Specifying a pump for an explosive atmosphere without understanding what the ATEX marking actually says is a compliance risk and a safety risk. The label on a Fluimac Phoenix carries a full ATEX and IECEx code, and every element of that code has a specific meaning that determines where the pump can legally and safely be installed. Most people read the zone number and stop. That’s not enough.
What ATEX Covers
ATEX is the European directive (2014/34/EU) governing equipment installed in potentially explosive atmospheres. In Malaysia and across Southeast Asia, the equivalent international certification is IECEx — the Fluimac Phoenix carries both. For practical purposes, IECEx and ATEX mark the same equipment categories; a pump carrying both marks meets either standard.
The Fluimac Phoenix range is certified under the non-electrical equipment standard (ISO 80079-36/37), which means the certification is based on constructional safety and ignition source control rather than electrical insulation — relevant because AODD pumps are pneumatically operated and generate no electrical signals internally.
Reading the Zone Classification
The ATEX marking on Phoenix pumps (for the smaller models P01–P120) reads:
II 2/2 G Ex h IIC T4 Gb (Zone 1, gas)
II 2 D Ex h IIIB T135°C Db X (Zone 1, dust)
Or for Zone 2 standard models:
II 3/3 G Ex h IIC T4 Gb (Zone 2, gas)
II 3 D Ex h IIIB T135°C Db X (Zone 2, dust)
Here’s what each element means:
II — Surface industry equipment (as opposed to mining/underground, which is Group I).
2/2 G or 3/3 G — Equipment category for gas. Category 2 equipment can be installed in Zone 1 (explosive atmosphere likely to occur occasionally during normal operation). Category 3 equipment is for Zone 2 (explosive atmosphere unlikely or only briefly present). The 2/2 notation means the pump is rated Category 2 for both indoor and outdoor installation.
2 D or 3 D — Equipment category for dust. Zone 21 dust (Category 2) or Zone 22 dust (Category 3).
Ex h — Type of protection. “h” refers to protection by constructional safety measures, defined under ISO 80079-36. No ignition sources generated by design.
IIC or IIB — Gas group. IIC covers the most dangerous gas group — hydrogen, acetylene, carbon disulfide. IIB covers propane, ethylene, and most common industrial solvents. Smaller Phoenix models (P01–P120) are rated IIC. Larger models (P160–P1000) are rated IIB. If you’re working with hydrogen or acetylene, you need the smaller model range rated IIC, not the larger IIB-rated models.
T4 — Temperature class. T4 means the maximum surface temperature of the equipment does not exceed 135°C. This limits the risk of the pump surface igniting an explosive atmosphere. The X suffix on the dust marking indicates a special condition: the pump cannot process explosive dust internally.
Gb / Db — Equipment Protection Level. Gb is the EPL for gas Zone 1 equipment (very high protection, two independent means of protection). Db is the equivalent for dust.
The Temperature Limit That Changes with Zone
For Zone 1 installations, the Phoenix manual specifies a maximum fluid processing temperature lower than the T4 class surface temperature of 135°C. The formula is: T4 (135°C) minus the calculation factor Tx (55°C) equals maximum fluid temperature of 80°C. This applies regardless of the pump casing material — the fluid temperature in a Zone 1 installation must not exceed 80°C.
For Zone 2, the maximum fluid temperature depends on casing material: PP/PC versions are limited to 65°C; PVDF, Aluminium, and SS316 versions can handle up to 95°C.
These limits exist because the fluid temperature contributes to the surface temperature of the pump. In an explosive atmosphere, exceeding these limits means you can no longer guarantee the pump surface stays below T4.
IIC vs IIB: Why It Matters for Large Pumps
The split at P120/P160 matters in specific applications. If you need a high-flow AODD pump (P160 and above) for a hydrogen application, the Phoenix range doesn’t certify to IIC for those sizes — only IIB. For hydrogen duty at high flow, a different pump type or a different manufacturer’s product would be required. This is a specification trap that catches people who select based on flow alone without checking the gas group certification against the actual process chemistry.
Grounding is Part of ATEX Compliance
The Phoenix ATEX certification requires the pump to be correctly earthed. The manual is explicit: lack of grounding or incorrect grounding cancels all ATEX compliance. For pumps built from non-conductive materials (PP, PVDF), static charge can accumulate during operation. Conductive-grade variants (PC = PP+CF, KC = PVDF+CF) are available for applications where static dissipation is required without a metallic casing.
For ATEX Zone 1 installations specifically, the grounding connection must be verified before commissioning and rechecked as part of routine maintenance. Zone 1 grounding requirements are more stringent than Zone 2.
If you’re specifying a Fluimac Phoenix for a hazardous area installation and need help confirming the right ATEX category and gas group for your process, contact us at info@autoflotechnology.com.