ATEX & IECEx certification support, led by Chartered Engineers.
From ignition hazard assessment to a defensible technical file, we take equipment destined for explosive atmospheres through the right conformity route — the first time, without the late redesigns that derail programmes.
What we do
Ignition Hazard Assessment
Full EN ISO 80079-36/37 assessment of hot surfaces, mechanical sparks, static, stray current and adiabatic compression, with defined protective measures.
Design review against EN/IEC 60079
Gap analysis of your existing design against the applicable protection concepts before you commit to manufacture.
Conformity route selection
Determining equipment group, category and the correct conformity assessment path — self-declaration or Notified Body.
Technical file & DoC
Compilation and review of the technical documentation, marking scheme, instruction manual and EU Declaration of Conformity.
IECEx & international access
Aligning the same design evidence with the IECEx scheme so you can supply markets beyond the EU without duplicating work.
Ongoing technical support
Design changes, recertification, audit support and answers when a client or inspector queries your documentation.
From scope to certificate.
Non-electrical equipment is where most programmes get caught out — a gearbox, agitator or coupling can be an ignition source in its own right. We assess the whole assembly, not just the electrical parts.
- 01
Scope & classify
We confirm whether the equipment is in scope, identify the zone, group and category, and agree the target certification route.
- 02
Assess
Ignition hazard assessment and design review against the applicable EN/IEC 60079 and EN ISO 80079 requirements.
- 03
Resolve
Where gaps exist we engineer the fix — materials, clearances, surface temperature, seals, bearings, earthing — with calculation to back it.
- 04
Document
Technical file, marking, instructions and Declaration of Conformity assembled to withstand scrutiny.
- 05
Support
Notified Body liaison where required, plus ongoing support through design changes and recertification.
The framework behind the certificate.
- Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX equipment)
- EN/IEC 60079 series — explosive atmospheres, electrical
- EN ISO 80079-36 — non-electrical equipment, basic method
- EN ISO 80079-37 — non-electrical protection concepts (c, b, k)
- IECEx certification scheme (international market access)
- UKCA and CE marking conformity routes
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between ATEX and IECEx?
- ATEX is the European legal framework (Directive 2014/34/EU) that governs equipment placed on the EU market for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. IECEx is a voluntary international certification scheme built on the IEC 60079 and 80079 standards, used to gain acceptance in many markets outside the EU. The underlying technical requirements largely overlap, so a single well-documented design can usually satisfy both routes.
- Does my equipment need ATEX certification?
- If your equipment or protective system is intended for use in a zoned area where flammable gas, vapour, mist or combustible dust may be present, it falls within scope. Non-electrical equipment is covered too — a gearbox, coupling or agitator can be an ignition source. An ignition hazard assessment is the standard way to confirm scope and category.
- What is an Ignition Hazard Assessment (IHA)?
- An IHA systematically identifies every potential ignition source in a piece of equipment — hot surfaces, mechanical sparks, static electricity, stray currents, adiabatic compression — assesses the likelihood of each under normal operation, expected malfunction and rare malfunction, and defines the protective measures needed for the target equipment category. It is the core technical document behind an EN ISO 80079-36/37 non-electrical certification.
- Do I need a Notified Body?
- It depends on the equipment group and category. Category 1 and Category 2 electrical equipment (and internal combustion engines) require a Notified Body EU-type examination. Much Category 2 non-electrical and Category 3 equipment can be self-declared, provided the technical file, IHA and marking are complete and defensible. We help you determine the correct conformity assessment route before you spend money on the wrong one.
- How long does certification take?
- Where the design is already sound, an assessment and technical file typically take a few weeks. Where a design change is needed — a material substitution, a surface-temperature control, a bearing or seal revision — the timeline is driven by the redesign and any testing. Involving us at design stage rather than after manufacture is consistently the fastest and cheapest route.
- What does an ATEX technical file contain?
- A general description of the equipment, design and manufacturing drawings, the ignition hazard assessment, applicable standards and how they were met, calculations and analysis reports, materials and component data, the instruction manual with safe-use conditions, the marking scheme and the EU Declaration of Conformity.
Need an ATEX or IECEx route mapped?
Send us the equipment, the zone and the market — we'll tell you what the compliant path looks like and what evidence you already have.