1

ATEX
ELECTRICAL AND NON-ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT:
GUIDANCE FOR MANUFACTURERS
FOR EUROPE FOR THE WORLD
A common approach to lifting barriers to trade within the
Aim: one single certificate for any hazardous area product
European Economic Area (EEA).
Technically identical standards for electrical recognized and accepted throughout the world.
equipment since 2006 and some identical
The Directive becomes law on implementation in each standards for non-electrical equipment from
member country and compliance is mandatory within the EEA. 2016. Already accepted in many countries. Alternatively a single test
report (ExTR) can be sent to any member certification body
(ExCB) to issue locally accepted certification.
Applicable to all non-electrical equipment and protective For single standards, a single set of tests and
systems, as well as electrical equipment. assessments can support both IECEx and
ATEX. Originally only for electrical equipment but, with the
publication of ISO/IEC standards for non-electrical equipment
Certification from a Notified Body is mandatory for category
ATEX IECEx in the first half of 2016, the scheme has been extended to
1 and M1 electrical and non-electrical equipment/component, An ATEX EC-Type Examination certificate PRODUCT CERTIFICATION cover non-electrical equipment.
CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT
protective systems and category 2 and M2 electrical equipment/ can be based on an IECEx ExTR but ATEX
component. Otherwise self-declaration of compliance is documentation does not necessarily support ExCB issues an ExTR (covering the product type) and a quality
permitted. an IECEx certificate. assessment report (QAR) (covering the related production
facility).
An EC-Type Examination Certificate and Quality Assessment
Notification (QAN) are issued by a Notified Body. The technical requirements of a Certificates of conformity created directly on the IECEx
manufacturer’s QA system are effectively the
website, and they are fully visible for the whole world to read
same, both are based on ISO/IEC 80079-34
and an IECEx QAR can support the issue of an and check status.
The manufacturer – alone – is responsible for the Declaration
ATEX QAN.
of Conformity, which must accompany every product which
ExCB maintains the status of certificate based on the outcome
bears the European (CE) Marking.
of further QARs, a minimum of 2 audit visits in a 3 year period.

PRINCIPAL ELECTRICAL PROTECTION CONCEPTS INGRESS PROTECTION (IP) NON-ELECTRICAL (MECHANICAL) PROTECTION
TYPE OF PROTECTION IP RATING
STANDARD IEC/EN CODE PROTECTION CONCEPT ZONE
Hazardous area equipment typically requires a Non-electrical products have been required to comply with the ATEX Directive since July 2003.
minimum IP rating of IP54 but may be assessed
Gas Dust Gas Dust Gas Dust The original (European only) standards EN 13463 series supported compliance and were published
and tested to the higher ratings below:
from 2001 onwards. Harmonization status (confirming that meeting the standard gives presumption of
60079-0 General requirements conformity with the Directive) ceases in October 2019. The current (international) standards should now
Dust Dust protected IP5x
Ex da 0 be used both for the international certification to the IECEx Scheme and (in their EN version) for ATEX.
Flameproof
60079-1 Ex db 1
(prevention of propagation) Dust tight IP6x Further details of EN ISO 80079-36, EN ISO 80079-37 and ISO/IEC 80079-38 are provided on wallchart
Ex dc 2
2, along with details of:
Ex pxb Ex pxb 1 21
Pressurized Protection against –
60079-2 Ex pyb Ex pyb 1 21 Water IPx4 • Design compliance and production responsibility
(gas/dust exclusion) splashing water
Ex pzc Ex pzc 2 22 • Protection concepts (new and old)
Powder filled Protection against –
60079-5 Ex q 1 IPx5 • Marking requirements (new and old)
(prevention of propagation) water jets
Ex ob Oil filled 1 Protection against – • Potential ignition sources
60079-6 IPx6
Ex oc (gas exclusion) 2 powered water jets • Ignition hazard assessment process
Ex eb Increased safety 1 Protection against –
60079-7 IPx7
Ex ec (by design) 2 temporary immersion
Ex ia Ex ia 0 20
Intrinsic safety Protection against –
60079-11 Ex ib Ex ib 1 21 IPx8
(energy limitation) continuous immersion
Ex ic Ex ic 2 22
Equipment protection by 1 21 See IEC/EN 60529 for full definitions of IP ratings.
pb pb
© SGS United Kingdom Ltd – 2020 – All rights reserved – SGS is a registered trademark of SGS Group Management SA 5609/0420 - BAS-WC-001 - Issue 3 - February 2020

pc pc pressurized room ”p” 2 22

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 19.1111X 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
transmission 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) 2019 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 Baseefa19ATEX1111X 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:
DUST GROUPS GAS GROUPS EQUIPMENT PROTECTION EU Explosive • IEC 61508-1 - General requirements
DUST GROUP GAS GROUP REPRESENTATIVE TEST GAS
LEVEL ATEX CODING atmosphere symbol • IEC 61508-2 - Requirements for E/E/PE
IIIA Combustible flyings safety-related systems
I Methane (mining only) EQUIPMENT
ZONE
II 2GD
ATEX
IIIB Non-conductive dust • IEC 61508-3 - Software requirements
PROTECTION LEVEL
IIIC Conductive dust
Ga 0 • IEC 61508-4 - Definitions and
EQUIPMENT GROUP
IIA Propane abbreviations
Gb 1 I – mining II – non-mining
TEMPERATURE CLASS • IEC 61508-5 - Examples and methods
Gc 2 for the determination of safety integrity
MAXIMUM SURFACE EQUIPMENT CATEGORY GAS DUST
T CLASS IIB Ethylene
Da 20 M1 – energized (*) 0 20 levels
TEMPERATURE
T1 450°C
M2 – de-energized (*) 1/21 2/22 • IEC 61508-6 - Guidelines on the
Db 21
IIC Hydrogen 1 – very high protection 0 20 application of IEC 61508-2 and IEC
T2 300°C Dc 22
2 – high protection 1 21 61508-3
T3 200°C
Gases are classified according to the ignitability of gas- Ma Energized* 3 – normal protection 2 22 • IEC 61508-7 - Overview of techniques
T4 135°C
air mixture. and measures
Mb De-energized*
T5 100°C Refer to EN 60079-20-1 for classification of common (*) = in presence of explosive atmosphere
T6 85°C gases and vapours. G=gas, D=dust, M=mining *in presence of explosive atmosphere

SGS BASEEFA SERVICES • IEC 61508 certification

SGS BASEEFA LIMITED tel. +44 (0)1298 766600
• Training and technical advice fax. +44 (0)1298 766601
• ATEX and IECEx equipment/component • Quality system approval • IECEx certification Rockhead Business Park,
e-mail: [email protected]
certification Staden Lane, Buxton, SK17 9RZ
• Assistance with DSEAR • Technical file storage www.sgs.co.uk/sgsbaseefa
• IECEx certificate of personnel competence (ATEX user directive) implementation • Testing