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HAZARDOUS AREAS & SAFETY


CLEARING UP CERTIFICATION CONFUSION


Here, Ian Wright, Operations Manager, Industrial Products at TÜV SÜD, clears up the confusion


surrounding the ATEX, UKEX and IECEx


schemes, which apply to products used in


hazardous areas


ithin the EU, compliance with the ATEX Directive (2014/34/EU) is required for equipment intended for use in potentially explosive environments. In the UK the ATEX Directive has been replaced by the Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2016 UKSI 2016:1107 (UKEX Regulation). For the foreseeable future, the requirements of the UK Regulation will remain the same as the ATEX Directive.


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Minimum safety requirements The ATEX directive consists of two EU directives which describe the minimum safety requirements of the workplace and equipment used in explosive atmospheres. Under the provisions of the ATEX Directive, evidence of compliance is generally demonstrated by the issuance of a manufacturer’s or supplier’s Declaration of Conformity, which is based on an independent technical assessment of documentation and testing where required. Special requirements apply to electrical products intended for use in high-risk areas. The task of demonstrating compliance with the ATEX Directive rests with the party responsible for introducing a product into the EU and now also the UK marketplace, such as the product manufacturer, importer or wholesaler.


Annex II of the ATEX directive for Europe, or the UKSI 2019:696 schedule 25 for the UK, addresses design and construction


18 OCTOBER 2024 | PROCESS & CONTROL


requirements for equipment and protective systems. However, the specific technical requirements to demonstrate compliance for various types of equipment and operating environments are found in nearly 100 individual harmonised standards for Europe, and now the designated standards list for UK, which may be applicable to the evaluation and certification process.


The primary goals of the IECEx Scheme are to reduce testing and certification cost and speed product time to market


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Annex I identifies three equipment categories, which depend on the environment in which the equipment is to be used. Category 1 and 2 electrical equipment must be tested and certified by an EU Notified Body (NB) or UK Authorised body (AB), and a certified quality system must also be maintained. Category 2 and 3 non-electrical equipment does not require NB or AB involvement, but technical documentation must be stored with an ATEX NB or UKEX AB, depending which country the equipment will ultimately be located in.


” The IECEx Scheme


Outside of the EU or the UK, equipment certified in connection with the voluntary IECEx Certified Equipment Scheme meets the regulatory requirements of more than 30 countries. In addition, the IECEx System has been endorsed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). As a result, non-IECEx member countries can implement legal frameworks into their respective national legislation, simply by adopting the IECEx System and Schemes. Under the System, regulatory authorities in member countries accept certifications issued by IECEx-recognised Certification Bodies, regardless of their location. The primary goals of the IECEx Scheme are to reduce testing and certification cost, speed up market access for new products and equipment, and increase international acceptance of product assessment results. The Scheme achieves these goals through the issuance of an International Certificate of Conformity.


Testing and assessment Under the IECEx Scheme, testing and assessment activities are carried out by IECEx-approved testing laboratories, with certifications issued by IECEx-approved Certification Bodies. Assessment is based exclusively on compliance with standards issued by Technical Committee (TC) 31 of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Self-certification of products is not accepted under the IECEx scheme.


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