Explosion protection per 2014/34/EU
ATEX Valves for Zone 1/21 – Ball Valves, Pressure Regulators and Safety Valves
In hazardous areas, it's not just the function of a valve that matters, but its admissibility. Anyone shutting off flow, reducing pressure or protecting a vessel against overpressure in Zone 1 or Zone 21 must be able to assign the component to a zone, read its marking and justify the selection in a traceable way. STASTO stocks ATEX-marked valves for this: flanged ball valves of series BA055 and BA056 – manual or actuated –, pressure regulators of series PR03 and safety valves of series SV25.
Shut-off, control and isolation in Zone 1/21
Why STASTO
Ex-rated valves with proper sizing, not just a catalogue page
Sizing based on zone and media, marking and documentation per series, contacts with valve expertise – this is how we work on your Ex procurement.
Selection by zone, not by catalog page
We start with your facility's zone classification and the medium involved. Gas or dust ATEX zone, temperature at the installation site, and connection type determine which design from the BA055/BA056, PR03, or SV25 series is suitable. If no standard variant fits, we say so and look for an alternative together with you.
Shut-off, control, and safety from a single source
Ball valve, pressure regulator, safety valve, solenoid coil, and flow monitoring come from a single range. This reduces interfaces in sizing, ordering, and documentation – and lets us check whether the components match each other in marking and temperature class.
Documentation you can actually work with
For ATEX valves, you need more than just a part number: marking, datasheet, and – depending on series and manufacturer – conformity or manufacturer documentation. We clarify on request, before ordering, which documents are available for a given variant.
Functional chain, not a single component
A correctly marked ball valve is of little use if the actuator, solenoid coil, supply cable, or monitoring don't cover the zone. We check the chain of valve, actuator, ATEX hose series PA-AYA, and flow switch together with you.
Understanding the basics
ATEX, zones and marking – explained briefly
Anyone sourcing a valve for hazardous areas must align zone, marking and directive scope. The key terms at a glance.
Zones for gas and dust explosion protection
- Zone 0 / Zone 20
- Explosive atmosphere is present continuously or for long periods – gas (0) or dust (20).
- Zone 1
- Hazardous gas or vapour atmosphere occasionally occurs during normal operation – the typical zone for Ex-rated valves in the chemical industry.
- Zone 21
- Combustible dust occasionally forms a cloud during normal operation – e.g. in mills, feed processing and extraction systems.
- Zone 2 / Zone 22
- Occurs only rarely and briefly; the zone classification comes from the plant's explosion protection document.
Reading the marking
- II 2G / II 2D
- Equipment group II (surface), category 2 for Zone 1 (G = gas) or Zone 21 (D = dust).
- Ex mb
- Type of protection encapsulation – on the Type Y solenoid coil implemented as Ex mb IIC or Ex mb tb IIIC.
- IIC / IIIC
- Explosion group of the gas or dust atmosphere; IIC and IIIC cover the most demanding substance groups.
- T4 / T130 °C
- Temperature class for gas or maximum surface temperature for dust – example from the marking II 2G Ex mb IIC T4 / II 2D Ex mb tb IIIC T130 °C.
Directive 2014/34/EU
- Scope of application
- The directive expressly also covers non-electrical equipment; a purely mechanical valve falls under it if it has its own potential ignition source.
- Ignition sources
- Friction, mechanically generated sparks or electrostatic charging can turn a valve into equipment within the meaning of the directive.
- Ignition hazard assessment
- The ignition hazard assessment is carried out according to EN ISO 80079-36/-37; whether a version is marked as equipment or supplied as a component without its own ignition source depends on the series.
- Documentation
- Marking, datasheet and – depending on series and manufacturer – conformity or manufacturer documentation form the basis of your operator documentation.
Product Range
ATEX Valves in the STASTO Range
Flanged ball valves, pressure regulators, safety valves and accessories with ATEX marking – nominal sizes, materials and markings vary by variant.
Series Comparison
BA055/BA056, PR03 and SV25 Compared
Shut-off, control, or safety – the three series families cover different functions in the Ex area. Values and marking depend on the variant.
| BA055/BA056-ATEX | PR03-ATEX | SV25-ATEX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Function | Shut-off | Reduce and maintain constant pressure | Protection against inadmissible overpressure |
| Design | Flanged ball valve | Pressure regulator | Spring-loaded safety valve |
| Actuation | Manual (BA055-L/BA056-L) or automated with actuator | Self-acting regulating | Self-acting responsive |
| ATEX versions in the range | BA055-L-ATEX, BA056-L-ATEX, BA055, BA056-ATEX | PR03-ATEX, PR03-3C-ATEX | SV25-3C-ATEX, SV25-3G-ATEX |
| Typical application | Manual shut-off, maintenance shut-off, switching function | Defined pressure for downstream consumers | Vessel and pipeline protection |
| Variant-dependent specifications | Nominal size, material, seal, marking | Pressure range, connection, material | Set pressure, seal material, connection |
Applications
Where ATEX valves from our range are used
Gas explosion hazard or dust explosion hazard, solvents or flour dust – the zone determines which design is permitted.
Chemical and process engineering
Solvent-containing media, dosing and transfer stations, reactor peripherals. Gas explosion protection is usually the main focus here – shut-off, pressure reduction and overpressure protection in the same assembly are in demand.
