Equipment products certified by ATEX or IECEx are essential to be put into use in any potentially explosive or potentially explosive environments, and are an important guarantee to help create production safety. Most of us have heard of ATEX and IECEx certification, but many people sometimes still don't know the relationship between them. Let's introduce the relationship between the two certifications in detail.

IECEx explosion proof certification

International Electrotechnical Commission explosion-proof electrical product certification system (IEC Scheme for Certification to Standards for Electrical Equipment for Explosive atmospheres, hereinafter referred to as IECEx  certification system) was established in 1996, is an international explosion-proof electrical product certification organization. Member countries of IECEx certification system include Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro (formerly Yugoslavia), Russia, Slovenia , South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States 24, and are still increasing.

The goal of the IECEx system is to accept a standard worldwide ---- IEC/TC31 series of standards for electrical equipment for explosive hazardous environments; a certificate ---- IECEx certification certificate (IECEx Certification of Conformity); a mark -- -- IECEx certification mark (IECEx Mark of Conformity).

However, the explosion-proof products currently exported to EU countries only recognize the ATEX certificate, not the IECEx certificate. Some of the benefits of choosing a product with IECEx certification include:

(1) Increase market competitiveness. Products that have passed IECEx certification show that they have passed a series of tests of IEC60079 related standards and have reliable safety.

(2) Expand market circulation. At present, there are more than 50 member states of the IECEx system. Products used for IECEx certification can enter the market faster in these member states and shorten the time to market.

IECEx control products and main standards

The scope of IECEx controlled products is: pure electrical products/equipment used in explosion-proof environment, non-electrical products/equipment;

IECEx main standard: According to the difference in explosion-proof design of different equipment, it needs to be judged by professional and technical personnel. You can contact Eurotest for inquiries.

 

IECEx Certificate Overview

The IECEx certification system includes IECEx 02 product certification, IECEx 03 service certification, IECEx04 logo license, and IECEx05 personnel competency certification as shown in Figure as bellow,

IECEx Certificate System Component

 

IECEx Certificate System Component

 

IECEx02 product certification stipulates that all explosion-proof products must meet the certification requirements. The certification process includes the applicant submitting the certification application, Ex TL conducting the explosion-proof type test, Ex CB conducting on-site inspection of the manufacturer's quality system, and Ex CB making the certification decision (issuing Ex TR and QAR), Ex CB issues the IECEx certification certificate, publishes it on the IECEx website, and Ex CB supervises the certified enterprise. Product certification is carried out in accordance with IECx OD003, IECEx OD009, IECEx OD017 and operation documents, and needs to meet the requirements of IEC 60079 series of technical standards. The quality system review of the manufacturer is carried out according to IEC OD005 operation documents. The simplified flow of certification procedures is shown in Figure

IECEx Certificate Flow Chart

 

IECEx03 service certification includes the audit of maintenance facilities, equipment and systems, confirmation of personnel's ability, and finally the generation of IECEx service certification. In order to meet the needs of the use department of Ex products for the quality certification of explosion-proof equipment repair and overhaul, the IECEx system began to launch IECEx service certification on the basis of explosion-proof product certification in 2003, including the factory or workshop certification plan for explosion-proof equipment repair and overhaul . In this regard, manufacturers of explosion-proof products can apply for IECEx service or choose to use manufacturers with IECEx system service certification.

The advantages of an explosion-proof product manufacturer applying for IECEx service include: it can prove the manufacturer's ability to repair explosion-proof products; if an explosion or fire occurs, it can resist liability lawsuits against the manufacturer for the repaired electrical equipment; it can ensure that explosion-proof products are in use consistency; enhances end-user confidence in purchasing products from explosion-proof product manufacturers. IECEx03 service certification is based on IECEx OD014 operation document, which puts forward specific requirements for the quality system, technical documents, facilities and equipment, and personnel of explosion-proof equipment repair factories; IECEx OD 013 operation document makes specific provisions for the review of Ex service certification; IEC60079 -19 made detailed requirements for specific content.

IECEx05 personnel competency certification provides proof that the knowledge and skills of personnel engaged in explosion-proof equipment and related personnel in explosive environments meet IECEx requirements, whether they have mastered safe operating procedures in hazardous locations, and whether they can correctly install, inspect, maintain and repair explosion-proof equipment and systems. . IECEx personnel competency assessment is carried out according to IECEx OD501, IECEx OD502, IECEx OD503, IECEx OD504 operation documents. The specific competency units are shown in Table 1. Each unit has clear requirements for personnel experience, knowledge and skills. Applicants need to have certain skills. Only after technical experience and training experience can you apply for evaluation. Unit 001 is the basic unit, and the unit must be based on 001 to apply for the evaluation of other units.

