ATEX And IECEx

Calgary 2012ATEX and IECExRon Sinclair MBEGeneral Manager – SGS BaseefaChair – IECEx ExTAGVice Chair – European Ex NB GroupChair – Cenelec TC31Baseefa

What is ATEX ?There are two ATEX Directives 94/9/EC The ATEX Product Directive– Applicable to the manufacture andplacing on the market of Ex Equipment 1999/92/EC The ATEX Use Directive– Applicable to the installation, inspection,maintenance and use of Ex EquipmentBaseefa

What is ATEX ? A European Union Directive is not, itself, lawbut becomes law in each member state whenit is “adopted” into national legislation The EU determines the time period duringwhich each directive must be adopted Some directives (including 94/9/EC) apply tothe whole of the European Economic Area(EAA) which also includes Norway, Iceland,Lichtenstein and SwitzerlandBaseefa

The ATEX Product Directive When people refer to ATEX colloquially,they usually mean 94/9/EC Adoption in all countries has been on anequal basis in order to ensure an evenplaying field for TRADE The only differences relate to criminalpenalties for non-compliance (subsidiarity) Because of the equality, it is normal to referto ATEX as if it is the lawBaseefa

The ATEX Use Directive Sets a MINIMUM standard for Health andSafety of workers, etc., related to risks ofexplosion in areas with a hazardousatmosphere Because the location is fixed in a singlecountry, the adoption has varied slightly indifferent countries where additionalmeasures have been brought in More often known by the local legislation– In the UK this is DSEARBaseefa

The Two Directives Both directives were implemented on acompulsory basis from July 2003 The Use Directive requires that all newequipment to be installed in a hazardousarea complies with the Product Directive Second hand equipment can be installedbased on a risk assessment (but mustcomply with the product directive if beingimported into the EEA)Baseefa

The ATEX Product Directive Technical Requirements– Expressed as “Essential Health andSafety Requirements”– Several pages of generalised technicalrequirements– Theoretically certification can be directagainst these requirements withsupporting technical research– Easier to use “harmonised” standardsBaseefa

Harmonised Standards To avoid having to prove a method ofcompliance, use of a harmonisedstandard may be presumed todemonstrate compliance with theEHSRs In practice, for most products,compliance with a harmonisedstandard is the only realistic way ofcomplying with the EHSRsBaseefa

Harmonised Standards Currently there are about– 60 standards issued by CEN for nonelectrical equipment and protectivesystems– Generic EN 13463 series for equipment– Several particular standards for specifictypes of equipment, e.g. Diesel engines Fork lift trucks Flame arrestorsBaseefa

Harmonised Standards Currently there are about– 30 standards issued by Cenelec forelectrical equipment Originally EN 50014 seriesNow mainly EN 60079 seriesMost are identical to related IEC 60079Some EN only standards remain where IEChas not yet published an equivalent, e.g.EN50495 – Safety related devicesBaseefa

Harmonised Standards A standard is harmonised when its numberis published in the Official Journal of theEuropean Union This follows evaluation by a consultantappointed by the European Commission List available atmosphere/index en.htmor via the links on www.baseefa.comBaseefa

Categories ATEX recognised the need to identify arelative value for the “safety” of anyparticular item of equipment– The “safer” the equipment, the more arduousthe Zone in which it can be placed– 94/9/EC defines Categories as a property of theequipment– 1999/92/EC defines Zones as a property of theinstallation and allocates Categories to Zones“subject to risk assessment”Baseefa

Categories Category 1– A very high level of protection– Corresponds to IEC EquipmentProtection Level Ga or Da Typified by protection– Ex ia– Ex ma– Ex taBaseefa

Categories Category 2– A high level of protection– Corresponds to IEC EquipmentProtection Level Gb or Db Typified by protection– Ex d– Ex e– Ex ib, Ex mb, Ex tbBaseefa

Categories Category 3– A normal level of protection– Corresponds to IEC EquipmentProtection Level Gc or Dc Typified by protection– Ex nA, Ex nC, Ex nR– Ex ic, Ex mc, Ex tcBaseefa

Categories Category 1M– Mining equipment to remain energised inthe presence of gas in the mine air– Corresponds to IEC EPL Ma Category 2M– Mining equipment to be de-energised inthe presence of gas in the mine air– Corresponds to IEC EPL MbBaseefa

Categories andConformity Assessment ATEX requires a higher level of proofof conformity for the highercategories Electrical equipment and internalcombustion engines require a higher levelof proof than non-electrical Protective Systems are treated as if theyare Category 1 Equipment for conformityassessment purposesBaseefa

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Notified Body ? An independent (3rd party)conformity assessment body Appointed by the responsibleauthority in a member state Notified by that authority to theEuropean Commission.Baseefa

