KTR Shaft Couplings in accordance with ATEX

• 
• 9th May 2008
• Materials Handling
 

Explosive atmospheres can be caused by flammable gases, mists or vapours or by combustible dusts. If there is enough of the substance, mixed with air, then all it needs is a source of ignition to cause an explosion.

Preventing releases of dangerous substances, which can create explosive atmospheres, and preventing sources of ignition are two widely used ways of reducing the risk of explosion. Using the correct equipment can help greatly in this.

Appendix II of the EC standard 94/9/EC, known as ATEX 95, requires equipment to adhere to general health & safety specifications on machines operating in hazardous areas within the EU.  Equipment is marked by the "EX" symbol to identify it as being tested and certified by an approved body.

KTR offers a number of couplings in conformity with ATEX which can be used in hazardous areas.  As one of the leading manufacturers of shaft couplings for chemical technology, KTR dealt with the specifications of the ATEX standards at an early stage and had a major series of the overall program examined by an independent institute with regard to the use in explosion-proof areas.

Among the ATEX certified couplings are the torsionally flexible ROTEX, POLY-NORM and POLY jaw couplings in various designs, the backlash-free torsionally flexible ROTEX GS, the BoWex curved-tooth gear coupling, RADEX-N steel lamina couplings and servo lamina coupling RADEX-NC, plus many more.

KTR have produced a leaflet to explain the specifications of ATEX 95, introduces the device categories and comments on the standard marking of those components being used in areas subject to gas and dust explosion.  It also introduces the KTR program for explosion-proof areas and takes each product in turn to explain its own relation to ATEX.

For more information, please contact:
KTR Couplings Ltd
Sheffield, UK
Phone: +44 (0)114 258 7757