About the IECEx

IECEx Scheme Objective

The objective of the IECEx Scheme is to facilitate international trade in equipment and services for use in explosive atmospheres, while maintaining the required level of safety:

• reduced testing and certification costs to manufacturer
• reduced time to market
• international confidence in the product assessment process
• one international database listing
• maintaining International Confidence in equipment and services covered by IECEx Certification

What is an Ex area?

Ex areas can be known by different names such as “Hazardous Locations”, “Hazardous Areas” “Explosive Atmospheres”, and the like and relate to areas where flammable liquids, vapours, gases or combustible dusts are likely to occur in quantities sufficient to cause a fire or explosion.

The modern day automation of industry has meant an increased need to use equipment in Ex areas. Such equipment is termed “Ex equipment”

Where do you commonly find Ex equipment?

Ex equipment in such areas include:

Automotive refuelling stations or petrol stations
Oil refineries, rigs and processing plants
Chemical processing plants
Printing industries, paper and textiles
Hospital operating theatres
Aircraft refuelling and hangars
Surface coating industries
Underground coalmines
Sewerage treatment plants
Gas pipelines and distribution centers
Grain handling and storage
Woodworking areas
Sugar refineries
Metal surface grinding, especially aluminium dusts and particles

IECEx International Certification Scheme

In addition to the preparation of International Standards, the IEC facilitates the operation of Conformity Assessment Schemes. One such Scheme is the IECEx Scheme.

The IECEx Scheme comprises the following two Global Certification Programs

1. The IECEx Certified Equipment Program
2. The IECEx Certified Service Facilities Program

1. The IECEx Certified Equipment Program

This IECEx Program is an International Certification Scheme covering product that meets the requirements of International Standards, e.g. IEC Standards prepared by TC 31.

The IECEx Certified Equipment Program provides both:

a) A single International Certificate of Conformity that requires manufacturers to successfully complete:-

• Testing and Assessment of samples for compliance with Standards
• Assessment and auditing of manufacturers premises
• On-going surveillance audits of manufacturers premises

or

b) A “fast-track” process for countries where regulations still require the issuing of national Ex Certificates or approval. This is achieved by way of global acceptance of IECEx equipment Test and Assessment Reports.

Certificates issued by the IECEX Certified Equipment Program are issued as “Electronic Certificates” and are live on the IECEx Website. This enables full public access for viewing and printing. Visit the IECEx “On-Line Certificate” System

2. The IECEx Certified Service Facilities Program

This IECEx Program is an International Certification Scheme that covers the assessment and the on-site audit of organizations that provide a Repair and Overhaul service to the Ex industry.

Due to the very high capital investment made by industry in most Ex equipment it is much more economical to repair and overhaul equipment rather than to replace it with new. This also has obvious environmental benefits.

The challenge for industry is to ensure that all the very unique Ex safety features, included in the design and manufacturing of Ex equipment, are not compromised during the repair process.

Ex Repair and Overhaul Facilities and Workshops, certified under the IECEx Certified Service Facilities Program, provide industry with the assurance that repairs and overhaul to Ex equipment will be undertaken according to the strict requirements of IECEx Scheme to the International Standard IEC 60079-19

Like the IECEx Certified Equipment Program, only “Electronic Certificates” are issued via the “On-Line” system thereby giving industry full access to both the viewing and printing of certificates.

Applications

Ex equipment Manufacturers and Ex Service Providers can apply to existing IECEx Certification Bodies (termed ExCBs), in any country.

Countries and Certification Bodies can apply to become members of the IECEx Scheme with Certification bodies able to issue IECEx Certificates once accepted according to the application procedures.

Rules of the IECEx Scheme including Rules of Procedures are available, free of charge, from the IECEx website

National Member Bodies of the IEC Scheme make application for their country to participate in the IECEx Scheme on a Standard-by-Standard basis. The application is made to the Secretary of the Ex Management Committee.

Certification bodies and testing laboratories wishing to be accepted into the IECEx Scheme must reside in a participating country. Their application for acceptance is made through their National Member Body of the IECEx Scheme for the country in which they reside.

Certification bodies and testing laboratories are accepted into the IECEx Scheme after satisfactory assessment of their competence. Assessors are selected who will provide confidence to regulatory authorities, users, manufacturers and certification bodies.. ISO/IEC Standards and Guides 17025, 65 and IECEx Technical Guidance Documents are used as part of the IECEx assessment process.