IECEx System Objective

The objective of the IECEx System 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 assessment process of products, equipment, personnel, and facilities
  • one international database listing for certified Ex equipment & Ex components, personnel, and facilities
  • maintaining International Confidence in equipment, personnel, and services covered by IECEx Certification

About the IECEx

IECEx Certified Equipment Scheme

IECEx provides a means for manufacturers, regulators and users of equipment used in hazardous areas to address the risk of fires or explosions from flammable gases or dusts. Testing and certification of equipment, services and competence of persons to international standards facilitates the sale of safer products internationally at a lower cost.

Ex Test Laboratories are required to participate in the IECEx Proficiency Testing Scheme details here.

Refer to IECEx Video animation on IECEx Certified Equipment Scheme and Conformity Assessment

With subtitles for numerous languages - IECEx Certified Equipment Scheme and Conformity Assessment Video 

IECEx Certified Personnel Scheme

The safety of commercial facilities with hazardous locations depends strongly on the competence of all people dealing with safety management, planning, installation, operation; inspection, maintenance, repair, and many other activities.
The IECEx PCC-Scheme offers the evaluation and certification of competencies of individuals working in or for hazardous locations. 
Based on a modular competence structure taylor-made competence profiles can be certified which perfectly fit the actual obligation and tasks of the candidates in their jobs. 
Certificates of competence provide independent evidence of individual knowledge and skills and support both the employers and employees in selecting the right people and getting the right jobs.

Refer to IECEx Video animation on IECEx Certified Personnel Scheme

IECEx Certified Service Facilities Scheme

The safety of commercial facilities with hazardous locations strongly depends on the correct execution of all safety-relevant activities during the whole life cycle of the facility.  Due to the trend in the industry to outsource tasks that don't belong to the core competence more and more external service providers become responsible for the safety of the facilities.
The IECEx Certified Service Facilities Scheme offers the evaluation and certification of Service Providers for equipment repair, inspection and maintenance, and other safety-related activities. In the focus of the evaluation are the technical equipment, the competence of the staff, and the quality management system of the service provider.  
It helps the industry to select the right partners and is an excellent tool for Service provides to present their competence.

Refer to IECEx Video animation on IECEx Certified Service Facility Scheme and Conformity Assessment

Presentation & Brochure Links on the IECEx Schemes 

Latest IECEx Presentation

IECEx Presentation 

IECEx Services Scheme Presentation

IECEx System Business Plan 

IECEx Brochures

IECEx 01D FAQs

IEC Conformity Assessment - Benefits for our stakeholders and how we achieve them

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 and fibres 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 refueling stations or petrol stations
  • Oil refineries, rigs and processing plants
  • MODU (Mobile and fixed offshore drilling units) Reference IEC 61892 Series
  • Chemical processing plants
  • Renewable energy sources / fuels (Hydrogen, Ammonia etc)
  • Marine ships / vessels using gases or other low-flashpoint fuels (H2 (Hydrogen), LH2, LNG, LPG, NH3 (Ammonia), Methane). Reference IEC 60092 Series 
  • 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 System

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

The IECEx System comprises the following:

  • The IECEx Certified Equipment Scheme
  • The IECEx Certified Service Facilities Scheme
  • The IECEx Conformity Mark Licensing System
  • The IECEx Certification of Personnel Competencies (CoPC)

Informative Guideline for national officials for regulation

Background
Explosion protection is an essential part of the overall risk management to be conducted for industrial sectors such as coal mining, oil, gas and chemical industries, to ensure safety in industrial processes using or producing hazardous materials like – for example – combustible gas, dusts or vapours. The risks to life and health of persons and the risk of loss of property when using the equipment which operates in the presence of explosive atmospheres are high.

Equipment used in high-risk facilities is highly sophisticated. Checking that it conforms to international best practice and current regulations is a complex task, even for those regulatory authorities who have substantial resources and modern equipment at their disposal.

Most national regulatory frameworks require that conformity assessment be conducted by independent, third-party inspection bodies. This is a prerequisite for safety in a sector where hazards are substantial and may involve many casualties. The IECEx Certification System offers a global framework for equipment, repair facilities or personal competence in this field.

Invitation to communicate and exchange of information with the IECEx-System
The IECEx system sees themselves as a transparent organisation with the aim to have a high safety level an interaction with national officials for regulation is essential in cases of e.g. non-compliance matters. In case of non-compliance matters the IECEx-System appreciates to be contacted by national officials for regulation in the Ex-field. One of the unique and key features of the IECEx is the IECEx “On-Line” Certificate System with full public display of all IECEx Certificates, which provides a one-stop location that provides instant verification and checking of claims of holding IECEx Certification for either Ex Products, Ex related Service Organisations and Persons certified as Competent in the Ex field. For further information our contact is:

info@iecex.com
The IECEx system offers high confidentiality with respect to non-compliance or also general technical matters. The secretariat in conjunction with a steering committee of IECEx can handle your concerns.

The IECEx System appreciates your trust and support by starting the communication and discussion to get a highly recognized certification system.