ATEX Inspection and Certification [Under Accreditation Process]

SWISS APPROVAL has applied for accreditation according to – EN ISO 17020 standard – Inspection and Notified Body, at the scope of ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU. The Directive applies to electrical and/or mechanical equipment used on the surface, below the ground and on fixed offshore installations and covers:

• All equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres and which are capable of causing an explosion through their own potential sources of ignition.
• Protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Protective systems are defined as units which are intended to halt incipient explosions immediately and/or to limit the effective range of explosion flames and explosion pressures
• Components, which are defined as any item essential to the safe functioning of equipment and protective systems but with no autonomous function.

The accreditation and notification process, covers the Module G for Unit Verification conformity assessment of the Directive, which means that each separate unit produced and installed shall be individually assessed by the Swiss Approval Notified Body.

The Swiss Approval accreditation field applies to the three Categories of equipment classified to the Group II according to ATEX Directive as follows:

• Category 1 – Equipment that is intended for use in areas in which explosive atmospheres caused by mixtures of air and gases, vapors or mists or by air/dust mixtures that are present continuously, for long periods or frequently.
• Category 2 – Equipment that is intended for use in areas in which explosive atmospheres caused by gases, vapors, mists or air/dust mixtures are likely to occur.
  Category 3 – Equipment that is intended for use in areas in which explosive atmospheres caused by gases, vapors, mists or air/dust mixtures are unlikely to occur or, if they do occur, are likely to do so, only infrequently and for a short period only.