Table 1 Personnel competency certification components

No.	Competency components
1	Basic guidelines for applying explosion protection
2	Zoning of hazardous locations
3	Installation of explosion-proof equipment and wiring systems
4	Maintenance of Explosive Atmosphere Equipment
5	Overhaul and repair of explosion-proof equipment
6	Testing of electrical installations related to explosive atmospheres
7	Visual and general inspection of electrical installations in explosive atmospheres
8	Detailed inspection of electrical installations in explosive atmospheres
9	Design of Electrical Installations for Explosive Atmospheres
10	Inspection of electrical installations in explosive atmospheres

 

IECEx certification conducts international certification for explosion-proof electrical products in accordance with international standards, which can reduce the manufacturer's certification costs and time to enter the market on the premise of ensuring the appropriate safety level of explosion-proof electrical products, and maintain international standards in the process of product and service evaluation. And the service evaluation is included in an international database, which increases the user's trust in the manufacturer's or personnel's service, and has received extensive support from the industry and related parties in various countries.

Three main steps to obtain IECEx-COC explosion-proof certificate

- Obtaining IECEx-TR files;

- The factory has obtained the IECEx-QA explosion-proof system certificate;

- Register and record on IECEX official website to form IECEx-COC certificate. 

 

Main classification of IECEx certificate

- Batch unit certification, that is, the IECEx certificate is only valid for this batch of products;

- COC type certification, that is, a specific type of product with a certain explosion-proof design meets the requirements of IECEx, and can be used for a long time under the condition that the IECEx system certificate is always valid;

- The IECEx explosion-proof system certificate is the QA certificate, which indicates that the certificate holder has the ability to control products that meet the requirements of the corresponding IECEx explosion-proof standards.

 

ATEX explosion-proof certification

The ATEX directive in CE certification is 2014/34/EU (the old directive 94/9/EC). ATEX is derived from the French "Atmosphere EXlposible". On March 23, 1994, the European Commission adopted "equipment and protection for potentially explosive environments. System" (94/9/EC) Directive. The Directive has been in use since 1996 and has been enforced since July 1, 2003.​​

This directive covers mine and non-mine equipment. Unlike previous directives, it includes mechanical equipment and electrical equipment, and extends the potentially explosive atmosphere to dust and flammable gases, flammable vapors and mists in the air. This directive is the "new approach" directive commonly referred to as ATEX 100A, the current ATEX explosion protection directive.​​

Manufacturers of equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, applying the terms of the ATEX directive and affixing the CE mark, can sell their explosion-proof equipment anywhere in Europe without considering the application of additional requirements.

ATEX explosion-proof certification is a mandatory requirement for explosion-proof products to enter the EU market. Therefore, products used for explosive products entering the EU market must follow the ATEX directive, obtain ATEX certification, and affix the ATEX mark on the product.

Explosion-proof group classification
Mining Group I	Mining Group I
Non-mining Group II	Non-mining Group II

 

Classification of explosion-proof areas
Zone 0 (Gas)	Areas where explosive atmospheres persist or occur frequently
Zone 1 (Gas)	When the equipment is in normal operation, the explosive environment exists or may exist for a long time, and the frequency is occasional
Zone 2 (Gas)	When the equipment is not operating normally, the explosive environment exists or may exist for a short period of time, and the frequency under normal circumstances is less likely to occur
Zone 20 (dust)	More than 1000 hours/year or more than 10%/cycle
Zone 21 (dust)	10~1000 hours/year or 0.1~10%/cycle
Zone 22 (dust)	Less than 10 hours/year or less than 0.1%/cycle

 

Explosion-proof categories, zones and markings

	ATEX
Standard	EN60079
	Group	Areas	Ex-Proof Marking
Coal Mine	I	Category M1（ I M 1 ）	Ex ia I
			Ex Ib I
			Ex d I
		Category M2（ I M 2 ）	Manufacturer's certificate
Gas-Ex	II	Zone 0 （ II 1 G ）	Ex ia II C/B/A
			Ex s
		Zone 1 （ II 2 G ）	EEx ia II C/B/A
			EEx s
			EEx ib II C/B/A
			EEx d II C/B/A
			EEx e
			EEx px, py
			EEx o
			EEx q
			EEx m
			EEx s
		Zone 2 （ II 3 G ）	Suitable for all types of zones 0 and 1
			EEx nA
			EEx nC
			EEx nL
			EEx nR
			EEx pz
Standard	EN50281
Dust-Ex	III	Zone 20 （ II 1 D ）	Ex 1D
				Zone 21 （ II 2 D ）	Ex 2D
		Zone 22 （ II 3 D ）	Ex 3D

 

