Explosion Protection Document (EPD): legal requirements, mandatory content, validity and cost
The explosion protection document (EPD) is a mandatory core document for every company where an explosive atmosphere can form. In this guide we go through what the law requires, what it must contain, who can prepare it, how long it is valid and how much it costs – from a practical, operator's point of view.
The explosion protection document is not just an official „paper”: it is the document in which the employer proves that it has identified and assessed the explosion risk – flammable gas, vapour, mist or a dust/air mixture – and taken the necessary technical and organisational measures.
Who must have an explosion protection document?
If an explosive atmosphere can form anywhere in the technology, the employer must prepare an EPD – regardless of company size. Typical cases: solvent and paint use, alcohol storage, gas technologies, dusty technologies (flour, sugar, woodworking, metal dust), filling and unloading stations, battery chargers, gas receiving stations, biogas and wastewater technologies.
The documentation must be available before commissioning: explosion-hazardous equipment and protective systems may only be put into service if the EPD establishes the conditions under which they can be operated safely in the explosive atmosphere.
Which laws require it?
The obligation to have an explosion protection document is founded on several interlocking laws and directives:
- Act XCIII of 1993 on occupational safety (Mvt.) – the framework act.
- Decree 3/2003 (III. 11.) FMM–ESzCsM on the minimum occupational-safety requirements of potentially explosive workplaces. Section 9 of the decree directly requires the EPD. This decree transposes EU Directive 1999/92/EC (ATEX 153, formerly ATEX 137) into Hungarian law.
- Decree 54/2014 (XII. 5.) BM (National Fire Protection Code, OTSZ) – Section 99 of the Code also requires the explosion protection document, from the fire-safety side.
- TvMI 13 (Explosion protection) – the related Fire Protection Technical Guideline, which details the practical methodology.
So the EPD is both an occupational-safety and a fire-safety obligation – which is why it matters that whoever prepares it understands both sides.
Hazardous area classification and the current standards
The backbone of the explosion protection document is the hazardous area classification: determining where, how often and for how long an explosive atmosphere can form. This decides what equipment category of explosion-protected device may be selected for a given location. The classification methodology is given by the current standards:
- Gas, vapour, mist: EN IEC 60079-10-1:2021 – zones 0, 1, 2.
- Dust: EN 60079-10-2:2015 – zones 20, 21, 22.
Mandatory content of the EPD
A professional explosion protection document typically contains the following:
- Identification of the explosion-hazardous substances and technologies, and their properties (e.g. ignition temperature, explosion limits, dust characteristics).
- The hazardous area classification of the explosive areas and the zone map (drawings showing the extent of the zones).
- Analysis and assessment of ignition sources.
- Assessment of the explosion risk per job / area.
- Measures of the three-level protection system: preventing the formation of an explosive atmosphere, eliminating ignition sources, and reducing the harmful effect of an explosion to an acceptable level.
- Definition of the equipment categories and markings appropriate to the zones.
- Organisational measures: work permits, written instructions, supervision, training.
- Proof of conformity and the schedule of inspections.
How long is it valid? When must it be updated?
The explosion protection document is not a one-off, „lasts-forever” paper. It must be reviewed:
- before every technological or material change (new equipment, different solvent, modified layout), and
- even without a technological change, at least every 3 years, in line with the related periodic inspections (Section 277 (5) of the OTSZ also sets this at least 3-yearly frequency).
Practical advice: it is worth aligning the EPD review with the periodic inspection of Ex equipment, so they happen on one schedule, building on each other.
Who can prepare the explosion protection document?
Issuing the EPD is an occupational-safety expert activity, for which the law prescribes specific qualifications – the involvement of at least an intermediate-level occupational-safety and an intermediate-level fire-safety expert. (An important distinction: the hazardous area classification on its own does not necessarily require these qualifications, but the full, issuable EPD does.)
Beyond the legal minimum, a truly usable document also needs practical Ex expertise. Here the EPD is compiled by an ATEX – Ex explosion-protection technical expert who is also versed in the Ex standards for the design, selection and inspection of electrical equipment (EN 60079-14, EN 60079-17) – so the documentation not only „complies” towards the authority, but is also usable in day-to-day operation, with realistic equipment recommendations.
How much does the explosion protection document cost?
The price of the EPD is not a fixed list price – it depends on several factors:
- the size and number of the site and the explosive areas,
- the complexity of the technology (how many substances, how many ignition sources),
- whether a hazardous area classification or up-to-date documentation already exists,
- whether an on-site survey is needed, and to what depth.
Frequently asked questions
What is an explosion protection document (EPD)?
The mandatory core document of explosion-hazardous workplaces, which identifies and assesses the explosion risk, contains the hazardous area classification, and records the necessary technical and organisational protective measures.
Is the EPD mandatory?
Yes, at every workplace where an explosive atmosphere can form. The obligation is set by Section 9 of Decree 3/2003 (III. 11.) FMM–ESzCsM and Section 99 of the OTSZ.
How long is an EPD valid?
Always before a technological change, and otherwise it must be reviewed at least every 3 years.
Are hazardous area classification and the explosion protection document the same?
No. The hazardous area classification is one – key – part of the EPD, but it can also be prepared on its own. The full EPD additionally contains a risk assessment and protective measures.
Who can prepare it?
As an occupational-safety expert activity, an expert holding (or involving) the occupational-safety and fire-safety qualifications prescribed by law – complemented with practical Ex knowledge.
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