ATEX is an abbreviation of “Atmospheres Explosibles”. It is a regulation set out by the European Union to ensure the safety of products that are used to handle flammable products or are installed in environments containing flammable gases, vapours, mists or combustible dusts. For instance, if the pump is being installed in an explosive environment, then only the motor needs to meet the Atex standard stopping it from causing a spark during operation and igniting the atmosphere. However, if the fluid being pumped is flammable, then the pump will also need to meet Atex standards to ensure that no sparks are caused inside the pump itself when the fluid goes through it. It is crucial that an Atex rated pump or motor are used for applications involving explosive environments or flammable fluids, using a non-Atex pump or motor in these situations is extremely dangerous and contravenes health and safety standards.