How are explosive atmospheres and Ex equipment regulated in Belgium?

Belgium regulates explosive atmospheres at work through book III, title 4 of the Code of well-being at work, which transposes the ATEX workplace Directive 1999/92/EC. The employer must assess explosion risks, classify hazardous areas into zones, keep an explosion protection document up to date and use equipment of the matching ATEX category. Ex equipment placed on the market must conform to the EU ATEX product Directive 2014/34/EU and carry CE marking.

Short answer

• User side (employer): Code of well-being at work, articles III.4-1 to III.4-9 and annexes III.4-1 to III.4-3.
• Prevention priority: prevent the formation of explosive atmospheres; otherwise avoid ignition; then limit the harmful effects of an explosion.
• Zones: 0, 1 and 2 for gas, vapour and mist; 20, 21 and 22 for combustible dust.
• Explosion protection document (document relatif à la protection contre les explosions): compulsory, kept up to date and revised after significant changes.
• Equipment categories: category 1 in zones 0 or 20; 1 or 2 in zones 1 or 21; 1, 2 or 3 in zones 2 or 22, unless the explosion protection document justifies otherwise.
• Product side: CE marking under Directive 2014/34/EU; IECEx certification is voluntary and does not replace it in the EU.

What the employer must do

The employer assesses explosion risks taking into account the likelihood and duration of explosive atmospheres, the likelihood of ignition sources including electrostatic discharges, the installations, substances and processes, and the scale of foreseeable effects. Rooms connected by openings to hazardous areas are included. Measures are reviewed periodically and whenever significant changes occur.

The internal prevention service takes part in zoning, and where the necessary competence is missing, the risk-management section of the external service is involved. Zoned areas are signposted at their entrances, where needed, with the triangular yellow "EX" warning sign set out in annex III.4-3.

The explosion protection document must show that:

1. Explosion risks have been determined and evaluated.
2. Adequate measures will be taken.
3. Which places are classified in zones.
4. Which places the minimum requirements of annex III.4-2 apply to.
5. Workplaces and equipment, including alarm devices, are designed, used and maintained with due regard for safety.
6. Arrangements exist for the safe use of work equipment.

It must also describe how the host employer coordinates prevention when contractors or self-employed persons work on site. It may be combined with other risk assessments and documents.

Organisational and technical minimum requirements

Annex III.4-2 requires sufficient and appropriate training in explosion protection for workers in hazardous areas, written instructions and work permits where the explosion protection document requires them, protective clothing that does not cause electrostatic discharges, warning signals and evacuation before explosion conditions are reached, and escape routes where needed. Before workplaces with hazardous areas are used for the first time, the overall explosion safety of the installation must be verified by persons competent in explosion protection.

Equipment already in use before 30 June 2003 may stay in service only if the explosion protection document shows it can be used safely in explosive atmospheres, and it must meet part A of annex III.4-2; equipment first made available from that date must also meet the category selection rules of part B.

Ex equipment and related Belgian rules

Equipment and protective systems for explosive atmospheres must conform to Directive 2014/34/EU, with CE marking and the specific Ex marking. A notified body takes part in the conformity assessment of category 1 (and M1) equipment, autonomous protective systems, and category 2 electrical equipment and internal combustion engines. The Code's equipment-selection annex still refers to the royal decree of 22 June 1999, which transposed the earlier product Directive 94/9/EC; that directive was repealed from 20 April 2016, and the categories 1, 2 and 3 used for selection are the same under Directive 2014/34/EU. Product rules for Ex equipment are a matter for the FPS Economy, not the FPS Employment.

Other Belgian texts often apply at the same sites:

• Electrical installations: the General Regulation on Electrical Installations (RGIE / AREI) and book III, title 2 of the Code, with inspections by approved bodies and BA4 or BA5 competence, granted by the employer, for the activities the RGIE reserves to such persons.
• Flammable liquid storage: book III, title 5 of the Code covers depots of flammable liquids.
• Major-hazard sites: the Seveso cooperation agreement of 16 February 2016.

The workplace title does not apply to medical treatment areas, gas appliances under Regulation (EU) 2016/426, explosives manufacture and handling, mineral-extracting industries covered by their own decrees, or transport by road, rail, water and air.

Related on excodex

• Occupational safety and health in Belgium: law, authorities and employer duties
• ATEX explained: the two EU directives 2014/34/EU and 1999/92/EC
• The Explosion Protection Document (EPD) and area classification drawings
• Which ATEX equipment needs a notified body?
• Which rules apply to major-hazard chemical sites in Belgium?

Standards and further reading

• Code of well-being at work, book III, title 4 (articles III.4-1 to III.4-9, annexes III.4-1 to III.4-3), consolidated 13 June 2026: FPS Employment PDF
• Directive 1999/92/EC on minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres
• Directive 2014/34/EU on equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres
• EN IEC 60079-10-1 and EN IEC 60079-10-2 (classification of areas for gas and for dust)

This article is general occupational safety and health information prepared by the excodex editorial team. It does not replace the applicable legislation, standards, manufacturers' instructions or the assessment of a competent OSH professional or occupational physician.