ATEX certification is the explosion-proof directive 2014/34/EU formulated by the EU CE certification. The goal of ATEX is to ensure the free flow of explosion-proof products within the EU by providing a unified compliance procedure accepted by all EU countries, thereby eliminating the need for different national standards. The directive eliminates trade barriers by defining essential health and safety requirements (EHSR) for Ex equipment.

IECEX stands for the International Electrotechnical Commission for Explosive Atmospheres. To obtain IECEX certification, all products must go through the monitoring process of the International Electrotechnical Commission to ensure that they meet the minimum safety requirements. This process will determine whether the product can be used in hazardous or potentially explosive locations.

1. The main difference between ATEX and IECEX is that ATEX certification is only applicable to EU countries, while IECEX certification is accepted worldwide. Therefore, IECEX certification is more widely recognized and accepted than ATEX certification.

2. Another key difference between ATEX and IECEX certification is that ATEX is law-driven, while IECEX is standard-driven. This means that ATEX certification is not a mandatory requirement to comply with standards, but IECEX requires compliance with standards. Therefore, the manufacturer is responsible for the entire ATEX certification process for the product. On the other hand, the responsibility lies with the external certification party to ensure that the necessary product meets the IECEX certification.

3. The difference between ATEX and IECEX is the way each certification is set up. IECEX certification includes four schemes: IECEX Equipment Scheme, IECEX Conformity Mark License, IECEX Service Scheme and IECEX Certified Personnel Scheme. These four schemes are designed to ensure that every aspect of the product meets IECEX standards, from the quality of the Ex equipment itself to the capabilities of the personnel who will handle such equipment in hazardous environments.

In addition, ATEX certification can be based on IECEX test reports, but ATEX documents may not necessarily support IECEX certificates. Therefore, it has become a common industry requirement for explosion-proof products to include ATEX and IECEX certificates.