Paint, coating and finishing systems
Spraying and mixing areas with flammable solvent vapours. Shut-off and control valves must be suitable for the designated zone and compatible with the cleaning media used.
Grain, feed and milling operations
Dust explosion hazard from grain, flour or feed dust. Relevant factors include dust zones such as Zone 21 and the maximum surface temperature of components.
Woodworking and extraction systems
Chips and wood dust in extraction and filter systems. Often combined with compressed air functions for filter cleaning – both the valve and the supply line must then match the zone.
Compressed air supply in hazardous areas
PR03 series pressure regulators keep the operating pressure stable for downstream consumers, even with fluctuating inlet pressure. Supply via the PA-AYA series ATEX hose.
Paint and coating lines in vehicle manufacturing
Designated Ex zones apply in paint lines and pre-treatment systems. Shut-off and control functions must be carried out there with appropriate marking and temperature class.
Availability
Availability, Variants and Delivery
Ex-rated valves are rarely off-the-shelf: within a single series, nominal sizes, materials, seals and the associated marking can differ.
Variants instead of blanket specs
Nominal sizes, material and seal designs as well as the associated Ex marking differ within a series. The values applicable to your case can be found on the product or variant page, or you can ask us directly.
Availability
Stock levels and lead times depend on series, nominal size and design – we will confirm the current status for your specific inquiry.
Actuated Versions
Ball valves are available manually operated or actuated depending on the series; pre-assembled STASTO combinations match valve, actuator and accessories to one another.
Replacement and Reordering
For existing installations, we check your current marking or part number to determine which current design is the right fit.
Procedure
How to select an ATEX valve
From zone classification to a documented selection – three steps we take together with you.
Determine zone and operating data
The basis is the zone classification from the explosion protection document – gas ATEX (zones 0/1/2) and dust ATEX (zones 20/21/22) are considered separately. This is complemented by the medium, operating and test pressure, temperature at the installation site, connection type, and nominal size.
Compare marking and check the chain
The marking states the equipment group and category, atmosphere, type of protection, explosion group and temperature class. It must cover the zone in question – and the actuator, coil, cable and monitoring must match as well.
Document the selection
Record the item designation, marking and the zone on which it is based – the foundation for your operator documentation and any future reordering. We'll tell you in advance which documents we can provide for the selected variant.
Frequently Asked Questions
ATEX Valves: Questions and Answers
Answers on zones, marking, the directive and selection.
Which valves does STASTO offer for Zone 1 and Zone 21?
STASTO offers flanged ball valves in the BA055 and BA056 series in ATEX versions – manual (BA055-L-ATEX, BA056-L-ATEX) and actuated (BA055, BA056-ATEX) –, pressure regulators in the PR03-ATEX and PR03-3C-ATEX series, and safety valves in the SV25-3C-ATEX and SV25-3G-ATEX series. Which zones a specific version covers depends on the variant and is clarified upon inquiry.
What is the ATEX directive 2014/34/EU?
2014/34/EU is the EU directive covering equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. It explicitly also covers non-electrical equipment – a purely mechanical valve falls within its scope if it has its own potential ignition source, for example through friction, mechanically generated sparks or electrostatic charging.
What does the marking II 2G Ex mb IIC T4 / II 2D Ex mb tb IIIC T130 °C mean?
The marking specifies equipment group and category, atmosphere, type of protection, explosion group and temperature class – in this example, category 2 for gas (G) and dust (D), type of protection encapsulation, explosion group IIC or IIIC, temperature class T4 and a maximum surface temperature of 130 °C. This marking is carried by the Type Y solenoid coil from our range.
What is the difference between Zone 1 and Zone 21?
Zone 1 covers areas where an explosive gas or vapor atmosphere is likely to occur occasionally, while Zone 21 covers areas where a combustible dust cloud is likely to occur occasionally. Gas Ex and dust Ex are assessed separately – for dust, the maximum surface temperature of the components is also a key factor.
Does a mechanical valve even need ATEX marking?
Yes, if it has its own potential ignition source – in that case it falls under 2014/34/EU. The assessment is carried out via an ignition hazard assessment in accordance with EN ISO 80079-36/-37. Whether a particular version is marked as equipment under the directive or supplied as a component without its own ignition source depends on the series and is clarified upon inquiry.
What documentation do I receive with an ATEX valve?
Ex-rated valves include marking, datasheet and – depending on series and manufacturer – conformity or manufacturer documentation. Which documents are available for a given variant, and in what form, we clarify on request before ordering.
Are the ball valves also available with an actuator?
Yes, the flanged ball valves of series BA055 and BA056 are available manual or actuated. In addition, there are pre-assembled STASTO combinations of valve, actuator and accessories – here the ATEX suitability applies to the complete ordered combination, not to a separate ATEX series variant of the ball valve itself.
What should be considered for hose and flow monitoring in hazardous areas?
Supply line and flow monitoring must also match the zone, not just the valve. For media supply we offer the ATEX hose of series PA-AYA, and for flow monitoring, flow switches in ATEX design.
Related products
Complementary components for hazardous areas
Valve, cable and monitoring must all match the zone together. These areas complement the ATEX valves.
Next Step
Get Your ATEX Valve Sized for the Zone
Tell us the zone, medium and operating data – we'll check which version of the BA055/BA056, PR03 or SV25 series is suitable and which documentation is available for it.