Last reviewed: July 2026 · Reading time: ~12 minutes
In hazardous-area industries—oil and gas platforms, petrochemical refineries, pharmaceutical solvent handling, grain and flour processing, and paint or coating plants—an ordinary display can become an ignition source. A single spark from a monitor's power supply or backlight inverter is enough to ignite an explosive atmosphere. That is why the European Union mandates ATEX certification for any electrical equipment operated where flammable gases, vapours, mists, or combustible dust may be present.
This guide reviews ten of the most widely deployed ATEX-certified explosion-proof industrial monitors currently available across European markets. It is written to help engineering managers, HSE officers, and system integrators shortlist compliant hardware—and, just as importantly, to explain how to verify that a monitor is genuinely certified for the zone it will operate in.
About This Review — Methodology & Sources
The selections below are informed by publicly available manufacturer certification documentation, EU Declarations of Conformity, and the harmonised standards referenced in Directive 2014/34/EU (commonly called the "ATEX Product Directive"). Model availability, zone ratings, and certificate numbers change over time, so every specification stated here should be re-verified against the manufacturer's current EU-Type Examination Certificate before purchase.
We prioritised products that: (1) carry a certificate issued by a recognised EU Notified Body; (2) clearly publish their zone, gas/dust group, and temperature class; and (3) are supported by a European distribution or service network. Ranking reflects breadth of hazardous-area applicability and documentation transparency—not a paid placement. No manufacturer sponsored this article.
Understanding ATEX Before You Compare Products
"ATEX" derives from the French ATmosphères EXplosibles. Two directives are relevant:
- Directive 2014/34/EU — governs equipment and protective systems intended for use in explosive atmospheres (the product side).
- Directive 1999/92/EC — governs the employer's duty to protect workers in explosive atmospheres (the workplace side).
When you evaluate a monitor, three markings determine whether it is suitable for your specific location:
| Marking | What it tells you | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment Group & Category | Group I = mining; Group II = surface industries. Category 1/2/3 maps to zone suitability. | II 2 GD |
| Zone rating (Gas / Dust) | Gas: Zone 0/1/2. Dust: Zone 20/21/22. Lower number = higher risk / more frequent presence. | Zone 1 / Zone 21 |
| Gas group & Temperature class | Gas subgroup (IIA/IIB/IIC) and maximum surface temperature (T1–T6). | IIC T6 (max 85 °C) |
Practical note from the field: a very common procurement mistake is buying a Zone 2 monitor for a Zone 1 area to save cost. Zone 1 requires a higher equipment category and a fundamentally different protection concept (e.g. flameproof enclosure "Ex d" or purged "Ex p"). A Zone 2 unit installed in Zone 1 is not compliant, will fail an audit, and voids insurance. Always match the equipment category to the zone, then confirm gas group and temperature class.
Common Protection Concepts You'll See
- Ex d (Flameproof enclosure): the housing contains any internal explosion and cools escaping gases below ignition temperature. Common for Zone 1 monitors.
- Ex p (Pressurised / purged): a protective gas (air or inert) maintains positive internal pressure so flammable atmosphere cannot enter. Often used for larger displays and PCs.
- Ex e (Increased safety): design measures prevent arcs and excess temperatures in normal operation.
- Ex ic/ib (Intrinsic safety): limits energy so ignition cannot occur—more common in peripherals and low-power panels.
The Top 10 ATEX Certified Explosion-Proof Monitors
The models below are grouped by typical use case. Where a manufacturer offers a family of sizes, we reference the family rather than a single SKU.
1. Pepperl+Fuchs VisuNet GXP / FLM Series
Pepperl+Fuchs is one of the most established names in explosion protection. Their VisuNet GXP thin-client monitors and Remote Monitors are widely used for Zone 1 and Zone 2/22 installations, typically employing pressurisation or purge-based concepts for the higher-risk zones. Strengths: mature European service network, extensive documentation, and integration with thin-client/RDP architectures. Best for: process control rooms adjacent to refinery and chemical hazardous areas.
