What is IECEx Certification?
Published 17 Oct 2025
IECEx certification is an internationally recognised standard for verifying the safety of electrical and non-electrical equipment used in explosive (Ex) atmospheres. It provides independent proof that products, repair facilities, and even personnel meet globally accepted safety and quality requirements for hazardous locations.
For industries operating in potentially explosive atmospheres — such as oil & gas, chemical processing, energy, mining, and food production — IECEx certification helps ensure that installed equipment will not become an ignition source and cause an explosion.
What Is IECEx Certification?
IECEx stands for the International Electrotechnical Commission System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres. It is operated by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) — the same global organisation that develops electrical and electronic standards used across over 80 member countries.
IECEx certification demonstrates that equipment has been independently tested and found to comply with the IEC 60079 series of standards. These standards specify how to design, test, and mark electrical and mechanical products for use where flammable gases, vapours, or dusts could ignite.
Unlike regional schemes such as ATEX certification for Hazardous Area Zones (mandatory in the EU), IECEx is an internationally harmonised, voluntary certification system — created to streamline compliance and remove trade barriers between different national approval schemes.
How to Get IECEx Certification
The IECEx certification process involves several stages of technical assessment and quality auditing, all carried out by independent accredited organisations. Here’s how manufacturers typically achieve certification:
- Product Design & Standard Selection – The manufacturer determines which IEC standards apply (typically IEC 60079-0 plus others depending on protection type such as flameproof, increased safety, or intrinsic safety).
- Testing by an Ex Test Laboratory (ExTL) – The product undergoes laboratory testing to verify compliance with relevant IEC standards. This includes environmental, electrical, and mechanical safety testing.
- Technical File Review by an Ex Certification Body (ExCB) – A certified ExCB reviews all test data, drawings, and documentation to confirm that the design meets IECEx requirements.
- Quality Assessment Report (QAR) – The manufacturing facility must demonstrate a consistent production process and quality management system that ensures every unit matches the tested design.
- Issuance of Certificate of Conformity (CoC) – Once approved, the ExCB issues an official IECEx CoC, which is published online in the IECEx database for public verification.
The result is a traceable, transparent, and internationally recognised proof of compliance — valid in all countries participating in the IECEx System.
Is IECEx Accepted Globally?
Yes — IECEx is recognised worldwide, with member countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. Although IECEx certification is voluntary, it is accepted in many regions as an equivalent or supporting approval for national compliance schemes.
For example:
- Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and India accept IECEx certificates directly for market entry.
- Europe requires ATEX for legal sale within the EU, but IECEx reports (ExTRs) are commonly used as supporting evidence for ATEX approvals.
- The Middle East and Asia-Pacific increasingly recognise IECEx as the global benchmark for explosion protection assurance.
This global acceptance allows manufacturers to reduce duplication of testing, shorten approval timelines, and demonstrate compliance to a consistent international standard.
What Does IECEx Stand For?
IECEx is an abbreviation of “International Electrotechnical Commission Explosive Atmospheres.” It covers certification schemes for:
- Equipment – electrical and non-electrical apparatus used in explosive atmospheres.
- Service Facilities – workshops conducting repair and overhaul of Ex equipment.
- Personnel Competence – individuals performing design, installation, inspection, and maintenance in hazardous areas.
Each scheme provides its own form of certificate and audit process, all traceable through the official IECEx Certified Equipment database.
ATEX vs IECEx: What’s the Difference?
Although ATEX and IECEx share the same technical foundation (both use IEC 60079 standards), they differ in scope and purpose. ATEX is a legal requirement within the European Union, whereas IECEx is a voluntary international certification system designed to harmonise standards globally.
Read more on ATEX & IECEx | Approval of Electrical Equipment Used in Hazardous Areas & Explosive Atmospheres.
Benefits of IECEx Certification
- International Recognition – Accepted in multiple regions without additional testing or re-certification.
- Safety Assurance – Independent verification ensures equipment safety in explosive atmospheres.
- Transparency – All valid IECEx certificates are published online for anyone to verify.
- Trade Efficiency – Reduces duplication between regional schemes and accelerates global market access.
- Consistency – Aligns testing and quality assurance across products, facilities, and personnel.
What Are Some Example IECEx Certified Product Ranges?
IECEx certification applies to a wide variety of industrial equipment designed for use in explosive or hazardous environments — anywhere electrical energy or surface temperature could ignite a flammable gas, vapour, or dust. Typical IECEx-certified product ranges include:
- Explosion-proof lighting systems such as ATEX and IECEx lighting used in refineries, offshore platforms, and chemical processing facilities. These luminaires are engineered with sealed enclosures and robust housings to prevent ignition sources in hazardous zones.
- Industrial and hazardous area heaters including ATEX fan heaters, space heaters, and immersion heaters. IECEx certification ensures that heating elements and thermostats operate safely without exceeding ignition temperatures or creating sparks in explosive atmospheres.
- Heat Trace systems such as self-regulating heat trace cables and associated controls. IECEx certification confirms these systems are suitable for maintaining or protecting process temperatures on pipelines, tanks, and instruments in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas.
- Junction boxes & enclosures, and control panels designed for hazardous areas — often installed alongside heaters and lighting systems to ensure power distribution and control equipment maintain explosion-proof integrity.
- Cable glands and accessories that provide flameproof and increased-safety terminations, preserving the Ex rating of connected equipment.
All of these product ranges must be IECEx-certified because they contain electrical or thermal components capable of becoming ignition sources if not properly designed. Certification ensures the equipment meets strict international standards for safety, construction, and temperature limitation — protecting both personnel and facilities in explosive environments.
IECEx Certification FAQs
Q: Is IECEx certification mandatory?
A: No — IECEx is voluntary. It is not required by law but provides globally recognised proof of safety and quality for hazardous area equipment.
Q: Is IECEx accepted worldwide?
A: Yes — IECEx is recognised by over 30 member countries and accepted across many global markets. Some nations require additional national approvals, but IECEx is the foundation for most explosion-protection standards.
Q: Can a product be both ATEX and IECEx certified?
A: Yes — most manufacturers pursue dual certification. The same test data can support both systems, simplifying compliance for global markets.
Q: Where can I check an IECEx certificate?
A: All valid certificates are listed on the official IECEx Certificate Database, searchable by certificate number or company name.
Conclusion
IECEx certification offers a reliable, internationally accepted pathway to demonstrate the safety and quality of equipment used in explosive atmospheres. It aligns global standards, enhances confidence for operators and end users, and streamlines international trade in explosion-protected equipment. While not legally required in every country, IECEx remains a key indicator of product safety, quality, and compliance in hazardous environments worldwide.
