ATEX in community parking

ATEX declassification of a parking lot is required to certify that it does not present a risk of fire or explosion due to the accumulation of flammable gases.Although ITC-BT-29 does not directly mention parking lots as “ATEX facilities,” it does establish that any premises where flammable vapors may be generated must be assessed and classified.In many cases, underground or enclosed parking lots can be considered Zone 2, especially if there is poor ventilation or gasoline vapors accumulate.Although not a regulation, the REBT Technical Application Guide does mention parking lots as an example of premises where explosive atmospheres may occur, especially underground parking lots.There are various technical guides and regulations that can be applied in the declassification study.Since the parking lot is not intended to be classified as an ATEX zone, the owner must provide written technical justification (declassification), as required by Article 7 of Royal Decree 681/2003: “When there are no dangerous areas, this circumstance shall be documented.”