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 Certification — The Industry Standard for Ex Competence

What Is CompEx?

CompEx (Competency for Explosive atmospheres) is the most widely recognized international competence certification scheme for personnel working with electrical equipment in hazardous areas. Originally developed in the UK by JTL (formerly EITB) in the 1990s, CompEx is now managed by JTL and accredited internationally. Over 250,000 CompEx certificates have been issued worldwide.

CompEx is not a legal requirement under ATEX or IECEx legislation, but it has become a de facto industry standard. Major oil and gas operators — including Shell, BP, TotalEnergies, Equinor, Saudi Aramco, and QatarEnergy — require CompEx certification for contractors working on their sites.

Who Needs CompEx Certification?

CompEx is required or strongly recommended for:

Electricians and instrument technicians installing or maintaining Ex equipment
Inspection engineers performing visual, close, or detailed inspections per IEC 60079-17
Project engineers specifying or procuring Ex equipment
HSE professionals responsible for hazardous area compliance
Operations staff working around Ex equipment who need awareness training

CompEx Course Structure

CompEx is divided into modules covering different aspects of Ex work:

Module	Topic	Duration	Content
CompEx Foundation	Theory	1 day	Basic principles of explosive atmospheres, zone classification, equipment selection. No practical assessment.
CompEx Ex01	Gas installation	4–5 days	Selection, installation, and initial inspection of Ex equipment in gas/vapor atmospheres. Practical assessment.
CompEx Ex02	Gas inspection	Included with Ex01	Close inspection and detailed inspection of Ex equipment in gas atmospheres.
CompEx Ex03	Gas maintenance	Included with Ex01	Maintenance, repair, and overhaul of Ex equipment in gas atmospheres.
CompEx Ex04	Gas area classification	Included with Ex01	Understanding area classification drawings and documentation for gas.
CompEx Ex05	Dust installation	2–3 days	Installation, inspection, and maintenance of Ex equipment in dust atmospheres.
CompEx Ex06	Dust inspection	Included with Ex05	Inspection and maintenance in combustible dust environments.
CompEx Ex07	Gas detectors (fixed)	1–2 days	Installation and inspection of fixed gas detection systems.
CompEx Ex08	Gas detectors (portable)	1 day	Use and maintenance of portable gas detectors.
CompEx Ex09	Intrinsic safety (installation)	2 days	Installation of intrinsically safe (Ex i) circuits and systems.
CompEx Ex10	Intrinsic safety (design)	2 days	Design and assessment of intrinsically safe circuits.

CompEx Foundation vs Full CompEx

CompEx Foundation is a 1-day theory course with no practical assessment. It provides awareness-level knowledge suitable for engineers, procurement staff, and managers. Many employers require this as a minimum for anyone working in or around hazardous areas.
Full CompEx (Ex01–Ex04) is a 4–5 day intensive course with both written exams and practical assessments in a workshop environment. This is what "CompEx certified" typically means in job postings.

How to Get CompEx Certified

Choose a training center — CompEx courses are delivered by JTL-approved training centers worldwide. There are over 60 centers in 30+ countries.
Complete the course — Attend the classroom and practical sessions. CompEx Ex01–Ex04 is typically 4–5 days.
Pass the assessment — Written examination plus practical workshop assessment. You must demonstrate competence in equipment selection, cable gland installation, earthing, and inspection procedures.
Receive your certificate — CompEx certificates are issued by JTL and are valid for 5 years.
Renewal — After 5 years, you must complete a refresher course and re-assessment to maintain certification.

CompEx Certificate Validity

Valid for 5 years from date of issue
Renewal required — a refresher course (typically 2–3 days) plus re-assessment
Employer verification — employers can verify CompEx certificates through the JTL online database
No automatic expiry grace period — if your certificate expires, you must complete the full course again (not just the refresher)

CompEx vs IECEx CoPC

Aspect	CompEx	IECEx CoPC
Origin	UK (JTL)	International (IEC)
Recognition	Global, de facto industry standard	Global, formal IEC scheme
Validity	5 years	5 years
Practical assessment	Yes (workshop-based)	Depends on assessment body
Cost	~£1,500–2,500 (full Ex01–04)	Varies by country
Training centers	60+ in 30+ countries	Fewer, growing
Industry preference	Dominant in oil & gas, petrochemical	Growing in all sectors
Mutual recognition	—	Recognized by IECEx member countries

In practice, many employers accept either CompEx or IECEx CoPC. Some sites require both. CompEx is more common in the UK, Middle East, and Southeast Asian oil & gas sectors. IECEx CoPC is growing in continental Europe and Australasia.

CompEx Certification Cost

Typical costs (2026 estimates, varies by location):

CompEx Foundation: £500–800 / €600–950 (1 day)
CompEx Ex01–Ex04: £1,500–2,500 / €1,800–3,000 (4–5 days)
CompEx Ex05–Ex06: £800–1,200 / €950–1,400 (2–3 days)
CompEx Refresher: £800–1,200 / €950–1,400 (2–3 days)

These costs typically include course materials and examination fees. Travel and accommodation are additional.

Standards — 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