Explosive Hazardous Gas Classification

Group	ATEX	Typical gas	Ignition characteristics
I	I	Methane	From easy to difficult
II	II A	propane
	II B	vinyl
	II C	hydrogen
		Acetylene

 

T-Class Classification

Temperature Classification	safe surface temperature	Common Explosive Gases
T1	Less than or equal to 450 ℃	46 kinds of hydrogen, acrylonitrile, etc.
T2	Less than or equal to 300 ℃	47 kinds of acetylene, ethylene, etc.
T3	Less than or equal to 200 ℃	36 kinds of gasoline, crotonaldehyde, etc.
T4	Less than or equal to 135 ℃	6 kinds of acetaldehyde, tetrafluoroethylene, etc.
T5	less than or equal to 100 ℃	carbon disulfide
T6	less than or equal to 85 ℃	Ethyl nitrate and ethyl nitrite

 

Introduction of common explosion-proof methods

Explosion-proof way	EN Standard	Description of explosion-proof method
Ex d - Flameproof	EN 60079-1	When the equipment is in normal operation, the components that can generate the detonation source are put into the explosion-proof enclosure. The explosion-proof enclosure can withstand the internal explosion pressure without loss, and can effectively prevent the explosion from spreading to the outside of the enclosure.
Ex e - Increased Safety	EN 60079-7	Through the design of the product, the detonation source that can generate hot surface or arc or spark can be eliminated, so as to achieve the purpose of explosion protection.
Ex i - Intrinsically Safe	EN 60079-11	Circuit energy is limited by related techniques so that sparks or hot surfaces from electrical energy in electrical equipment are not sufficient to detonate substances in explosive atmospheres.
Ex m - Encapsulation	EN 60079-18	The equipment or its part that may ignite the substances in the explosive atmosphere is sealed in a substance, and the equipment or its part is isolated from the substances in the explosive atmosphere, so as to achieve the purpose of explosion protection.
Ex n - non-sparking	EN 60079-15	The magic seal is used to prevent the flammable substances in the explosive environment from contacting the sparks or arcs generated by the equipment, and at the same time eliminate the hot surface generated by the equipment, so as to achieve the purpose of explosion-proof.
Ex p - Pressurized Enclosure	EN 60079-2	The equipment or components that will generate the detonation source are prevented from being contained in an enclosure. The enclosure is first filled with an inert gas to remove the flammable substances in it, and at the same time, by maintaining the pressure inside the enclosure, the entry of external flammable substances is prevented, thereby preventing the entry of flammable substances. To achieve the purpose of explosion-proof.
Ex o - Oil Immersion	EN 60079-6	Submerge the entire components of electrical equipment in a protective liquid so that substances in the explosive atmosphere cannot contact the hot surfaces or sparks of the equipment.
Ex q - Powder Filling	EN 60079-5	Bury the components of electrical equipment in sand so that substances in the explosive atmosphere cannot relieve hot surfaces or sparks of the equipment.

 

ATEX Explosion-proof Marking（for reference only）

 

The main difference between ATEX certification and IECEx certification

Although both ATEX certification and IECEx certification describe the necessary requirements for equipment used in potentially hazardous and hazardous locations, they differ in some respects, the main difference being that ATEX certification is driven by laws and IECEx certification is driven by standards.

Another difference is that ATEX certification is only valid in the EU, while IECEx certification is accepted worldwide. Likewise, ATEX certification is required by law for all non-electrical and electrical equipment to be used in hazardous locations. However, IECEx certification is only required for electrical equipment in hazardous locations.

In terms of standards, it is not mandatory for ATEX certification to conform to the standard, but for IECEx certification, a third-party certification body is responsible for combining all aspects of manufacturing and design for public certification. In short, IECEx certification is stricter than ATEX certification in the handling of evidence during the certification process.

Another fundamental difference is how each guide is set up. The IECEx certification system is actually one of the four conformity assessment systems operated by the IEC. The IECEx certification system consists of four independent international certification parts, including the IECEx Certified Equipment Program, the IECEx Certified Service Program, the IECEx Certified Conformity Mark Licensing System and the IECEx Certified Qualified Persons Program. However, ATEX certification refers to two separate but related directives, as described above.

 

The following list illustrates the relationship

Content	ATEX	IECEx
Scope of application	European	IECEx member countries (except North American countries)
Is it mandatory	Mandatory	Non-Mandatory
Executive standard	IEC60079	IEC60079
Explosion-proof mark		Printed Ex logo
convert	At present, ATEX certificates cannot be converted into certificates from other countries outside the EU	IEC member countries (except North American countries) recognize the IECEx report, which can be directly converted into the explosion-proof certification of the local country, except that some countries need to do some local difference tests.