IECEx Scheme

The objective of the IECEx Scheme (International Trade of Electrical Equipment used in Explosive Atmospheres) is to facilitate international
trade in electrical equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres by eliminating the need for multiple national
certification. The IECEx Scheme provides a means for manufacturers to obtain Certificates of Conformity that will be accepted at national level
in all participating countries. A Certificate of Conformity may be obtained from any certification body accepted into the scheme. The objective
of the IECEx Scheme is world-wide acceptance of one standard, one certificate, and one mark.
The Ex scheme applies to manufacturers of:

Electrical apparatus for explosive gas atmospheres

Electrical apparatus for the detecting and measurement of flammable gases
Electrical products such as switches, outlets and outlet boxes, circuit breakers, electric motors, and lighting used in hazardous environments

The obvious benefits of the IECEx scheme are:

Reduced testing and certification costs to manufacturer

Reduced time to market
International confidence in the product assessment process
One international database listing
Maintaining international confidence in equipment and services covered by iecex certification

Background

IECEx is a certification scheme championed by the IEC (www.iec.com) , and it is fast becoming the preferred route for international safe certification of products for use within all hazardous areas.
The IEC test report provides detail not included within an ATEX certificate and can be locally ratified to overcome any destination market
legislative difficulties that may arise.
In contrast to ATEX, IECEx was designed from the outset as an ISO/IEC Type 5 Certification Scheme, employing a single third party (The IECEx
Certification Body) to combine all aspects of design evaluation and production control before issuing a certificate.

IECEx Relationship with ATEX

ATEX is a mandatory legal requirement within Europe. Therefore the IECEx certification is complimentary to the ATEX standard, making the
choosing of equipment that has compliance to both standards advantageous if the final destination is outside the EU.
IECEx and ATEX marking differs and dual marking is becoming increasingly common. Dual marking enables products to gain an equal acceptance status in the countries signed up to the IECEx scheme as they currently receive in Europe.

The Future

The IECEx scheme is a very positive step towards a world certification system.
However, while total global harmonisation is still some way off, more and more countries are adopting this international certification
scheme.
Many manufacturers have acknowledged this shift and have begun adding IECEx compliance to their list of approvals.

Countries Participating in the IECEx Scheme

Australia
Canada
China
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland

France
Germany
Hungary
India
Italy

Japan
Korea
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway

Romania
Russia
Serbia & Montenegro
Singapore
Slovenia

South Africa
Sweden
Switzerland
UK
USA

Protecting Electrical Equipment Marking System & Standards

Type of Protection for Gas / Vapour Hazards
Equipment Code
Ex ia
Ex ib
Ex ic
Ex d
Ex p
Ex px
Ex py
Ex pz
Ex e
Ex m
Ex ma
Ex mb
Ex o
Ex q
Ex n
Ex s

Description
Intrinsic safety ia
Intrinsic safety ib
Intrinsic Safety ic
Flameproof protection
Purge/pressurized protection
Purge/pressurized protection px
Purge/pressurized protection py
Purge/pressurized protection pz
Increased safety
Encapsulation
Encapsulation
Encapsulation
Oil immersion
Sand / powder (quartz) filling
Type - n protection
Special protection

Suitable for zones...

0, 1, 2
1,2
2
1,2
1,2
1,2
1,2
2
1,2
1,2
0,1,2
1.2
1,2
1,2
2
Normally 1 and 2

Type of Protection for Gas / Vapour Hazards

Equipment Code
tDA20
tDB20
iaD
maD
tDA21
tDB21
ibD
mbD
pD
tDA22
tDB22
icD

Description
Protection by enclosure
Protection by enclosure
Intrinsic Safety
Encapsulation
Protection by enclosure
Protection by enclosure
Intrinsic Safety
Encapsulation
Pressurization
Protection by enclosure
Protection by enclosure
Intrinsic Safety

Suitable for zones...

