18/02/2025
𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗫 𝘃𝘀. 𝗜𝗘𝗖𝗘𝘅: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲??
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 goal—ensuring explosion safety—they differ in key ways. Here's a quick breakdown:
𝟭️ 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵:
• ATEX: Mandatory in the European Union, governed by EU Directives.
• IECEx: A global voluntary certification scheme, accepted in many non-EU countries like Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Asia and the Middle East.
𝟮️ 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀:
• ATEX: Legally enforced within the EU; compliance is required to sell products in these markets.
• IECEx: Voluntary, but often requested by non-EU markets as proof of compliance with IEC standards. Often accompanied by an additional “local area” certificate that can be based on IECEx testing.
𝟯️ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘀:
• 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)
• IECEx: Directly based on IEC international standards, ensuring consistency globally.
𝟰️ 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵:
• ATEX: Manufacturers issue a Declaration of Conformity (self-certification for certain categories is allowed). Certification often involves Notified Bodies (but not for all equipment.
• IECEx: Requires third-party certification through Certification Bodies (ExCBs), ensuring independent verification at all stages (for all equipment)
𝟱️ 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
• ATEX: Focuses on creating a Technical File and CE Marking for compliance, plus an EU Type Certificate, when necessary (based on the risk level)
• IECEx: Includes a detailed Certificate of Conformity (CoC) available in an online database for transparency. Applicable to all equipment (not based on risk level)
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿?
• If you’re targeting EU markets, you need ATEX compliance as a legal requirement.
• 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. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘁: At the technical level, ATEX and IECEx have different marking schemes and labelling requirements to make things nice and simple…
𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳?
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]
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(+44) 0191 694 1675
