Where flammable gases, vapours or dusts may be present, ordinary forklifts can be a source of ignition. In those areas the truck has to be suitable for the zone, and that is what ATEX conversion provides.
Which zones
- Zones 1 and 2: flammable gas or vapour (zone 1 more likely, zone 2 less likely)
- Zones 21 and 22: combustible dust
What can be converted
Forklifts, pallet trucks, access platforms, VNA trucks, MEWPs and cranes, depending on the equipment and the zone.
What else you may need
- Annual ATEX audits of converted trucks
- ATEX certification of customer-built equipment for Zone 2
- Gas detection for vehicles and fixed installations
- Bespoke items such as flameproof control panels, batteries and alternators
Two ways to get an ATEX forklift
Use your own dealer. If you already buy or lease trucks from a forklift dealer, we can coordinate with them and arrange the conversion of the truck they supply.
Buy from the dealer, then we convert it. Alternatively, you buy the truck from the dealer in the normal way and we then carry out the ATEX conversion.
We convert both new and used trucks, to the zone your hazardous area classification requires. Each converted truck is certified, and the certification is renewed every year after inspection.
First step
Your hazardous area classification tells you which zones apply. If you are not sure what you need, I can point you to the right route through a specialist UK and UAE partner.
Tahir Jamal Khawaja MIET
Founder, TJ Khawaja Industrial Consultants Ltd