Developments in standards and legislation for potentially explosive atmospheres, industry insights and news from the Schischek product range.
Standards, legislation and developments in explosion protection.
From 15–19 March 2027, Frankfurt am Main will host ISH – the world’s leading biennial trade fair for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and water. The Schischek brand has repeatedly exhibited here in the past, presenting new additions to its portfolio of actuators and sensors for potentially explosive atmospheres. As soon as the form of the Rotork Group’s participation in the 2027 edition is confirmed, we will let you know here. If you are planning to visit Frankfurt, we will be glad to help you prepare – from product documentation to topics for consultation.
From 1–3 December 2026, Messe Düsseldorf will host Valve World Expo – the biennial international exhibition and conference for industrial valves and valve actuation. The Rotork group, to which the Schischek brand belongs, will be exhibiting. On its stand, Rotork will present the latest developments in intelligent actuation, valve automation and flow control, with Rotork technicians and experts on hand. Rotork has also announced that it will unveil something new at the show –details have not yet been published.
From 13–15 October 2026, Nuremberg will host Chillventa – the world’s leading trade fair for refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation and heat pumps. For anyone designing or operating ventilation systems in potentially explosive atmospheres, it is an ideal opportunity to survey current technology and trends. If you are planning a visit and are interested in Schischek actuators and sensors, get in touch with us in advance – we will prepare documentation for you or arrange a consultation straight away. The Schischek brand also traditionally presents itself at the ISH trade fair in Frankfurt, the next edition of which takes place from 15–19 March 2027.
The rating plate of Ex equipment looks like a code, but it is easy to read. II = equipment for surface areas with an explosive atmosphere (group I = mines). 2G = category 2 for gases, i.e. Zones 1 and 2 (for dust it would be 2D for Zones 21 and 22). Ex de = the types of protection used: “d” flameproof enclosure, “e” increased safety. IIC = gas group – the most stringent, including hydrogen and acetylene. T6 = temperature class, maximum surface temperature 85 °C. Gb = equipment protection level (EPL) corresponding to Zone 1. For dust atmospheres the marking looks similar, e.g. “II 2D Ex tb IIIC T80 °C Db”.
The operator’s obligations do not end with the installation of certified equipment. IEC 60079-17 requires regular inspections of electrical installations in hazardous areas – from visual and close to detailed inspections. Without an expert assessment, the interval between periodic inspections should not exceed three years, and they may only be carried out by suitably qualified personnel. The inspection results tie in with the explosion protection document, which Czech operators are required to keep under Government Regulation No. 406/2004 Coll. The maintenance-free design of Schischek actuators considerably simplifies inspections – no lubrication or adjustment.
Not every potentially explosive area requires equipment for Zone 1. Where an explosive atmosphere occurs only rarely and for a short time – i.e. in Zones 2 and 22 – the more affordable RedMax series can be used instead of the ExMax series. It is a structurally identical actuator with the same parameters, dimensions and accessories, only with certification corresponding to the less stringent zones. The design therefore does not need to change and the savings can be significant. Note: the zone classification of an area is defined by the explosion protection document – if you are unsure about the classification, we will be glad to go through it with you.
The new edition of the official ATEX Guidelines clarifies the interpretation of Directive 2014/34/EU. Spare parts for repair and maintenance are now explicitly outside the scope of the Directive (unless they are equipment themselves), simple mechanical products without their own ignition source are not subject to regulation, and EU Declarations of Conformity and instructions may now be provided in digital form – safety-critical information, however, must remain available in print. The guidelines also prepare for the European Digital Product Passport.
With Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1810 of 11 September 2025 (published in the Official Journal on 12 September 2025), the European Commission amended the list of harmonised standards under the ATEX Directive – four standards were replaced by new editions, with the old editions remaining valid during a transition period until 12 March 2027. A further update of the list followed in January 2026 (Decision 2026/82). We recommend that manufacturers and operators check whether their documentation and declarations of conformity refer to the currently valid versions of the standards.
On 30 August 2024, the International Electrotechnical Commission published the sixth edition of IEC 60079-14, which sets out the rules for the design, selection and erection of electrical equipment in hazardous areas, including initial inspection. The standard has been fundamentally restructured and brings a number of technical changes compared with the 2013 edition. We recommend that designers and installation companies review their established procedures – an updated EN IEC 60079-11 for intrinsic safety was also published in the same period.
Key moments in the development of the brand and its background within the Rotork Group.
As part of its integration into the Rotork plc group, the manufacturer has operated under the company name Rotork GmbH since 2016 (entry in the commercial register on 28 July 2016). The product range continues under the original Schischek brand, and all certification, warranties and distribution have remained unchanged.
Since 20 April 2016, only the new Directive 2014/34/EU has applied in the EU, replacing the original 94/9/EC (ATEX 95). Schischek products transitioned to the new documentation and marking requirements without any impact on customers – existing installations remained valid.
In January 2013, the British Rotork plc group, a world leader in industrial actuators, completed the acquisition of the German manufacturer Schischek GmbH for EUR 41 million (approx. GBP 34 million). Schischek was retained as an independent production unit based in Langenzenn near Nuremberg. The transaction strengthened Rotork’s position in the segment of HVAC actuators for potentially explosive atmospheres.
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