The Challenge
"ATEX or IECEx certified" is often written into an RFQ as if the two are interchangeable labels for the same thing. They're related but distinct certification schemes with different legal scope and different acceptance depending on the project's destination country — specifying the wrong one, or specifying neither with enough detail, routinely causes rework at the documentation-approval stage.
Technical Breakdown
ATEX is a European Union regulatory framework (legally mandatory for equipment placed on the EU market), while IECEx is an international certification scheme intended to enable global mutual recognition of hazardous-area equipment certification. Equipment can carry one, both, or region-specific national certifications depending on where it will be installed.
Both schemes classify equipment by zone (gas: Zone 0/1/2; dust: Zone 20/21/22), equipment group and category, and protection method (e.g. flameproof Ex d, intrinsically safe Ex i, increased safety Ex e) — but a procurement spec needs to state the zone and protection method required, not just "ATEX" or "IECEx" as a standalone requirement.
Temperature class (T1–T6) and equipment protection level also need to be specified alongside the certification scheme — the same zone classification can require a different temperature class depending on the specific process gas or dust's auto-ignition temperature.
Project destination and end-user standard matter: some regions and end-users specifically require IECEx certificates for equipment acceptance regardless of ATEX status, while EU-destined projects require ATEX compliance regardless of IECEx status. Confirming which is required — and whether both are needed — avoids a costly late-stage documentation gap.
Certificate documentation itself needs to be requested and verified at RFQ/order stage: the actual certificate of conformity, not just a datasheet stating "ATEX/IECEx compliant," since some projects and authorities require the certificate number and issuing body to be referenced in project documentation.
Engineering / Procurement Checklist
What to define before requesting a quotation.
- Required zone classification (gas and/or dust) for the installation area
- Required protection method (Ex d, Ex i, Ex e, etc.)
- Temperature class and equipment protection level required for the specific process media
- Whether ATEX, IECEx, or both are required for the project's destination/end-user
- Confirmation that the actual certificate (not just a datasheet claim) will be supplied