1. Is the IECEx Equipment Certification Scheme mandatory?
No. It is a voluntary scheme, but if you have obtained an IECEx certificate and the supporting IECEx test reports and quality reports, in most countries you will be able to obtain a national Ex certificate for your products a lot more easily, significantly reducing the costs and time-to-market.
2. What if I am in a country that does not have an IEC national committee?
Manufacturers are free to choose an IECEx accepted certification body from any country to provide them with an IECEx Certificate of Conformity (CoC), IECEx Ex test report (ExTR) or IECEx Quality Assessment Report (QAR) for their products.
3. I already have ATEX certification for my Ex Equipment. What do I do to comply to IECEx?
Consideration must be given to the fact that ATEX certificates (in some cases) may be issued without an ATEX production quality certificate, but for IECEx product certifications there always must be a production quality certificate available. This can mean that the manufacturing sites have to be audited for IECEx additionally. Whether you will be able to obtain certification without further testing will depend on the test report that has been issued, and whether it shows complete compliance with relevant IEC standards.
4. What do I do to update my ATEX/IECEx certification if my company has changed its name and/or address?
This type of change constitutes a variation to your certificate(s). You need to apply to CNEX-Global B.V. directly, explaining the change and attaching an updated label drawing. CNEX-Global B.V. will then re-issue your certificates with the new company name and/or address details. Your QAN/QAR documents will also require an update with the new details.
5. How much does an ATEX/IECEx project cost?
Each product will be slightly different and will require slightly different assessments along with the standard set of testing criteria that the relevant protection concept will dictate.
Complexity of design, the number of certification drawings and checklists you have, and the type of parameters you want for the project (such as Equipment Group, Temperature Class and ambient temperature range) can all have an effect on the scope of work, and hence the cost.
If you wish to receive a quotation for a particular product, please download our application form and return it to us with the relevant information. No costs will be incurred until you have accepted the quotation.
6. How long do ATEX/IECEx projects generally take?
Project timescales will differ due to the scope of work involved, but generally an average timescale for an IECEx/ATEX project is 12-16 weeks from start of project. But it is not usual for projects to take longer when there are problems establishing compliance with the relevant standards or having that compliance properly documented.
7. Can I use my IECEx Certificate to place products on the market in Europe?
No, you must comply with the ATEX Directive (2014/34/EC).
8. Can I use my IECEx/ATEX Certificate to place products on the market in China?
No, you must comply with the GB/T 3836.xx-2021 standards, including Factory Inspections. Contact us for more details.
9. Can I use my IECEx/ATEX Certificate to place products on the market in Australia and New Zealand?
In most cases - yes. This is particularly the case for above-ground industries. For underground coal mining it may depend on the state in which the equipment will be used.