Differences Between ATEX and IECEx Certification

Both ATEX and IECEx have several components but ATEX has only two Directives, whereas IECEx has four Schemes.

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The text that follows is written from the perspective of equipment certification.

ATEX Fundamentals

ATEX is a Legal Regulatory Framework that applies within the European Union. Short for ATmosphères EXplosible, it applies to the manufacture of all equipment for use in potentially explosive environments.

According to the ATEX Working Group: The objectives of ATEX are to permit the free movement of products within the internal market whilst ensuring a high level of protection of health and safety.

The ATEX Directive dictates compliance with the Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSR). Therefore, complying with relevant standards can satisfy these requirements. It is not mandatory that products are compliant with specific standards, but it is the common approach.

IECEx Fundamentals

IECEx is a voluntary certification scheme controlled by the International Electrotechnical Commission&#;s standards (IEC). The name IECEx is derived from International Electrotechnical Commission Explosive.

According to IEC: 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.

IECEx is not a regulatory framework, it is a standards-based scheme. Full compliance with the IEC Standard listed on the IECEx Certificate is mandatory.

is certified by both IECEx and ATEX. This allows our customers to sell their products globally with fewer certification efforts. More information on the product

IECEx and ATEX describe general requirements for the construction, testing and marking of electrical equipment, components or devices intended for use in explosive atmospheres. Both IECEx and ATEX align with the same standards (e.g., IEC-EN ), so in terms of technical content, there is basically no difference.

More About IECEx

IECEx is an international system for certification of equipment for use in explosive atmospheres. Its quality assessment specifications are based on standards prepared by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The objective of these IECEx standards is to maintain the required level of safety while facilitating international trade in equipment and services for use in explosive atmospheres, by:

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• reducing manufacturers&#; testing and certification costs, and time to market 
• fostering international confidence in the product assessment process, and in the equipment/services covered by IECEx Certification 
• providing one international database listing 

More About ATEX

The ATEX Directive covers equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. The Directive defines the essential health and safety requirements and conformity assessment procedures that must be applied before such products are placed on the EU market.

What Can Create an Explosion?

Explosion requires three contributing elements:

1. Flammable substance in ignitable quantities (e.g., flammable dust/particulates or gases/mists)
2. Oxygen (typically in the air)
3. Ignition source (e.g., a spark, electrostatic discharge, open flames)

Where do you commonly find Ex equipment?   

Any industry/operation that manufactures, processes or uses materials that may be flammable. For example:

• Automotive refueling stations 
• Oil refineries, rigs and processing plants
• Chemical processing plants
• Printing industries (paper and textiles)
• Aircraft refueling stations and hangars
• Surface-coating industries
• Sewage treatment plants
• Gas pipelines and distribution centers
• Grain handling and storage operations
• Woodworking areas
• Metal surface-grinding operations, especially aluminum dusts and particles

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How IECEx / ATEX Define the Equipment Protection Level (EPL)

IECEx / ATEX standards use symbols and alphanumeric codes to classify different types of hazardous (explosive) conditions, and to define the likelihood of an explosion in those conditions.

Each piece of equipment or device that is certified as Explosion-Protected by IECEx / ATEX is assigned and labeled with a specific code.

The codes for GORE® PolyVent Ex+ are shown here:

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