New Rules have Come into Force, Have you Checked Whether You’re Affected?

New Rules have Come into Force, Have you Checked Whether You’re Affected?

Friday 10 July

On 30th May 2026, an update to the rules governing explosion-safe electrical equipment officially came into force. It received very little attention outside specialist circles, but if you run a site that handles flammable liquids, gases, dusts, or chemicals, it's worth understanding. It affects whether the equipment on your site still has a valid, current certification.

Understanding the Scope of the Directive

The ATEX directive applies to electrical equipment used where flammable materials make sparks dangerous—such as explosion-proof lights, sealed panels, switches, and cable fittings. It defines the strict safety standards this equipment must meet, and the mandatory paperwork required to prove it is safe.

What changed in May 2026

The amendment that came into force updates the procedures around how equipment gets certified and how compliance is assessed during a market emergency or supply chain disruption. More practically for site operators, it reinforces something introduced in the updated guidelines published in January 2026: if your business installs or modifies equipment on site by combining components from different sources, your business is now treated as the manufacturer. That means the legal responsibility for ensuring compliance sits with you, not with the companies that made the individual parts.

How DSEAR fits in

Running alongside ATEX is a separate but connected legal requirement. DSEAR applies to any business working with materials that could cause a fire or explosion, fuel, solvents, flammable dusts, gases, and certain cleaning chemicals. It requires a written document on file that maps out where those risks exist, how serious they are, and what controls are in place. Crucially, it isn't a one-time exercise. It has to be kept up to date every time something on site changes.

Why now is the right time to act

Reviewing certificates, checking documentation, and arranging a proper inspection all take time, and they require access to equipment that's often difficult during busy operational periods. June and July tend to be when industrial sites have planned shutdowns, reduced throughput, or scheduled maintenance windows, which makes them the most practical months to get this kind of work done without disrupting production. If a quieter period is coming up on your site, that's the window to use.

How we can help

Our CompEx-accredited engineers carry out detailed inspections of hazardous area electrical equipment, checking not just the physical condition of installations but whether the certification attached to them is current and correct. We also carry out full DSEAR assessments, producing the zone drawings and written risk assessment your site needs.

If you're not sure whether your equipment certification is still current, or when your DSEAR assessment was last reviewed, those are exactly the kinds of questions we can help you answer. Get in touch with the team, and we'll take it from there.