This is a "new approach" Directive which applies to equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres and to safety devices which are outside potentially explosive atmospheres but have an influence on equipment installed in such atmospheres. Its purpose is to cover risks both from electrical and non-electrical sources and to replace the old optional Directives 76/117/EEC and 79/196/EEC (surface equipment) and 82/13/EEC (mining equipment), as well as their successive amending Directives 84/47/EEC, 88/517/EEC, 90/487/EEC, 88/35/EEC and 91/269/EEC, which relate only to the electrical field.
Elle vise à couvrir les risques provenant tant de source électrique que de source non-électrique et à remplacer les anciennes directive optionnelles 76/117/CEE et 79/196/CEE (équipement et surface) et 82/130/CEE (équipement minier) ainsi que leurs modifications successives 84/47/CEE, 88/517/CEE, 90/487/CEE, 88/35/CEE et 91/269/CEE, qui ne concernent que le domaine électrique. Les appareils visés par la directive sont regroupés dans deux groupes.