It’s mandatory for products intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres to bear both the Ex Mark and CE Marking before being sold in the European Union.
For North America, products must have their products evaluated by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratoy (NRTL) to NEC requirements.
For select global markets, manufacturers may have their products evaluated to the IECEx requirements.
Explosive Atmospheres
Is your industrial product headed for an underground mine in Australia? An off-shore drilling rig? Or, perhaps a petrochemical plant in the U.S.? No matter where the explosive atmosphere is, Intertek can help you navigate the testing and certification process to get your product to its destination quickly and efficiently.
Manufacturers of products intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres must demonstrate intrinsic product safety and that their equipment is not an ignition source during normal operation. To demonstrate compliance for EU markets, manufacturers must have their products evaluated by a Notified Body to the ATEX Directive (94/9/EC). For North America, products must be evaluated by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) to NEC requirements. And for select global markets, manufacturers may have their products evaluated to the IECEx requirements. Regional certification marks are proof of product compliance; for example the ETL Listed Mark (North America), or the Ex Mark, S Mark and CE Mark (European Union).
What is a Potentially Explosive Atmosphere?
Any environment has the potential to be explosive if an ignition source is present and there is a mixture of atmospheric air and flammable substances such as gas, vapor, fog, dust, or powder. Some examples include:
Underground mines
Off-shore platforms
Petrochemical plants
Utility power plants
Process manufacturing sites
Testing and certification of products not only ensures intrinsic product safety, but also ensures that the product is not an ignition source when operating in a potentially explosive atmosphere.
Why Intertek?
Intertek has dedicated engineers with many years of experience in working with explosion hazards equipment. We are an accredited Certification Body under the ‘Old Approach’ Explosive Atmospheres Directive and hold Notified Body status under the ‘New Approach’ ATEX Directive for all equipment types and quality modules. We can also test for worldwide compliance in other disciplines concurrently with explosion safety. This bundling of services through a single testing partner – Intertek – will help you save time, money, and get products to market faster.
