Safety in the workplace is paramount, especially in industrial environments that operate in explosive or hazardous atmospheres where the risk of fires and explosions is present at all times.
Such places include environments where explosives or flammable chemicals such as petrol are handled, as well as chemical facilities with potentially toxic vapours:
- Oil refineries and processing plants
- Petrol stations
- Printing factories or warehouses
- Underground coal mines
- Sugar refineries
- Grain handling and storage areas
- And more!
In such environments, it is crucial to use equipment that is explosion-proof to reduce the risk of fire and explosions as much as possible.
What is IECEx?
IECEx is the IEC System for Certification to Standards relating to Equipment for use in explosive atmospheres. This system ensures that all equipment used in explosive or hazardous areas meet strict requirements to protect people and installations against risks.
IECEx provides several services, including:
- A testing system to ensure the equipment and area meets specific safety standards
- Certification of equipment, services and personnel working in hazardous environments
The IECEx system is endorsed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) as the world’s best practice model when it comes to the verification of conformity to international standards for explosive atmospheres.
Why is IECEx certification important?
An IECEx certificate shows clear proof of compliance with international standards. This is an important assurance for businesses and organisations that are responsible for the safety of people working in hazardous areas, as well as the equipment and location in which they operate.
The IECEx Certificate of Conformity is issued to:
- a manufacturer of equipment for products that meet the relevant requirements of IEC Standards, AND
- products manufactured in factories that meet requirements checked regularly by surveillance audits
A&D Australasia is happy to share that our intrinsically safe weighing scales are IECEx compliant:
A&D EK-EP
Certificate Number: IECEx FMG 15.0006X
Type of Protection: Intrinsic Safety “ia”
Equipment Protection Level Ga: Equipment for explosive atmospheres due to the presence of gas, with a level of protection ‘very high’, which is not a source of ignition in normal operation, or in case of expected failure or when subjected to a rare failure.
Marking
Equipment Protection Level Category: Gas Atmospheres | Gas Explosion Category: 1G is suitable for use on Zones 0, 1 & 2 | Explosion Protected | Type of Protection: Gas Environment | Equipment Group: Typical Gas: Ethylene | Temperature Class 200 °C (this is the lowest temp at which a gas can ignite) |
| II | 1G | Ex | ia | IIB | T3 |
A&D HV-CEP
Certificate Number: IECEx FMG 17.0018X
Type of Protection: Intrinsic Safety “ia”
Equipment Protection Level Ga: Equipment for explosive atmospheres due to the presence of gas, with a level of protection ‘very high’, which is not a source of ignition in normal operation, or in case of expected failure or when subjected to a rare failure.
Marking
Explosion Protected | Intrinsic Safety Rating: Equipment Protection Level Ga (Gas Atmospheres) | Equipment Group: Typical Gas: Ethylene | Temperature Class 135° C (this is the lowest temp at which a gas can ignite) | (Gas Atmospheres Very High Level Of Protection) | Ambient Temperature Range in which the equipment can be used. |
| EX | ia | IIB | T4 | Ga | -25°C< Ta < + 40°C |
To find out more about our intrinsically safe weighing scales, please contact A&D Weighing today.