IECEx "scheme"

The IECEx Scheme is a voluntary certification scheme, which facilitates global trade with equipment and maintenance of equipment intended to be used in explosive atmospheres.

The IECEx Scheme is managed by the standardization organization IEC and is based on global acceptance of test reports between the member states of the scheme.

Certification is based on requirements in specific international IEC standards for explosion protected equipment.

In order to obtain an IECEx Certificate (Certificate of Conformity - CoC) a type examination of the product is required (Test Report - ExTR) as well as a quality system assessment (Quality Assessment Report - QAR).

Types of protection and standards

Examples of different types of explosion protection for electrical equipment:

Type of protection Global standard (IEC)
Ex d - flameproof enclosure IEC 60079-1
Ex p - pressurisation IEC 60079-2
Ex q – powder filling IEC 60079-5
Ex o – oil immersion IEC 60079-6
Ex e – increased safety IEC 60079-7
Ex ia/ib – intrinsic safety IEC 60079-11
Ex n – non-incendive IEC 60079-15
Ex m – encapsulation IEC 60079-18
Enclosure protection "tD" (combustible dust) IEC 61241-1
Overpressure "pD" (combustible dust) IEC 61241-4
Encapsulation "mD" (combustible dust) IEC 61241-18

The standards are used together with a general part IEC 60079-0, except for the IEC 61241-standards, which are used together with IEC 61241-0.

Related Information

Contact Persons

Peter Bremer

Phone: +46 10 516 54 05

Robert Carlsson

Phone: +46 10 516 57 15

SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, Box 857, SE-501 15 Borås Phone +46 10-516 50 00, E-mail info@sp.se