m² and at least two in every room; for TopStone EP03 AS, no more than 100 m² per earthing conductor.
Earthing point
The charge drains continuously to earth. According to TRGS 727, a person wearing dissipative footwear on a dissipative floor does not charge to a dangerous level, unless they are working at a process that generates a lot of charge.

Floor resistance to ground

Explosive atmosphere

ESD only

Insulator

Explosive atmosphere: < 10⁸ Ω; Zones 0, 1 and 20, and zone 21 for dusts with an MIE of up to 10 mJ (TRGS 727).
ESD only: 10⁸ – 10⁹ Ω; Meets the ESD floor limit (below 10⁹ Ω), but not the TRGS 727 value of below 10⁸ Ω.
Insulator: above 10⁹ Ω; An ordinary epoxy coating. Charge builds up on it.

How zones are classified

A zone is determined by how often and for how long an explosive atmosphere occurs. The type of substance stored is not enough on its own to classify an area. Classification is the employer’s responsibility (Slovak Government Regulation No. 393/2006 Coll.). In practice it is usually prepared by an expert panel in line with EN IEC 60079-10-1 and EN 60079-10-2. For combustible dust, zones 20, 21 and 22 apply in the same way.

Zone 0An explosive atmosphere is present continuously, for long periods or frequently, typically inside tanks.
Zone 1An explosive atmosphere is likely to occur only occasionally in normal operation.
Zone 2An explosive atmosphere is unlikely in normal operation and, if one does form, it lasts only a short time.

Where explosion protection needs addressing

We design the floor build-up around the loads and the requirements of your site.

Solvent stores and paint shops

Acetone, xylene, thinners, paints. Vapours can create zone 1 or 2. For zone 1, TRGS 727 specifies a dissipative floor with dissipative footwear; in zone 2 the risk assessment decides.

Chemical and pharmaceutical production

Synthesis, mixing and filling with flammable solvents. Where chemical spills are a risk, a dissipative system with high chemical resistance is suitable.

Mills: flour, sugar, wood flour

Dust from flour, grain, sugar or wood can create zones 20, 21 and 22. TRGS 727 specifies a dissipative floor for zone 20, where people do not normally work, and for zone 21 with dusts that have an MIE of up to 10 mJ. The MIE of a particular dust is determined by testing.

Compressor rooms and gas filling stations

Natural gas, LPG (propane-butane), hydrogen. The areas around valves and fittings, filling points and vents may be classified as zone 1 or 2. The risk assessment decides on the floor.

Petrochemical industry

Refineries, tanker loading. Areas people walk on may be in zone 1 or 2; zone 0 is generally inside tanks and pipework.

Battery production and charging

Filling cells with electrolyte containing flammable solvents, and charging rooms for lead-acid batteries, where hydrogen is released. Whether this constitutes an explosive atmosphere is determined by the risk assessment.

Standards and regulations

The regulations, standards and technical rules the floor is designed and tested to. The properties of the materials used are documented by the manufacturer in the technical data sheet and the declaration of performance.

Directive 1999/92/EC (ATEX 153, formerly ATEX 137)

Minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres. The basis of the employer’s duties.

Slovak Government Regulation No. 393/2006 Coll.

Minimum health and safety requirements in explosive atmospheres (transposing 1999/92/EC): classification into zones, a written explosion protection document, protection against electrostatic discharge. It gives no value for floor resistance.

TRGS 727 and IEC TS 60079-32-1

A German technical rule and an international technical specification on electrostatics in explosive atmospheres. In Slovakia, IEC TS 60079-32-1 is published as TNI CLC/TR 60079-32-1. Both give a floor resistance to ground below 10⁸ Ω; TRGS 727 does so for zones 0, 1 and 20, and for zone 21 with dusts that have an MIE of up to 10 mJ. They are not binding regulations; they serve as a technical reference.

EN IEC 60079-10-1 and EN 60079-10-2

Classification of areas with explosive gas and vapour atmospheres (10-1) and explosive dust atmospheres (10-2). The basis for classifying areas into zones.

EN 1081

A test method for measuring the electrical resistance of floor coverings. For poured resin floors, manufacturers also cite it in their technical data sheets, alongside IEC 61340-4-1. It sets no limit. According to TRGS 727, both the method and the required value should be stated in the job specification from the outset.

Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX 114); in Slovakia, Government Regulation No. 149/2016 Coll.

Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (placing on the market). It does not apply to floors. A floor has no ATEX certificate and no Ex marking.

The benefits of flooring for explosive atmospheres

Resistance below 10⁸ Ω

The build-up is chosen to achieve the value that TRGS 727 gives for explosive atmospheres. For Sikafloor-392 ECF, for example, the manufacturer states a resistance to ground below 10⁸ Ω. Whether the finished floor achieves it can only be confirmed by measurement.

Verified on the finished floor

According to TRGS 727, resistance is tested on the laid floor even where test reports exist for the material. It is advisable to state the measurement method and the required value in the order itself. The measurement report belongs with the explosion protection documentation.

Chemically resistant options

For areas where chemical spills are a risk, dissipative materials with high chemical resistance are suitable, for example Sikafloor-381 ECF or Sikafloor-392 ECF, both of which are in our range. Resistance to a specific substance must be checked in the manufacturer’s chemical resistance table.

Combined with anti-slip

In wet and greasy environments, a dissipative floor can also be finished with an anti-slip broadcast, for example Sikafloor-381 ECF broadcast with silicon carbide. We explain the slip ratings on our page about anti-slip flooring.

Price on request

We price each job individually, based on the area, the condition of the substrate and the chemical resistance required. The dissipative system also includes copper tapes connected to earthing points. The flatness of the substrate affects the layer thickness and therefore the conductivity, so its preparation matters. At the site survey we agree the scope of work, who will provide the connection to the building’s earthing system, and resistance measurement after installation, with a report.

Request a quote +421 948 143 981 obchod@epoxidovo.sk

Frequently asked questions

Flooring for explosive atmospheres: the questions that come up most often in design and installation.

How do I find out which zone my area falls into?

Zone classification is the employer’s responsibility (Slovak Government Regulation No. 393/2006 Coll.). In practice it is usually prepared by an expert panel, which typically includes a site representative, a process engineer, an electrical design engineer, and a health and safety officer and fire safety officer. The panel works to EN IEC 60079-10-1 and EN 60079-10-2. You will find the result in your site documentation: in the written explosion protection document and usually also in the report on the determination of external influences. We design the floor build-up to match the classification.

What is the difference between an ATEX floor and an ESD floor?

An ESD floor protects sensitive electronics from damage by static electricity; a floor for explosive atmospheres is about preventing the ignition of an explosive atmosphere. For explosive atmospheres, TRGS 727 gives a floor resistance to ground below 10⁸ Ω. For ESD, below 10⁹ Ω is enough, and the person, footwear and floor are also assessed together as a system. The requirements overlap but are not interchangeable: an ESD floor with a resistance above 10⁸ Ω does not meet the TRGS 727 value, and a floor for explosive atmospheres will not automatically pass the ESD test with footwear.

How often should resistance be measured after installation?

Slovak Government Regulation No. 393/2006 Coll. does not explicitly set an annual interval. The employer sets the scope and intervals of checks in the operating rules and regularly reviews the measures taken. We recommend measuring at least once a year, and always after a change in cleaning method, after repairs or after alterations. That is because contamination, such as paint and oil residues, and floor-care products containing wax can raise the resistance.

We’re a small workshop. Do we need a floor for explosive atmospheres?

It depends on what you do in the workshop. Working with flammable solvents, thinners or petrol can create an explosive atmosphere. Watch out for wood dust too: from sanding, in extraction systems and in filters. Machining steel without flammable liquids does not usually create one, but dust from grinding aluminium or magnesium is combustible and, in air, explosive. Whether an explosive atmosphere exists is determined by the employer on the basis of an explosion risk assessment. At a free site survey we go through your documentation and propose a suitable build-up.

Will a measurement report help at an inspection or with an insurance claim?

A report of the measured floor resistance documents a measure taken against electrostatic discharge, so we recommend filing it with the written explosion protection document under Slovak Government Regulation No. 393/2006 Coll. Compliance with that regulation is checked by the labour inspectorate. Whether and on what terms an insurer pays out is determined by the individual insurance policy.

Can a floor for explosive atmospheres also meet HACCP requirements?

Yes, for example in food mills, where the dust can be explosive and hygiene requirements apply at the same time. HACCP is the operator’s system, not a property of the floor. Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 (Annex II) requires the floor to be non-absorbent, washable, and easy to clean and, where necessary, to disinfect. So you need a system that is dissipative and also meets these hygiene requirements.