Differences between ATEX Explosion Protection Certification and IECEx Certification
ATEX certification and IECEx certification both describe the necessary requirements for equipment intended for use in potentially hazardous and dangerous areas, but they differ in certain aspects. The main difference is that ATEX certification is driven by legislation, whereas IECEx certification is driven by standards.
Another difference is that ATEX certification is only valid within the European Union, while IECEx certification is accepted globally. Likewise, ATEX certification is legally required for all non-electrical and electrical equipment used in hazardous areas. However, IECEx certification is only required for electrical equipment in hazardous areas.
Regarding standards, conformity to standards is not mandatory for ATEX certification, but for IECEx certification, a third-party certification body is responsible for integrating all aspects of manufacturing and design for public certification. In short, IECEx certification is stricter than ATEX certification in terms of evidence handling during the certification process.
Another fundamental difference is the way each system is structured. The IECEx certification system is actually one of four conformity assessment systems operated by the IEC. It includes four separate international certification components: the IECEx Equipment Scheme, the IECEx Service Scheme, the IECEx Marking of Conformity License System, and the IECEx Conformity Assessment Personnel Scheme. In contrast, ATEX certification refers to two separate but related directives.
The following table compares the two standards:
| Item | ATEX | IECEx |
|---|---|---|
| Scope of application | European Union | IECEx member states* (except North American countries) |
| Mandatory or not | Mandatory | Non-mandatory |
| Implementation standard | EN 60079 series | IEC 60079 series |
| Explosion protection marking |
|
|
| Conversion | Currently, an ATEX certificate cannot be converted into certificates of countries outside the EU. | IECEx reports are recognized by IEC member states (except North American countries) and can be directly converted into local explosion protection certifications, except where local differences require additional testing. |
IECEx member states: Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro (former Yugoslavia), Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the USA – 24 countries in total, and the number is still increasing.
