Ex Equipment Certification Process
Explosion-protected equipment must be independently tested and certified before it can be placed on the market or installed in hazardous areas. This file covers the certification process, bodies, and documentation.
Why Certification Matters
Unlike most electrical equipment, Ex equipment cannot be self-certified. The consequences of failure (explosion, fire, loss of life) demand independent third-party verification that the equipment meets the applicable standards.
ATEX Certification Process (EU)
Conformity Assessment Procedures
ATEX 2014/34/EU defines different assessment procedures based on equipment category:
| Category | EPL | Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Ga/Da/Ma) | Very high | EC Type Examination (Module B) + Production QA (Module D) or Product Verification (Module F) |
| 2 (Gb/Db/Mb) | High | EC Type Examination (Module B) + Conformity to Type (Module C1) or Production QA (Module D/E) |
| 3 (Gc/Dc) | Enhanced | Internal Production Control (Module A) + Technical Documentation to Notified Body |
Key Documents
- EC Type Examination Certificate — issued by a Notified Body confirming the design meets standards
- QAN (Quality Assurance Notification) — confirms the manufacturer's QMS meets EN 13980
- EU Declaration of Conformity — manufacturer's formal declaration of compliance (mandatory)
- Technical Documentation — design files, test reports, risk assessment, drawings, instructions
Notified Bodies (EU)
Notified Bodies are organizations designated by EU member states to perform conformity assessments. Each has a four-digit identification number.
Major Notified Bodies for Ex equipment:
| Body | Country | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Baseefa (part of SGS) | UK* | 0539 |
| DEKRA Testing and Certification | Netherlands | 0344 |
| DMT | Germany | 0158 |
| INERIS | France | 0080 |
| PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt) | Germany | 0102 |
| TÜV NORD | Germany | 0044 |
| TÜV SÜD | Germany | 0036 |
| LCIE | France | 0081 |
| CESI | Italy | 0722 |
| SIRA (part of CSA) | UK* | 0518 |
| CML | Denmark | 0539 |
| DNV | Norway | 2460 |
| Nemko | Norway | 0470 |
*Post-Brexit, UK bodies are no longer EU Notified Bodies. Equipment for the EU market needs certification from an EU-based NB. UK has its own UKCA marking scheme.
IECEx Certification Process
IECEx Certificate of Conformity (CoC)
- Manufacturer submits equipment for testing
- IECEx Testing Laboratory (ExTL) performs tests per applicable IEC 60079 standards
- ExTL issues a test report
- IECEx Certification Body (ExCB) reviews the test report
- ExCB issues an IECEx Certificate of Conformity
- Manufacturer's production facility is audited (QAR — Quality Assessment Report)
- Periodic surveillance audits maintain the certificate
IECEx Document Types
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| CoC (Certificate of Conformity) | Confirms equipment meets IEC 60079 standards |
| ExTR (Ex Test Report) | Detailed test results — the technical evidence |
| QAR (Quality Assessment Report) | Audit of manufacturer's quality system |
All IECEx certificates are publicly searchable at iecex.iec.ch.
Major IECEx Certification Bodies
| Body | Country |
|---|---|
| Baseefa (SGS) | UK |
| CSA | Canada |
| DEKRA | Netherlands/Germany |
| FM Approvals | USA |
| INERIS | France |
| KOSHA | South Korea |
| NEPSI | China |
| PTB | Germany |
| SAA/JAS-ANZ | Australia |
| SIRA (CSA) | UK |
| TÜV NORD | Germany |
| TÜV SÜD | Germany |
| UL | USA |
Certificate Structure
ATEX Certificate Number Format
Baseefa12ATEX0345X
│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ └─ X = special conditions
│ │ │ └───── Sequential number
│ │ └────────── ATEX identifier
│ └──────────── Year of issue (2012)
└──────────────────── Issuing body
IECEx Certificate Number Format
IECEx BAS 12.0034X
│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ └─ Revision/special conditions
│ │ │ └────── Sequential number
│ │ └───────── Year of issue
│ └───────────── ExCB code
└─────────────────── IECEx scheme
Component Certificates ("U")
A certificate with a "U" suffix is a component certificate — it certifies a building block (e.g., an empty enclosure, a terminal block, a cable gland) that is not a complete product.
- U-certified components cannot be installed directly — they must be incorporated into a fully certified assembly
- The final assembly must have its own full certificate
- The assembly certificate references the component certificates used
Special Conditions ("X")
A certificate ending in "X" has special conditions of use documented in the certificate. These might include:
- Restricted ambient temperature range
- Required mounting orientation
- Mandatory strain relief
- Specific cable types
- Environmental restrictions (no UV exposure, etc.)
Always read the full certificate when "X" is present.
Quality Management
EN 13980 / ISO 80079-34
Manufacturers of Ex equipment must operate a quality management system that meets EN 13980 (now transitioning to ISO 80079-34). Key requirements:
- Design control and change management
- Incoming material inspection
- In-process inspection of critical dimensions (e.g., flame path gaps for Ex d)
- Final inspection and testing
- Traceability of materials and components
- Calibrated measuring equipment
- Trained and competent personnel
- Non-conformance handling and corrective actions
Routine Testing vs Type Testing
- Type testing — performed on representative samples during certification. Destructive tests (explosion pressure, impact, thermal shock) performed by the ExTL.
- Routine testing — performed by the manufacturer on every production unit. Non-destructive checks: electrical safety, dimensional verification, IP test, visual inspection.
Maintaining Certification
Certificates are not permanent:
- ATEX certificates: valid as long as the product and standards remain unchanged
- IECEx certificates: require periodic surveillance (typically every 3 years)
- Standard updates may require recertification if changes are significant
- Product modifications require assessment — minor changes may be covered by a certificate amendment; major changes require recertification
Personnel Competence
IECEx CoPC (Certificate of Personnel Competence)
Certifies that individuals have the knowledge and skills for Ex work:
- Unit Ex 001: Basic principles of Ex
- Unit Ex 002: Installation
- Unit Ex 003: Inspection and maintenance
- Unit Ex 004: Equipment repair and overhaul
- Unit Ex 005: Design and selection
- Unit Ex 006: Visual inspection
- Unit Ex 007: Close inspection
- Unit Ex 008: Detailed inspection
- Unit Ex 009: Responsible persons
CompEx (UK-originated)
The most widely recognized international competence scheme for Ex workers. CompEx courses cover:
- CompEx Foundation (theory)
- CompEx 01-04: Gas atmospheres (installation and inspection)
- CompEx 05-06: Dust atmospheres
- CompEx 07-08: Fixed and portable gas detectors
- CompEx 09-10: Intrinsic safety
Related Files
- Standardit — the standards that certificates verify compliance with
- Ex Markings — how certification appears on equipment labels
- Protection Methods — each method has specific test requirements
- Installation & Inspection — competence requirements for installers