Position Statements

ESA Position Statement on ATEX Directive 94/9/EC and its applicability to Bearing Isolator Seals

The Directive ATEX 94/9/EC (ATEX 95) – 'Equipment and Protective Systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres' has been mandatory since 1 July 2003. On 22 February 2005, the EC ATEX Standing Committee provided a "Consideration document" on mechanical seals defining when a mechanical seal is to be considered a machinery element or an ATEX Component. Bearing Isolator seals should be considered in a similar manner to mechanical seals. The Members of the European Sealing Association (ESA) Mechanical Seals Division have developed the following "Position Statement " to further clarify related issues.

ESA Position Statement on the ATEX Directive 94/9/EC

The ATEX Directive (also known as "ATEX 95") - 'Equipment and Protective Systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres' - has been mandatory since 2003 July 1. Despite this, the interpretation of how this Directive applies to mechanical seals is still largely misunderstood. Consequently, the Members of the ESA Mechanical Seals Division have developed a Position Statement to act as a guidance towards clarification.

ESA Position Statement on the Machinery Directive 98/37/EC and 2006/42/EC

The new Directive 2006/42/EC will be transposed from 29 December 2009, on the repeal of the original Directive 98/37/EC. After consultation, it is the judgement of the ESA Mechanical Seals Division that the definition on applicable "Machinery" (in either the original or new Directive) does not apply to mechanical seals. They shall be classified as machinery elements or components when applicability to the Machinery Directive is considered and conformance is not required. Further detail is available in a Position Statement, which has been developed by the Members of the ESA Mechanical Seals Division.

ESA Position Statement on the EU Pressure Equipment Directive (97/23/EC)

The ESA has sought advice from sources across Europe, including the Verein Deutscher Maschinenbau-Anstalten e.V. (VDMA, Germany) and the Department of Trade and Industry (dti, United Kingdom) regarding the implications of the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) for mechanical seals. A Position Statement is available for clarification.

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