Working in potentially explosive environments is not as rare as one might think. A small electrical spark can be enough to cause great suffering and damage. Products and equipment used in such areas have to comply with the ATEX directives in the EU.
The abbreviation ATEX stands for the French term ATmosphères EXplosibles (explosive atmospheres). The ATEX directive regulates the aspects of explosion protection in the European Union and comprises the two directives 1999/92/EC (operating directive) and 2014/34/EU (product directive).