Changes in the ATEX GUIDELINE edition 6 – January 2026
The new edition of ATEX 2014/34/EU guidelines 6th edition (Jan 2026) was published.
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the following key changes, include:
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a brief comparison between the new edition and the 5th Edition (April 2024);
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highlighted significant revisions made by the ATEX Expert Group; and
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changes which reflect technological advancements and legislative updates.
Spare parts are not required to comply with Directive 2014/34/EU (Ref. § 33)
Revised § 33 clarifies that spare parts are not required to comply with Directive 2014/34/EU when they are intended for the maintenance of a finished product that has already been placed on the market. While the 5th Edition required spare parts to comply if they were defined as "equipment" or a "component" in their own right, the 6th Edition shifts the focus to the purpose of the part (maintenance of an existing finished product)
Simple Products that excluded from directive (Ref. § 38)
Both editions agree that most "simple" mechanical products (e.g., hammers, spanners, ladders, hand-operated valves) fall outside the scope because they lack an "own" source of ignition.
Revised § 38 in the 6th Edition, has been included an additional cautionary note that was not present in the 5th Edition, with the following content:
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Market surveillance authorities have the explicit right to restrict these simple products from the market if they conclude that the product poses a safety risk, such as a risk of explosion during use, even if the manufacturer claims an exemption.
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the Revised § 38 of the 6th Edition, clarifies that also a battery-operated pump declared for domestic/non-commercial use is generally excluded from the ATEX Directive scope based on Article 1.2(c).