2. R. STAHL ORCA / HMISERIES Operator Terminals
R. STAHL (Germany) specialises in Ex equipment and offers robust operator terminals and monitors rated for Zone 1/21 and Zone 2/22. Their flameproof and purged solutions are a common choice on European offshore and onshore oil and gas assets. Strengths: deep hazardous-area heritage, strong marine and offshore acceptance. Best for: heavy-industry and offshore installations demanding Zone 1 displays.
3. Bartec POLARIS / Industrial PC Monitors
Bartec (Germany) manufactures a broad range of explosion-protected industrial PCs and monitors, including large-format panels for Zone 1 and Zone 2. Known for stainless-steel enclosures suited to washdown and corrosive environments. Best for: pharmaceutical, food, and chemical plants needing hygienic, corrosion-resistant Ex displays.
4. Pepperl+Fuchs / ecom Instruments Ex Displays
ecom (part of Pepperl+Fuchs) is well known for mobile and fixed hazardous-area devices. Their fixed Ex monitors and panel solutions cover Zone 1 and Zone 2 use cases with a focus on serviceability. Best for: sites standardising on a single Ex ecosystem for mobile plus fixed equipment.
5. Extronics iTABLET / Ex Display Solutions
Extronics (UK) provides ATEX and IECEx display and HMI solutions, with strong representation in UK and European oil, gas, and chemical sectors. Best for: British and European operators wanting locally supported Zone 1/Zone 2 displays and HMIs.
6. Beckhoff CP-Series Panels (Ex-rated variants)
Beckhoff's control panels are ubiquitous in European automation; specific variants and enclosure integrations are used in Zone 2/22 areas. When paired with a certified enclosure or purge system they serve less severe hazardous zones cost-effectively. Best for: Zone 2/22 machine-adjacent HMI where PC-based control (TwinCAT) is already in use. Verify the exact Ex certification of the specific panel variant.
7. Hope Industrial / MPL / Third-Party Ex-Enclosed Monitors
Several integrators supply standard industrial LCDs installed inside certified purged or flameproof enclosures. This "commercial monitor + certified enclosure" approach is legitimate only when the complete assembly holds its own ATEX certificate. Best for: custom large-format or specialty resolutions not available as native Ex products—provided the enclosed assembly is certified as a unit.
8. Elpro / Getac Ex Rugged Displays
Rugged-computing vendors offer ATEX Zone 2/22 rated rugged displays and tablets suitable for mobile inspection and less severe fixed installations. Best for: maintenance rounds, inspection, and Zone 2 field use where portability matters.
9. Nexcom / Advantech Ex-Certified Industrial Panels
Selected Advantech and Nexcom panel PCs and monitors carry ATEX Zone 2/22 certification for gas and dust environments. Widely distributed across Europe with strong integrator availability. Best for: Zone 2/22 process visualisation where a mainstream industrial-PC ecosystem is preferred.
10. Ceia / MTL (Eaton) Ex Interface Displays
Eaton's MTL brand and related suppliers offer intrinsically safe and Ex-rated interface and display products for control and monitoring in Zone 1/2. Best for: instrumentation-led projects already standardised on MTL/Eaton hazardous-area infrastructure.
How to Choose — A Practical Buyer's Checklist
- Confirm the zone first. Obtain the site's hazardous-area classification drawing (DSEAR/ATEX zoning study). Never assume; ask the process safety engineer.
- Match category to zone. Zone 0/20 → Category 1; Zone 1/21 → Category 2; Zone 2/22 → Category 3.
- Check gas group and temperature class. Hydrogen or acetylene environments require IIC; verify T-class against the lowest ignition temperature present.
- Read the actual certificate. Request the EU-Type Examination Certificate and EU Declaration of Conformity. Confirm the certificate number, issuing Notified Body, and that the model number matches exactly.
- Verify ingress and corrosion ratings. IP65/IP66 and stainless steel matter for washdown, offshore, and corrosive duties.
- Plan for service. Flameproof and purged enclos KEYWORDS: Top 10 ATEX Certified Explosion-Proof Industrial Monitors in Europe
