Globalization has transformed the landscape for certifying equipment used in Hazardous Locations. Manufacturers and suppliers are challenged to ensure their equipment complies with local government, regulatory and international safety standards — a process that can be both lengthy and costly and can vary from region to region. Understanding and accessing global markets quickly without sacrificing equipment safety and quality is the key to survival in today’s competitive international markets.

Bridging the Gap – Understanding Testing Options that Can Help Meet HazLoc Equipment Demands

HazLoc product testing follows a prescribed process, to ensure your product design meets the stringent requirements set out in the safety standards. The video above shows just one of the typical test environments required for testing.

The testing program is governed by the type of certification manufacturers are seeking, which can change depending on whether you are wanting to export your product to North America, Europe or further afield.

International Certification (IECEx Scheme)

IECEx is the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres. It uses quality assessment specifications that are based on International Standards prepared by the IEC. The IEC is currently grouping all hazardous locations-related IEC standards under the IEC 60079 Series of standards for electrical equipment and 80079 series for non-electrical equipment.

Certification in the Europe Union (ATEX Directive)

As of July 1, 2003, products for use in Hazardous Locations within the European Union must comply with the ATEX Directive. The objective of ATEX is to ensure the free movement of goods throughout the European Union by offering one harmonized compliance procedure that is accepted by all EU countries, eliminating the need for different national standards.

North American Certification

In the U.S. and Canada, manufacturers of equipment for use in hazardous locations must use a recognized third-party agency to test and certify the equipment to applicable U.S. and Canadian standards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) designates agencies qualified to perform testing to standards for the U.S. as Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs), while the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) recognizes agencies qualified to test equipment to standards for Canada. Equipment tested and certified by these agencies as compliant with U.S. and Canadian national standards is then suitable for use under installation standards of the U.S. National Electrical Code (NEC) and the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC).

Supporting Services that Help in “Keeping Up” with the HazLoc Equipment Market

CSA Group’s white paper on the evolving landscape for Hazardous Locations industries looks at some of the reasons why the industry continues to evolve and what this means for manufacturers of HazLoc equipment – it studies the North American conformity route, the EU ATEX Directive and the IECEx scheme as three key drivers for hazardous locations growth, and suggest ways manufacturers can export to the global hazardous locations marketplace with speed to market in mind.

Read it here.