Hazardous Location Certification & Services

Are you ready for fast and competent determination of compliance?

• Testing and certification of all types of protection according to ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU
• Certification of quality management systems according to Directive 2014/34/EU
• Testing and certification within the IECEx scheme
• Certification of quality management systems according to IECEx scheme
• Testing and certification according to Brazilian technical regulations for INMETRO
• Certification of quality management systems according to Brazilian regulations for INMETRO
• Assessment and testing of electrical safety and explosion safety for North American hazardous classified areas

As a Notified Body in the Netherlands and Germany, DEKRA tests and certifies non-electrical equipment of Group I (mining) and Group II (industrial) according to Directive 2014/34/EU as well as in line with the mechanical IECEx standards. We guide manufacturers and suppliers through the whole process, from choosing the best process for assessing conformity to issuing the pertinent EC declaration of conformity.

When operating equipment assemblies (plants) in potentially explosive atmospheres, the implementation of preventive explosion protection measures is not enough to exclude explosion hazards. Constructive explosion protection always has to include an explosion-proof design of the plant in combination with explosion-protected decoupling.

Constructive explosion protection requires the use of so-called protective systems. The ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU specifies the minimum requirements for protective systems and the conformity assessment process for the EU market.

Examples of protective systems that DEKRA tests and certifies include:

• Systems for pressure relief, such as explosion vents and rupture discs
• Systems for suppressing explosions
• Systems for explosion decoupling, such as flameproof rotary feeders, quick-closing gate valves, explosion protection valves, extinguisher barriers, double-flap valves, swing-type check valves, relief pipes and squeeze valves

Quite often, equipment is supplied or operated in combination with other equipment or components. These are often considered as single functional units (assemblies) in the scope of the Directive 2014/34/EU, IECEx 02 and INMETRO. Examples of such products are valves and their operating gear, pumps and fans. Complete plants may also be marketed as an assembly or a functional unit (like a device according to RL 2014/34/EU). For this, they need to be evaluated according to their ignition hazard, also in interaction with separate parts.

At DEKRA, we offer the following services to manufacturers of such plants and systems (assemblies) as part of the conformity assessment:

• Risk assessment for the assembly regarding additional ignition hazards and other relevant risks
• Test of safe use of bought-in ATEX products
• Assessment of electrostatic ignition hazards at plants and within processes
• Use of components without CE marking
• Special requirements in the documentation (e.g. instruction manual) of assemblies

In addition, DEKRA offers simple and compelling solutions to manufacturers who want to assemble customized plants by combining several components into modular systems.

Knowing the flame and explosion characteristics of combustible dusts is necessary for safe handling. The type and volume of the tests are always adapted to each specific case (e.g. plant, procedure, process conditions and organizational measures). In particular, processes of segregation or enrichment of fine dust have to be considered.

DEKRA offers packages of parameter determination such as maximum explosion pressure, Kst value, minimum ignition energy and further examinations such as assessment of electrostatic ignition sources, explosion propagation modeling and investigations into causes of explosions.

Service facilities which overhaul, repair and modify equipment used in hazardous areas need to ensure continued safe operation of equipment. The IECEx 03 Certified Service Facilities scheme provides an international program for assessing and certifying explosion-related service facilities according to the requirements of IEC 60079-14, IEC 60079-17 and IEC 60079-19.

IECEx 03 enables you to demonstrate that your workshops fulfill these requirements and that you have an effective quality management system in place. The scheme also helps you to market your services internationally, as it is accepted by all IECEx countries. DEKRA is a Certification Body for IECEx 02,03,04,05 and ExCB. We work with many standards and approval bodies to help you to export your products and services worldwide.