On 10 November 2026, the European Commission published Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2480. This implementing decision amends Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1668 as regards the harmonised standard on equipment protection by type of protection n. In the EU, equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres is regulated by Directive 2014/34/EU.
Explosion-protection concept for electrical equipment intended for explosive gas atmospheres
Equipment protection by type of protection ‘n’ is an explosion-protection concept for electrical equipment intended for explosive gas atmospheres, associated mainly with ATEX Zone 2. Specifically, ATEX Zone 2 is an area where an explosive atmosphere consisting of gas, vapour or mist is not likely to occur during normal operation, and if it does occur, it will exist only for a short time.
Revision of harmonised standards
The Commission made a request to the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) for the drafting and revision of harmonised standards in support of Directive 2014/34/EU. CEN revised EN 60079-15:2010 – Explosive atmospheres – Part 15: Equipment protection by type of protection “n”. This resulted in the adoption of the harmonised standard EN IEC 60079-15:2019 and its amendment EN IEC 60079-15:2019/A11:2026 – Explosive atmospheres – Part 15: Equipment protection by type of protection “n”.
The standard EN IEC 60079-15:2019 as amended by EN IEC 60079-15:2019/A11:2026 satisfies the requirements it aims to cover, set out in Annex II to Directive 2014/34/EU. Consequently, reference to EN IEC 60079-15:2019/A11:2026 is published in the Official Journal of the EU:
For any questions on ATEX compliance and European market access, contact us here or at prodlaw@obelis.net.
Reference
EUR-Lex (2026). Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2480 of 9 November 2026 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1668 as regards the harmonised standard on equipment protection by type of protection n. Retrieved on 10 November 2026.
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