Explosive atmosphere testing and certification
We test, assess and certify electrical equipment used in explosive atmospheres to national and international standards
Our state-of-the-art Londonderry test facility is equipped to carry out product testing to national and international standards.
Our highly trained, qualified, and experienced team of electrical and mechanical engineers will assess the design of your product against the relevant Ex standard.
We conduct onsite quality audits of manufacturing facilities to the international Ex audit standard.
We issue Ex Product Certificates of Conformity for compliance with standards covered by the IECEx (International Electrotechnical Commission Certification System) and ANZEx (Australian/New Zealand Explosion Protected Electrical Equipment System) Systems.
About explosive atmosphere testing
We conduct a wide range of testing on products at our Londonderry facility to national and international standards to certify them as safe to use in explosive atmospheres with gases, vapours and dusts.
What we test
We conduct compliance testing on electrical and non-electrical equipment to national and international Standards for various Ex protection techniques.
- Intrinsic safety Ex i
- Flameproof enclosure Ex d
- Pressurisation Ex p
- Increased safety Ex e
- Dust ignition protection by enclosure Ex t
- Encapsulation Ex m
- Equipment protection by type of protection Ex n
- Oil Immersion Ex o
- Powder filling Ex q
- Equipment protection by special protections Ex s
- Optical radiation Ex op
- Non-electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres Ex h (c, b or k)
- Ex certification of specific products and assemblies.
Here are some tests names which are involved with the above Ex protection techniques:
- temperature rise test for both electrical and non-electrical equipment
- temperature rise test for electric motors
- locked rotor test of motor
- small component ignition test
- thermal endurance to heat and to cold
- dielectric strength test
- transferred of electrostatic charge
- measurement of capacitance
- surface resistance
- optical radiation
- battery tests
- resistance to chemical agents for Group I equipment
- impact and drop resistance
- Ingress Protection (IP)
- pull tests for cables, glands and connectors
- water absorption
- flameproof testing for Ex d
- spark testing for Intrinsic safety
- clearance and creepage distances measurement
- insulation resistance test
- test of earthing connection
- leakage current test
- earth continuity test
- resistance to UV light.
Getting the test results
The results of our testing are presented in a Test Report (ExTR) that is endorsed by our local Australian laboratory accreditation body, National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA).
We carry out sample testing, design assessment and issue IECEx and ANZEx Test Reports (ExTR) for electrical and non-electrical equipment.
About explosive atmosphere certification
We carry out sample testing, design assessment, quality audits of manufacturer’s sites.
For electrical and non-electrical equipment used in explosive atmospheres, we issue Ex certificates for several different types of Ex protection.
We carry out quality audits of service facilities that are involved with repair and overhaul of Ex equipment used in explosive atmospheres and various hazardous areas.
Ex Product Certificates
Certificate of Conformity (CoC)
Ex Product certificates issued by us can be used as independent proof of compliance with standards covered by the IECEx and ANZEx Systems.
The IECEx and ANZEx Systems are quality-based systems that require a Test Report (ExTR) and a Quality Assessment Report (QAR) to be issued before an Ex CoC.
Ex Test Report (ExTR)
The ExTR is issued against Ex standards and is based on sample testing as well as the assessment of documentation and design of the equipment for compliance with Australian and International Standards.
Your sample will be tested by our highly trained and experienced technical officers and certification engineers against the relevant Ex standard at our state-of-the-art test facility.
Quality Assessment Report (QAR)
The QAR is issued based on a successful on-site assessment of a manufacturer’s quality system.
Our highly qualified and experienced Ex certification auditors conduct audits at manufacturing sites of IECEx, ANZEx, ATEX (European Ex certification) and UKCA (UK Ex certification). We certify equipment used in explosive atmospheres against the Ex quality audit standard ISO/IEC 80079-34.
Our auditors will review quality documentation and conduct onsite audits to ensure manufactures have the necessary competent personnel, infrastructure, resources, quality systems and production capability to manufacture the Ex product to the design that was certified.
Once product certification is issued, surveillance audits at manufacturing sites are regularly conducted to maintain the Certificate of Conformity.
ISO 9001 certification that includes the Ex certified equipment in its scope could reduce the frequency of surveillance.
We provide customers with:
• IECEx and ANZEx Test Reports (ExTR)
• IECEx, ANZEx, ATEX and UKCA Quality Assessment Reports (QAR)
• IECEx and ANZEx Certificates of Conformity (CoC).
Our QARs and ExTRs can be used in the application for ATEX and UKCA product certification.
Our QARs can be used in the application for an ATEX QAN and UKCA QAN.
Ex Service Facility Certificate
We also offer certification of service facilities under the IECEx Scheme for organisations that repair and overhaul IECEx certified equipment. Refer rules IECEx 03 from IECEx.
Service facilities are required to meet the requirements of the standard IEC 60079-19 and relevant IECEx operational documents as referred to on the IECEx website.
We provide customers with:
• IECEx Facility Audit Reports (FAR)
• IECEx Service Facility Certificate.
Onsite quality assessment of service facilities in accordance with IEC 60079-19 and relevant IECEx operational documents are conducted by us.
This includes assessment of quality management systems, staff competence, infrastructure, resources, and servicing capability. When the quality assessment is successfully completed, the IECEx FAR will be issued.
The FAR is then used to support the issue of the IECEx Service Facility Certificate.
Once Service Facility Certificate is issued, surveillance audits, including assessment of staff competency, are regularly conducted to maintain the certificate.
Our process for issuing a Certificate of Conformity
Certification involves the following three steps.
We will review your application to determine if:
- the application is for the right scheme to suit your needs
- the application is within the scope of the applicable scheme
- we have the accreditation as an Ex certification body to certify against the scope you’ve requested
- we have everything we need to quote for certification services.
We may contact you during this stage to request further information to support your certificate application.
Once your application is approved, our teams will commence work in two areas in parallel:
- our assessment team will review the design and sample test your product, or review your externally prepared Ex test report (ExTR)
- our audit team will audit your manufacturing site or review your externally prepared Quality Assessment Report to ensure the site has a quality system in place to manufacture your product to certified design
We will contact you should we detect any instances of non-compliance in this step.
After our test and audit activities are complete, we will:
- issue an Ex test report and a Quality Assessment Report (if required)
- perform a final independent review to match information between the Ex test report and the Quality Assessment Report to confirm approval for certification
- issue you a Certificate of Conformity for your product upon approval of final independent review
- commence our audit surveillance program to maintain certification of your product.
Enquire about explosive atmosphere certification and testing
Help and support
If you have any questions about electrical testing, please get in touch.
Our office hours are 8:30am–4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
Our stores hours are 8:30am–3:30pm, Monday to Friday.
Complete our online enquiry form
Call +61 (2) 4724 4900
Email: testsafe@safework.nsw.gov.au