Hazardous — IECEx
IECEx certification
for hazardous areas.
The international certification scheme for explosive atmospheres — one test report and certificate, recognised across member countries including New Zealand and Australia.
In brief
IECEx is the IEC's international certification scheme for equipment used in explosive atmospheres. Unlike ATEX, which is EU legislation, IECEx is a voluntary global scheme: equipment is tested once against IEC 60079 standards and certified with international acceptance — the basis New Zealand and Australia use for hazardous-area equipment.
In detail
What it means for a powder plant.
For a plant that exports or buys internationally, IECEx solves the certification babel: an IECEx Certificate of Conformity carries the test evidence with it, so equipment accepted in Auckland is accepted in Dubai. Australia and New Zealand adopted IECEx directly through the AS/NZS 60079 series — for TLG's home markets it is the native regime.
In practice ATEX and IECEx overlap heavily — the same IEC standards underpin both — and most quality equipment carries both markings. TLG selects and documents equipment so certification matches the destination market, not just the country of manufacture.
- Scheme
- IECEx — international, based on IEC 60079 standards
- vs ATEX
- ATEX = EU law; IECEx = global voluntary certification
- ANZ status
- Adopted via AS/NZS 60079; the native regime for NZ & AU
- TLG scope
- Equipment selection, certification documentation, zoned design
Common questions
Frequently asked questions.
- What is the difference between ATEX and IECEx?
- ATEX is European Union legislation — mandatory for equipment sold into EU zones. IECEx is the IEC's international certification scheme — voluntary, but accepted in many countries including Australia and New Zealand. Both rest on the same IEC 60079 standards, and most certified equipment carries both markings.
- Is IECEx mandatory in Australia and New Zealand?
- Hazardous-area equipment in ANZ must comply with the AS/NZS 60079 series, and IECEx certification is the standard evidence of that compliance — regulators and insurers treat an IECEx Certificate of Conformity as the benchmark, making it mandatory in practice for classified areas.
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