ATEX 137 is now in force and the July 2006 deadline, by which time everything must be in place, is looming. With less than 12 months to go, what do motor users need to think of? The final deadline for ATEX implementation will fall in July next year. However, this is only the last one in a series of deadlines towards the full implementation. ATEX approved motors have been mandatory for new installations in hazardous areas since July 2003, but by July 1 2006, non-compliant motors, or motors without documentation, must either be replaced or a risk assessment carried out on them. Either way, the documentation and any certificates for each motor should be located. The directive allows no grace period for older installed equipment and it is the end user's responsibility to show that the equipment is safe. But despite successive deadlines passing and the final one being nearly upon us, the awareness of ATEX across industry is still fairly low. I estimate that the message has got through to about 35 to 40% of all users who operate motors in hazardous areas, says Brian Austick, product specialist, LV motors, at ABB. Users whose processes involve hazardous dusts tend to be least aware of ATEX, while those encountering hazardous atmospheres due to gas tend to be fairly well informed about the regulations. Dust was not separately covered under previous legislation, so many users with combustible dust do not consider themselves to have hazardous areas. Typical examples include woodworking and brewing industries. The food and bakery sectors also used to be in this category but are now catching up. One possible obstacle to information flow is that end users cannot turn to their OEM suppliers for advice, because the latter have no formal responsibility for ATEX. All responsibility is divided between the motor manufacturer, who guarantees that the product will not cause an explosion if used correctly, and the end user, who has to follow the instructions for correct use. No one else can share this responsibility. The end user is thus responsible for the work of OEMs, repairers and contractors, unless a manufacturer explicitly takes on this responsibility. For this reason, many OEMs and other third parties seek support and advice from a reputable motor manufacturer. ATEX divides plants up into zones according to the level of risk. Where explosive atmospheres occur briefly and infrequently, the area is Zone 2 for gases, vapours and mists or Zone 22 for dusts. Zones 1 and 21 cover areas where explosive atmospheres are likely to occur some of the time, while Zone 0 and Zone 20 are reserved for areas where explosive hazards are present most or all of the time.It may be tempting to try and simplify the process by using a blanket zone to cover the entire site but this could be a mistake. Over-protected equipment will have to be bought, installed and inspected and maintained; blanket zoning also raises a suspicion that the risk analysis may not have been carried out in sufficient detail.For further information about installing motors in hazardous areas, send an email to atex@gb.abb.com, requesting the guide, ATEX 137 - what it means for motor users. ABB also arranges ATEX seminars at major sites; information about these and related issues can also be obtained through this email address.