18/02/2025
๐๐ง๐๐ซ ๐๐. ๐๐๐๐๐
: ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ??
When it comes to hazardous area equipment certification, ATEX and IECEx are two of the most recognised schemes worldwide. But while they share a common goalโensuring explosion safetyโthey differ in key ways. Here's a quick breakdown:
๐ญ๏ธ ๐๐น๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต:
โข ATEX: Mandatory in the European Union, governed by EU Directives.
โข IECEx: A global voluntary certification scheme, accepted in many non-EU countries like Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Asia and the Middle East.
๐ฎ๏ธ ๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐น ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐:
โข ATEX: Legally enforced within the EU; compliance is required to sell products in these markets.
โข IECEx: Voluntary, but often requested by non-EU markets as proof of compliance with IEC standards. Often accompanied by an additional โlocal areaโ certificate that can be based on IECEx testing.
๐ฏ๏ธ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐:
โข ATEX: Based on EU-specific EN standards, derived from IEC standards but with some national differences (Ex equipment is certified against the 60079 series of standards)
โข IECEx: Directly based on IEC international standards, ensuring consistency globally.
๐ฐ๏ธ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต:
โข ATEX: Manufacturers issue a Declaration of Conformity (self-certification for certain categories is allowed). Certification often involves Notified Bodies (but not for all equipment.
โข IECEx: Requires third-party certification through Certification Bodies (ExCBs), ensuring independent verification at all stages (for all equipment)
๐ฑ๏ธ ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป:
โข ATEX: Focuses on creating a Technical File and CE Marking for compliance, plus an EU Type Certificate, when necessary (based on the risk level)
โข IECEx: Includes a detailed Certificate of Conformity (CoC) available in an online database for transparency. Applicable to all equipment (not based on risk level)
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ?
โข If youโre targeting EU markets, you need ATEX compliance as a legal requirement.
โข For global sales, IECEx certification demonstrates your product meets an internationally recognised standard and provides credibility.
Many manufacturers aim for a dual certification project to get certificates for both schemes, maximising market access and saving the costs related to multiple projects. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ถ๐: At the technical level, ATEX and IECEx have different marking schemes and labelling requirements to make things nice and simpleโฆ
๐ช๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ธ๐ป๐ผ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ณ?
At insightEx, we specialise in guiding businesses through both ATEX and IECEx certification processes, as well as providing training courses to help you build your own essential foundation of Ex competence.
Get in touch to learn more:
[email protected]
[email protected]
(+44) 0191 694 1675
