Albion Valves (UK) Ltd, an increasingly popular UK valves supplier has secured ATEX approval across their range of stainless steel valves, in order to help take the headache of complex European legislation compliance away from their distributors.
Making safety a priority, ATEX is a directive from the European Union which requires member states including the UK to comply with a specific set of health and safety regulations, designed to minimize the risk of fire or explosion arising from dangerous substances in the workplace. The new directive will become mandatory in April 2016.
The ATEX directive applies to electrical and mechanical equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres including; mines, factories, sewage plants, biomass, oil and gas, corrosive metals, dusts and chemicals.
Securing ATEX approval means that the function of Albion's stainless steel valve range is certified for use in potentially explosive environments, and guaranteed not to spark if they come into contact with a combustible foreign body.
The ATEX directive also requires the traceability of products including valves and fitting to be ensured throughout the whole supply chain ensuring that manufacturers, authorized representatives, importers and distributors all guarantee that the product they place on the market complies with this directive.
Les Littlewood, Albion Valves (UK) Ltd, Sales Director commented: "Ensuring that products and systems meet the requirements of the ATEX Directive can be a complex and time consuming process. We have taken this headache away from our distributors by doing the research and securing approvals well in advance of the new legislation.
"The ATEX certification mark means that the equipment is suitable for use in an explosive or combustible environment. Our distributors can now have peace of mind that the products they buy are both compliant and fit for purpose."
Legislation enables the free trading of ATEX products within the European, Economic Area (EEA) by removing the need for separate documentation and testing for each individual European market. Manufacturers may use a single CE mark on their products to show compliance with this (and any other relevant) directive.
