1

ATEX
ELECTRICAL AND NON-ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT:
GUIDANCE FOR MANUFACTURERS
FOR THE WORLD FOR EUROPE
A common approach to lifting barriers to trade within the
Aim: One single certificate for any hazardous area product
European Economic Area (EEA).
recognised and accepted throughout the world.

Technically identical standards for electrical The Directive becomes law on implementation in each
Already accepted in many countries. Alternatively a single test equipment since 2006. member country and compliance is mandatory within the EEA.
report (ExTR) can be sent to any member certification body
(ExCB) to issue locally accepted certification.
For single standards, a single set of tests and Applicable to non-electrical equipment/component and
assessments can support both IECEx and protective systems as well as electrical equipment.
Currently only electrical equipment/component to IEC ATEX.
Standards (but IEC Standards for non-electrical equipment are
being developed). IECEx ATEX Certification from a Notified Body is Mandatory for Category
PRODUCT CERTIFICATION An ATEX EC-Type Examination Certificate 1 and M1 electrical and non-electrical equipment/component,
CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT
ExCB issues an ExTR (covering the product type) and a quality
can be based on an IECEx ExTR but ATEX protective systems and Category 2 and M2 electrical equipment/
documentation does not necessarily support component. Otherwise self declaration of compliance is
assessment report (QAR) (covering the related production
an IECEx certificate. permitted.
facility)

An EC-Type Examination Certificate and Quality Assessment

Certificates of conformity created directly on the IECEx The technical requirements of a Notification (QAN) are issued by a Notified Body.
website, fully visible for the whole world to read and check manufacturer’s QA system are effectively the
status. same, both are based on ISO/IEC 80079-34
and an IECEx QAR can support the issue of an
The manufacturer – alone – is responsible for the Declaration
ATEX QAN.
ExCB maintains the status of certificate based on the outcome of Conformity which must accompany every product which
of further QARs, a minimum of 2 audit visits in a 3 year period. bears the European (CE) Marking.

PRINCIPAL ELECTRICAL PROTECTION CONCEPTS INGRESS PROTECTION (IP) NON-ELECTRICAL (MECHANICAL) PROTECTION CONCEPTS
TYPE OF PROTECTION IP RATING STANDARDS CODE CONCEPT ZONE
STANDARD IEC/EN CODE PROTECTION CONCEPT ZONE
Hazardous area equipment typically requires a Mechanical certification is based on a risk assessment
general
EN13463-1 approach.
minimum IP rating of IP54 but may be assessed requirement
Gas Dust Gas Dust Gas Dust
and tested to the higher ratings below: Category 3 equipment must be safe for use in normal
60079-0 General Requirements 2 operation.
Dust Dust Protected IP5x EN13463-2 fr flow restriction
Ex da 0 22 Category 2 equipment must be safe for use in normal
Flameproof
60079-1 Ex db 1 operation and expected malfunction
(Prevention of propagation) Dust Tight IP6x
Ex dc 2
1 Category 1 equipment must be safe for use in normal
Ex pxb Ex pxb 1 21 EN13463-3 d flameproof
Pressurised Protection against – 21 operation, expected and rare malfunction.
60079-2 Ex pyb Ex pyb 1 21 Water IPx4
(Gas exclusion) splashing water
Ex pzc Ex pzc 2 22 Potential ignition sources identified in the risk
Protection against – constructional 1
Powder Filled IPx5 EN13463-5 c assessment are made safe by applying one or more
60079-5 Ex q 1 water jets safety 21
(Prevention of propagation) of the concepts. The number of ‘*’ in the table below
Ex ob Oil Filled 1 Protection against – indicate the number of protection concepts which need
60079-6 IPx6
Ex oc (Gas exclusion) 2 powered water jets control of 1 to be applied.
EN13463-6 b
Ex eb Increased Safety 1 Protection against – ignition sources 21
60079-7 IPx7 cat 3 cat 2 cat1
Ex ec (By design) 2 temporary immersion
normal operation * * **
Ex ia Ex ia 0 20
Intrinsic Safety Protection against –
60079-11 Ex ib Ex ib 1 21 IPx8 liquid 1 expected malfunction * **
(Energy limitation) continuous immersion EN13463-8 k
Ex ic Ex ic 2 22 immersion 21 rare malfunction *
Equipment protection by 1 21 See IEC/EN 60529 for full definitions of IP ratings.
pb pb
pc pc pressurised room ”p” 2 22
© SGS United Kingdom Ltd – 2015 - All rights reserved – SGS is a registered trademark of SGS Group Management SA 5609/1114 – WC01-Issue 7 - August 2015

60079-13 and artificially ventilated Protection Concept IECEx Certificate No.

