David Ford QA Limited

IECEx is the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres.

The objective of the IECEx System is to facilitate international trade in equipment and services for use in explosive atmospheres, while maintaining the required level of safety. It uses quality assessment specifications that are based on International Standards prepared by the IEC.

Samples of the equipment will need to be assessed by a laboratory of an IECEx Certification Body (ExCB) for the Ex-product to be issued with an IECEx Ex Design Certificate; referred to as IECEx Certificate of Conformity (CoC).

For a new entrant to IECEx Certification, prior to the release of the Ex-design certification (IECEx CoC) or the addition of a new protection concept to an existing Quality Assessment Report (QAR), the manufacturing facility will require factory inspection.

To maintain a QAR the Quality System will need to be compliant to ISO/IEC 80079-34 and subject to a periodic factory inspection audit by an ExCB.