EC-Type Examination Colloquially “ATEX Certification” Identical process as producing anIECEx Test Report (ExTR) BUT– Is against the EHSRs not standards(although standards are normally used)– Allows the NB to use judgement onapplication of the standardsBaseefa

EC-Type Examination Not mandated for– Category 2 (and M2) non-electrical– Category 3 Notified Body cannot issue EC-TypeExamination for these Notified Body may issue a voluntarycertificate provided that it does notclaim to do it as a Notified BodyBaseefa

Production QA Identical to IECEx QAR procedures Normally used even if Product QA ismandated– QAN document refers to both modules Based on ISO/IEC 80079-34– Replacing OD 005 from IECEx– Replacing EN 13980 for ATEX Note EN 80079-34 contains additional annexmaterial for non-electrical equipmentBaseefa

Product Verification/Unit Verification Product Verification follows EC-TypeExamination, whereas Unit Verificationstands alone IECEx Unit Verification covers both thesemodules Production is directly validated by the NB Avoids need for Production QA– Saves cost when only a few products are to bemade– Not logical for serial productionBaseefa

Internal Control of Production Manufacturer alone responsible for allaspects of design and production Manufacturer has sole responsibility forcreating the Technical File For Category 2 M2 Non-electricalEquipment, the Technical File is to bedeposited with a Notified Body Notified Bodies can assist manufacturerson a voluntary basis (e.g. file review)Baseefa

Declaration of Conformity(DoC) Top level document for ATEX,delivered by manufacturer on soleauthority without intervention of NB Attestation of Conformity forcomponents that don’t bear the CEMarking – identical purpose andformatBaseefa

Declaration of Conformity Name and address of Manufacturer orAuthorised Representative Description of product Relevant provisions fulfilled by product– Category, Standard Coding, etc. Name, number and address of NB (if app.)Reference to harmonised standards usedReference to other specifications usedReference to other directives appliedIdentification of empowered signatoryBaseefa

Declaration of Conformity DoC plus instructions are the onlydocuments that ATEX requires to bedelivered with the equipment Both should be in paper form– Can be read anywhere– No need for Ex computer to read a CD Rom Purchaser will find the certificate moreuseful, but supply is not mandatedBaseefa

CE Marking RequirementATEX marking1180II 2 GStandard marking e.g.Ex d IIB T5

IECEx strength vs ATEX weakness Supervision and accreditation ofCertification/Notified Bodies– IECEx by peer review (not involving owncountry)– ATEX by own country against varyingcriteria – often using assessors notfamiliar with hazardous area techniquesand standards

IECEx strength vs ATEX weakness Top Level Documentation– IECEx Certificate on-line, issued by thecertification body, based on ExTR and QAR currency checkable on-line– ATEX Declaration of Conformity, issued by themanufacturer, who has sole authority either forinternal control of production or for ensuringthat separate type examination and productionmodules are in place currency not checkable except via manufacturer

So why ATEX ? Without it, you can’t sell in Europe Until the Ex s “Special Protection”standard IEC 60079-33 is publishedand IECEx gears up to certify to it,ATEX is one way to get flexibilitywhere needed to apply changingtechnology ahead of standardsdevelopment

So how ATEX ? Because the standards areeffectively technically identical, anIECEx ExTR provides the technicalbasis for issuing an ATEX EC-TypeExamination Certificate An IECEx QAR can form the basis ofan ATEX QAN

So how ATEX ? Two for the price of one ?– An IECEx ExCB that is also an ATEX NBcan issue both sets of documentationfor about the same cost as IECEx alone– There is a standard IECEx format toreport the minor additions (normallyjust marking) for ATEX

So how ATEX ? Any IECEx ExCB in the world canproduce the IECEx ExTR and QARthat can be turned into ATEXdocumentation by any European NB The NB will read the reports and askfor clarification on any points notclear to them– This is normal within the IECEx System

ATEX – The near future 94/9/EC currently being modified andreissued with a new number European Commission recognisedthat many “new approach” directiveswere failing to deliver– New directive will tighten proceduresfor notifying NBs and for marketsurveillance

ATEX – The near future As currently drafted, the newdirective will not make seriousdifferences to “good” manufacturersand “good” Notified Bodies Additional duties will be placed onimporters to maintain documentationfor 10 years

ATEX – The distant future The European Commission is awareof the work from UNECE and notagainst implementation– How to make IECEx interface easily withthe basic framework of EuropeanDirectives that are entrenched ? The question is not “if?”, but “how?”and “when?”

One set of marking for legal requirements. One set to show conformity with a standard and give additional information.\爀屲The ⁜ജepsilon x hexagon mark” was a certification mark under the old approach directives