v room ”v” (see
vc standard) Gas Group Equipment Protection Levels

Ex nA
(Dust and/or Gas exclusion)
Non Sparking
Temperature Class Maximum External Surface Temperature
under 250mm of dust
IEC 61508 – SAFETY
60079-15 Ex nR
Ex nC
Restricted Breathing
Enclosed break
2 IECEx BAS 15.1111X Ingress Protection SYSTEMS
Ex ma Ex ma 0 20 Maximum External Surface Temperature IEC/EN 61508 is the international standard
Encapsulation Ex db eb IIC T4 Gb
60079-18 Ex mb Ex mb 1 21 Ambient Range –20°C to 40°C for electrical, electronic and programmable
(Gas and Dust exclusion) Ex tb IIIC T135ºC T250 180ºC Db IP66
Ex mc Ex mc 2 22 unless stated on label electronic safety related systems. It sets
Tamb -30ºC to + 50ºC
Protection of equipment and out the requirements for ensuring that
Ex op is Ex op is
transmittion systems using
0 20
ABC Engineering Manufacturer’s Name and Address systems are designed, implemented,
optical radiation Buxton, SK17 9RZ, UK 240V ac
60079-28 Ex op pr Ex op pr 1 21 Electrical Parameters operated and maintained to provide the
(is: Inherently safe) 5A
Ex op sh Ex op sh 1 or 2 21 or 22 Type XYZ Solenoid required safety integrity level (SIL). Four
(pr: Mechanically protected) (see (see Product Identification
(sh: Interlock/shutdown) standard) standard) 2015 s/n 1234 SILs are defined according to the risks
Ex ta 20 II 2GD Serial No. and Year of Manufacture involved in the system application, with
Enclosure
60079-31 Ex tb 21 Baseefa15ATEX1111X 1180 SIL4 being used to protect against the
(Dust exclusion)
Ex tc 22 ATEX Notified Body Identification No. highest risks.
Ex sa Ex sa 0 20 ATEX Coding ATEX Certificate No.
Equipment protection by IEC 61508 is the base standard for EN
60079-33 Ex sb Ex sb 1 21
special protection “s” Dust Group 50495 Safety Devices for ATEX.
Ex sc Ex sc 2 22
The standard is in seven parts:

TEMPERATURE CLASS EQUIPMENT PROTECTION GAS GROUPS EU Explosive • IEC 61508-1, General requirements

MAXIMUM SURFACE LEVEL GAS GROUP REPRESENTATIVE TEST GAS ATEX CODING atmosphere symbol • IEC 61508-2, Requirements for E/E/PE
T CLASS safety-related systems
TEMPERATURE EQUIPMENT
ZONE I Methane (mining only) II 2GD
ATEX
T1 450°C PROTECTION LEVEL • IEC 61508-3, Software requirements
T2 300°C Ga 0 • IEC 61508-4, Definitions and
EQUIPMENT GROUP
T3 200°C IIA Propane abbreviations
Gb 1
T4 135°C • IEC 61508-5, Examples and methods
Gc 2 for the determination of safety integrity
T5 100°C EQUIPMENT CATEGORY GAS DUST
IIB Ethylene
T6 85°C Da 20 M1 – energised (*) 0 20 levels
M2 – de-energised (*) 1/21 2/22 • IEC 61508-6, Guidelines on the
Db 21
DUST GROUPS Dc 22
IIC Hydrogen 1 – very high protection 0 20 application of IEC 61508-2 and IEC
2 – high protection 1 21 61508-3
DUST GROUP
Ma Energised* Gases are classified according to the ignitability of gas- 3 – normal protection 2 22 • IEC 61508-7, Overview of techniques
IIIA Combustible flyings
air mixture. and measures
Mb De-energised*
IIIB Non-conductive dust Refer to EN 60079-20-1 for classification of common (*) = in presence of explosive atmosphere
IIIC Conductive dust G=gas, D=dust, M=mining *in presence of explosive atmosphere gases and vapours.

SGS BASEEFA SERVICES •• IEC 61508 certification

SGS BASEEFA LIMITED tel. +44 (0)1298 766600
•• Training and Technical advice
•• ATEX and IECEx equipment/component •• Quality system approval •• IECEx Service facility Certification SGS Baseefa Ltd, fax. +44 (0)1298 766601
certification Rockhead Business Park, e-mail: baseefa@sgs.com
•• Assistance with DSEAR •• Technical file storage
•• IECEx Certificate of Personnel Competence (ATEX user directive) Implementation •• Testing Staden Lane, Buxton, SK17 9RZ www.sgs.co.uk/sgsbaseefa