What is the difference between Atex and IECEx?

Asked by: Salvador Santiago

While ATEX is a mandatory application limited to Europe, IECEx is an international certification accepted in several countries to help build confidence in the safety of Ex equipment. It also facilitates international trade of equipment and services for use in explosive atmospheres.

Is ATEX and IECEx the same?

The main difference between ATEX and IECEx is that ATEX certification only applies for countries in the EU while IECEx certification is accepted globally. Hence, the IECEx certification is more widely recognised and accepted compared to ATEX certification.

What is the IECEx?

IECEx is the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres. It uses quality assessment specifications that are based on International Standards prepared by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Is ATEX accepted in Australia?

In Australia, equipment that is certified ATEX is not accepted as it is not up to the Australian standard. What is IECEx certification? The IECEx Scheme is an internationally-recognised regulation that demonstrates a business’s conformity with IEC Standards.

What is the difference between ATEX and UL?

The difference between these three is the testing/classification body. Each rating is created by a recognised standards body with ATEX Being European, UL being American and IECEx often used for international standards. Your company may choose a specific standard to base decisions from.

What is ATEX IECEx certified?

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).

What countries use IECEx?

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• AUSTRALIA (AU) Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) …
• BRAZIL (BR) COBEI – Brazilian Committee on Electricity, Electronics, Lighting and Telecommunications. …
• CANADA (CA) Canadian National Committee (CANC/IEC) …
• CROATIA (HR) …
• CZECH REPUBLIC (CZ) …
• DENMARK (DK) …
• FINLAND (FI) …
• FRANCE (FR)

What is ATEX classification?

There are four ATEX classification to ensure that a specific piece of equipment or protective system is appropriate and can be safely used in a particular application: 1. Industrial or Mining Application; 2. Equipment Category; 3. Atmosphere; and 4. Temperature.

What is ATEX stand for?

ATmospheres EXplosible

ATEX is an acronym for ATmospheres EXplosible. This means hazardous, or potentially explosive, environments of various categories, both gaseous (petrochemical mainly) and dusty such as flour mills, saw mills and some food processing plants.

What does ATEX approved mean?

If a product / piece of equipment has official ATEX certification, it has been fully tested and approved to be safe to use in hazardous / explosive atmospheres.

Is IECEx accepted in USA?

As you know, Canada (and the USA) are members of the IECEx Scheme, and therefore Canadian/USA Certification Bodies accredited under the IECEx Equipment Certification Scheme (QPS, CSA, UL, FM) will accept valid IECEx ExTRs, as per IECEx procedures, as a basis for issuing Canadian/USA Certification.

Can ATEX equipment be used in USA?

While many of the requirements for ATEX certification overlap with NFPA vacuum design requirements often relied upon during an OSHA inspection, the ATEX directive isn’t relevant in the United States.

What are ATEX zones?

ATEX generally refers to the hazard of explosive atmospheres occurring in the workplace due to the presence of flammable gasses or combustible dust mixed in air, which can give rise to the risk of explosion.

What is difference between Zone 1 and Zone 2?

Zone 1: An area in which an explosive gas atmosphere is likely to occur in normal operation; Zone 2: An area in which an explosive gas atmosphere is not likely to occur in normal operation and, if it occurs, will only exist for a short time.

What is Zone 0?

Zone 0 is an area in which an explosive atmosphere is present continuously for long periods of time or will frequently occur. Zone 1. Zone 1 is an area in which an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur occasionally in normal operation.

How do you read ATEX code?

The ATEX suffix gets into the detail of how the device is protected from causing an explosion when installed in a hazardous area and what that hazard conditions are. The ATEX suffix always starts with Ex to indicate Explosion Protection and is then followed by 4 more sections whether it is for Gas or Dust applications.

What does ex na mean?

Not sparkling equipment (Ex na)

“Non Sparkling” equipment does not produce any sparks, arcs and not cause high surface temperatures which can trigger an explosion during normal operation. This category includes lighting fixtures, junction boxes, asynchronous squirrel cage electric motors.

What is difference between EXE and EXD?

Ex d or “Flameproof” means that an enclosure or junction box is constructed and certified as Explosion Protected according to the “Flameproof” standard. … Ex e, on the other hand, means that the enclosure is constructed and certified as “Explosion Protected” according to the “Increased Safety” standard.

What is a Class 1 Div 1 area?

A Class I, Division 1 area encompasses the combination of Zone 0 and Zone 1 areas. An area where ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, vapors or liquids are present continuously or for long periods of time under normal operating conditions.

What are the 3 classes of hazardous locations?

Class I locations are those in which flammable vapors and gases may be present. Class II locations are those in which combustible dust may be found. Class III locations are those which are hazardous because of the presence of easily ignitable fibers or flyings.

Is Class I Div 2 explosion proof?

Understanding Class and Division

There are three classes of explosion proof lights known as Class I, Class II, and Class III. These are the broadest sense in which explosion proof lights are distinguished from each other.

Is NEMA 4x explosion proof?

Conclusion. To make it clear, Nema Enclosures Manufacturing doesn’t provide Explosion Proof Enclosure. They only provide weatherproof enclosures.

What does NEMA 7 mean?

NEMA 7 enclosures are designed to contain an internal explosion without causing an external hazard. These enclosures are intended for indoor use in hazardous locations classified as Class I, Division I, Groups A,B,C, or D.

What does NEMA 13 mean?

NEMA 13 enclosures are intended for indoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection against dust, spraying of water, oil, and non-corrosive coolant.

What does NEMA 9 mean?

N/A. 9. HAZARDOUS. Intended for indoor or outdoor use in Class II, Groups E, F, and G environments. per NFPA rating system.

What NEMA is explosion proof?

Enclosures resistant to explosion hazards are designed according to much more rigorous standards of durability that NEMA 12 enclosures typically don’t need. If you need explosion-proof performance from your enclosure, you’ll want to go with a NEMA 7 or NEMA 8 rating.

What does NEMA 12 mean?

NEMA 12 Enclosures constructed (without knockouts) for indoor use to provide a degree of protection against circulating dust or fibers, falling dirt and dripping non-corrosive liquids.