THE GUIDE explains what the two zone classifications mean and how batteries used in these areas must be certified and maintained.

Zone 2 covers areas where an explosive mixture of air and flammable gas or vapour is not likely to occur during normal operation and, if it does, should only persist briefly. Zone 22 applies the same principle to combustible dust. Both are commonly found in storage areas, and Midac identifies them as the most common application for materials handling equipment in hazardous areas.

Battery supply falls under Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX 114), while Directive 1999/92/EC (ATEX 153) requires businesses to manage workplace risks and prevent explosive atmospheres forming or igniting.

Batteries are certified independently of the trucks they power. Assessments cover the cells and battery assembly, including connectors and bolts, but exclude the plug and harness. Cells must be housed in a suitable plastic-lined tank, and the battery must carry ATEX labelling and accurate weight information. Midac then issues a Declaration of Conformity for each battery.

To keep certification valid, batteries should be inspected annually by ATEX-trained professionals, and repairs must be carried out by the manufacturer using demonstrably competent personnel. After a repair, the battery must be returned to its original condition, with before-and-after photographs kept in its technical construction file for the life of the battery.

Midac UK has supplied ATEX-certified batteries since 2020, working with explosion protection specialist Pyroban, which supported its original certification process.