ATEX (Appareils destinés à être utilisés en Atmosphères Explosibles) certification is for equipment and protective systems which are to be used in potentially explosive atmospheres. It is the certification standard for the European Union.

This certification is a confirmation of the intrinsically safe (IS) nature of the equipment and means it can be safely used in the environments found in underground coal mines. Formal testing of the MinePhone and NS40 was carried out by DEKRA-EXAM of Germany.

According to the EU, “a potentially explosive atmosphere is composed of mixtures of gases, vapours, mists or dusts, which can ignite under certain operating conditions.”

All equipment used in these environments must be IS insured that it cannot create a spark.

Mine Site Technologies chief executive Lloyd Zenari said: “These approvals open a new door of opportunity for Mine Site Technologies in Europe, with the installation of these technologies now being progressed in mines in Germany, Poland and Russia.

“We make modern and fit-for-purpose technologies available to our customers with a focus on enhancing safety and productivity through applied technology. We provide the opportunity for increasing productivity and safely.”