Explosion Protection Testing and Certification

Before equipment and protective systems used in potentially explosive atmospheres can be put on the market, they must comply with a number of regulations, standards and directives. As the manufacturer, you are responsible for conformity assessment and obtaining the certification required in the country where your equipment is used.

Our explosion protection experts help you to determine which path of certification is most suitable for you and will support you in complying with the required guidelines and meeting international requirements.

As a notified body for the ATEX Directive and an IECEx-approved certification body, our testing laboratory makes us your ideal partner for the certification of equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

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By having the conformity of your equipment verified by an internationally notified body, you can get access to global markets and gain competitive advantage. Our global network of experts can identify regulations, directives and requirements affecting your products from a local perspective. Implementing harmonized standards and common test protocols, our specialists can shorten approval times and lower costs associated with placing products in any region.

Our comprehensive explosion protection testing and certification services cover:

• Testing and certification of electrical and non-electrical (mechanical) components and equipment used in a potentially explosive atmosphere, including safety, control and regulating devices
• Personnel qualification according to IECEx 05 (CoPC)

To help you gain explosion protection certification, we:

• Provide you technical support
• Identify applicable directives and standards
• Determine your conformity process and offer full support from a recognised body for testing a particular product or protection method. Test your products, prototypes, components and assemblies in accordance with health and safety requirements.
• Evaluate results and report findings
• Confirm directive compliance through EX-mark or EX-proof
• Issue type approval and certifications

We provide solutions to introduce your components, equipment and systems to European and global markets. From design to manufacturing, installation and operation, we have the expertise, accreditations and procedures necessary to help you successfully achieve certification.

As a notified body for the ATEX Directive and an IECEx-approved certification body, our testing laboratory makes us your ideal partner for the certification of equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. We offer you the certification of equipment and protective systems as well as certification services in accordance with European and international regulations, such as the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU (quality assurance for product and production) or the "IECEx scheme".

Access to international markets is also subject to corresponding approvals in accordance with equipment safety requirements and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) system for certification to standards relating to equipment for use in explosive atmospheres (IECEx System). Many other countries accept IEC standards and European standards or have adapted them as national standards.

We also support manufacturers who want to sell their products in Japan. By ensuring that your equipment is explosion protected and certified, we can help you access the Japanese market more easily. The Japanese JPEx certificate can be issued based on an IECEx-report and certificate issued by TÜV Rheinland, without requiring further approval by the Japanese government.

This significantly reduces your time to market and makes trade more cost effective.

Our worldwide network of experts offers you solutions tailored to your individual requirements. We are accredited according to IECEx to qualify your employees. With this qualification they achieve the competence to apply the internationally valid and high safety standard. If your employees have passed the IECEx 05 requirements after a corresponding training course, they will receive a personal certificate of competence (CoPC).

Find out how we can help you achieve market success with explosion protection testing and certification.

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The ATEX Directive applies to all equipment, protective systems, and some specified devices that are intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres and are made or sold in the European Union. This includes electrical and mechanical equipment and protective systems for use on the surface, below ground, and on fixed offshore installations. It relates to all equipment, protective systems, safety devices, controlling devices, regulating devices, and components (defined as any item essential to the safe functioning of equipment).

Compliance with the ATEX Directive became mandatory on July 1, 2003. Manufacturers of equipment that fall under the scope of the ATEX Directive are responsible for meeting the general requirements of Annex II by applying all relevant standards based on the design and “protection methods” of the product. The ATEX Directive is a CE Marking Directive, which means products that fall under the scope of the directive are subject to CE marking. In addition, manufacturers have to meet specific responsibilities prior to launching equipment on the market.

If you are interested in TÜV Rheinland’s ATEX services, you may also be interested in these testing services:

• EMC
• Field evaluation
• Semi S2 and S8
• Other industrial machinery compliance and safety standards

• Safety devices
• Controlling devices
• Regulating devices