20, 21, 22
20,21,22
20,21,22
20,21,22
21,22
21,22
21,22
21,22
21,22
22
22
22

Equipment Protection Levels - EPL

From 2007 onwards, the IEC Technical Standards in the series IEC 60079, and in particular IEC 60079 Part 14, have recognised that there may
be occasions where it is necessary to increase, above the normal levels, the protection against ignition sources. This concept allows for consideration of risk (ie consequences of an explosion) as opposed to just the probability of a flammable atmosphere existing - the conventional
selection criteria between the types of protection and the zone of use.

Three Equipment Protection Levels are specified as shown in the table below.
In normal circumstances the effect of these EPLs will be to retain the normal zone/equipment protection relationship. If, however, the risk is
considered especially severe, then the required EPL for the zone may be increased. Similarly, if the risk is deemed to be especially small or
negligible, the EPL may be reduced from the norm.
The following two tables show the normal relationship between EPL and zone, and the EPL awarded to each type of protection.
Equipment Protection Level (EPL)
Ga
Gb
Gc

Normal Applicable Zone(s)

0 (and 1 and 2)
1 (and 2)
2

Equipment Code
Description
Ex ia
Intrinsic safety ia
Ex ib
Intrinsic safety ib
Ex ic
Intrinsic Safety ic
Ex d
Flameproof protection
Ex p
Purge/pressurized protection
Ex px
Purge/pressurized protection px
Ex py
Purge/pressurized protection py
Ex pz
Purge/pressurized protection pz
Ex e
Increased safety
Ex m
Encapsulation
Ex ma
Encapsulation
Ex mb
Encapsulation
Ex o
Oil immersion
Ex q
Sand / powder (quartz) filling
Ex n
Type - n protection
Ex s
Special protection

For dust hazards, the EPLs are as follows:
Equipment Protection Level (EPL)
Da
Db
Dc

Normal Applicable Zone(s)

20 (and 21 and 22)
21 (and 22)
22

EPLttDA21
Protection by
Ga
Gb
Gc
Gb
Gb
Gb
Gb
Gc
Gb
Gb
Ga
Gb
Gb
Gb
Gc
Refer to equipment marking and
documentation

Standards for Equipment

IEC 60079 - ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR EXPLOSIVE GAS ATMOSPHERES
Part 0
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 11
Part 15
Part 18
Part 25
Part 26
Part 27

General requirements
Construction and test of flameproof enclosures of electrical apparatus
Electrical apparatus - type of protection p
Spark test apparatus for intrinsically safe circuits
Method of test for ignition temperature
Powder filling q
Oil-immersion o
Increased safety e
Construction and test of intrinsically safe and associated apparatus
Electrical apparatus for explosive gas atmospheres, type of protection n
Encapsulation m
Intrinsically safe systems
Special requirements for construction test and marking of zone 0 electrical apparatus
Fieldbus intrinsically safe concept (FISCO)

Standards for Installation etc. (gases and vapours)

IEC 60079 - ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR EXPLOSIVE GAS ATMOSPHERES
Part 10
Part 14
Part 17

Classification of hazardous areas

Installation (and selection) of equipment in hazardous areas
Inspection and maintenance of equipment

Note that the 60079 series of standards will gradually address dust hazards as well as gas/vapour hazards. The standard number will have an
additional suffix 1 or 2. Thus, for example, 61241-14 (see below) will be replaced by 60079-14-2 [installation for equipment in dust hazards],
with 60079-14-1 dealing with installations in gas/vapour hazards.

Standards for Dust Hazard Equipment and Installation

IEC 61241 - ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE PRESENCE OF COMBUSTIBLE DUST
Part 0
Part 1
Part 2-1
Part 2-2
Part 2-3
Part 4
Part 10
Part 11
Part 14
Part 17
Part 18

General Requirements
Protection by enclosure tD
Methods for determining the minimum ignition temperature of dusts
Method for determining the resistivity of dust in layers
Method for determining minimum ignition energy of dust air mixtures
Type of protection pD
Classification of areas where combustible dusts are or may be present
Protection by intrinsic safety iD
Selection and installation
Inspection and maintenance
Protection by encapsulation mD