Badotherm has updated the ATEX certification on the main industrial suppliers of pressure gauges. The industrial pressure gauges types BDT18, BDT19, BDT20 and BDT21 fulfill all the requirements of the ATEX Directive 94/9/EC for all ranges. Next to that, also the BDT12 and BDT13 (differential pressure gauge) have now been certified.

The Directive is named after the French "ATmosphere EXplosible" and is a so-called "New Approach" directive which provides the technical requirements to be applied to equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. The directive covers a surprisingly large range of equipment, including apparatus used on fixed offshore platforms, in petrochemical plants, mines, flour mills and other areas where an explosive atmosphere may be present.

Broadly speaking, there are three pre-conditions for the directive to apply to the equipment. It must:

a) have its own source of ignition;
b) be intended for use in a potentially explosive atmosphere (air mixtures); and
c) be under normal atmospheric conditions.
The directive covers components essential for the safe use and safety devices directly contributing to the safe use of the equipment in scope. The latter devices may be outside the potentially explosive environment.Badotherm gauges that are ATEX approved have the required marking on the dial so that they can be easily recognized as being certified accordingly. Specific manuals for these ATEX gauges can be found on the Badotherm internet site. The ATEX registration is documented under decision number: SECEEx.ATEX.2005.024.