In industry, certain zones are classified as “explosive atmospheres”: a simple spark or overheating can cause an explosion. The ATEX standard provides a precise framework for the design, marketing and use of equipment in these high-risk environments. For integrators of IoT solutions, understanding ATEX is essential before deploying sensors, beacons or beacons in oil & gas, chemical, agri-food or hazardous materials logistics sites.
What is the ATEX standard?
- EU: for manufacturers of equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (marking, design, testing).
- Directive 1999/92/EC: for operators (classification of zones, organization of work, staff training).
These texts are mandatory in the European Union, as well as in several countries such as Switzerland and Turkey.
Internationally, the IECEx standard plays a similar role: it is a voluntary certification system that facilitates the export of ATEX equipment through mutual recognition of tests between member countries.
Understanding the ATEX standard and its zones
ATEX regulations distinguish two main types of explosive atmospheres:
- Flammable gases, vapors and mists (category G).
- Combustible dusts (category D).
For each type, zones are classified according to the frequency and duration of the presence of the explosive atmosphere, as defined by the inrs.
ATEX zones for flammable gases, vapours and mists :
| ATEX zone | Risk level | Description |
| Zone 0 | High | Explosive atmosphere present continuously, frequently or for long periods (over 1,000 h/year). |
| Zone 1 | Medium | Explosive atmosphere likely to occur occasionally during normal operation (between 10 and 1,000 h/year). |
| Zone 2 | Low | Explosive atmosphere unlikely to occur during normal operation, and if it does, only briefly (less than 10 h/year). |
In practice, zones 0 and 1 cover locations close to tanks, pipelines or gas release points, while zone 2 covers peripheral areas where the risk is much more limited.
ATEX zones for combustible dusts :
| ATEX zone | Risk level | Description |
| Zone 20 | High | Combustible dust cloud present permanently, frequently or for long periods. |
| Zone 21 | Medium | Occasional formation of dust clouds during normal operation. |
| Zone 22 | Low | Explosive atmosphere unlikely in normal operation, and if it does occur, briefly. |
In the food, chemical and mineral industries, zones 20 and 21 are often found inside or in the immediate vicinity of silos, conveyors or filling stations.
Why is ATEX a key issue for industrial IoT?
Deploying sensors in an ATEX zone imposes severe constraints:
- Equipment must be ATEX (or IECEx) certified for the zone concerned.
- They must not produce sparks or overheat in such a way as to ignite the surrounding atmosphere.
Yet the IoT brings major benefits to these environments:
- Real-time monitoring of equipment (pumps, valves, tanks) and environmental conditions (temperature, pressure, humidity).
- Predictive maintenance: detecting anomalies before they become breakdowns or incidents.
- Operator safety: automatic alerts in the event of dangerous conditions and traceability of interventions.
By choosing ATEX-compliant sensors, integrators secure their IoT solutions while complying with regulatory requirements.
Bluetooth Low Energy: technology for ATEX zones
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology is particularly well suited to ATEX environments for several reasons:
- Low energy consumption, enabling long autonomies and reducing the number of interventions in hazardous areas.
- Wireless transmission, compatible with smartphones, Wi-Fi routers, GPS trackers or gateways, facilitating interoperability and integration.
An ATEX-certified BLE sensor can therefore transmit temperature, movement, opening or presence data without compromising site security, while integrating seamlessly into a global industrial IoT solution.
Typical applications in ATEX environments
Here are a few concrete examples of where connected ATEX sensors can play a central role:
- Critical equipment monitoring: real-time monitoring of compressors, generators, valves or pumps to detect anomalies and plan maintenance before breakdowns occur.
- Control of hazardous product containers: monitoring the pressure, temperature or integrity of tanks and drums containing flammable or toxic products.
- Temperature monitoring in storage areas: automatic detection of abnormal temperature variations in ATEX zones (paints, pharmaceuticals, sensitive chemicals).
- Detection of valve, hatch or door opening: alerts in the event of unauthorized opening of tanker trucks, doors to protected areas or sensitive access.
- Operator geolocation: real-time tracking of personnel positions in hazardous areas, with alerts in the event of entry into a dangerous zone or emergency situation.
ELA Innovation launches its range of ATEX BLE sensors for industrial IoT
Aware of these challenges, ELA Innovation is leveraging its nearly 25 years of expertise in heavy-duty IoT sensors to offer a new ATEX-certified range.
Developed for ATEX 1* zones, this range is based on Bluetooth Low Energy technology and consists of four complementary products:
- Blue PUCK ID Ex: equipment identification and traceability.
- Blue PUCK T Ex : temperature measurement.
- Blue PUCK MAG Ex: opening detection (valves, doors, hatches).
- Blue PUCK MOV Ex: motion and position detection.
More information on our ATEX range
These sensors are wireless, 100% autonomous and designed to operate for several years on battery power (over 10 years depending on operating conditions), which drastically reduces the need for maintenance in high-risk areas.
IP68 certified, they withstand the most demanding environments: high-pressure washing, humidity, dust, extreme temperature variations.
This ATEX BLE range is particularly suited to the oil & gas, industrial chemicals, food processing and hazardous materials logistics sectors, where safety, robustness and regulatory compliance are non-negotiable.
*Clarification on Zone 1: for the products presented in this article, ATEX certification concerns only explosive atmospheres of flammable gases, vapors and mists (category G).
