ATEX certification applies to equipment used in places where flammable gas, vapour or dust may be present. It comes from the EU's Directive 2014/34/EU on equipment for explosive atmospheres. ATEX certified equipment from India is possible, but only when the maker has gone through the EU conformity route, and you should ask to see the evidence.
ATEX is not a certificate you buy from an Indian authority. It is a set of EU requirements that the manufacturer must meet, usually with an EU notified body involved.
What ATEX covers
The directive covers equipment and protective systems intended for explosive atmospheres. That includes electric motors, pumps with electric drives, enclosures, instruments and some non-electrical equipment with a possible ignition source.
Equipment is grouped by where it is used and by the level of protection it gives. Zones describe the risk at the site: zones 0, 1 and 2 for gas, and 20, 21 and 22 for dust. The category of the equipment must match the zone where it will be installed.
A separate directive, 1999/92/EC, puts duties on the employer to classify zones. That is the user's task, not the supplier's.
How ATEX is shown on the product
Look for the CE mark, the Ex symbol, the equipment group and category, the type of protection, the temperature class and a manufacturer name and serial number. For equipment in the highest-risk categories, an EU-type examination certificate from a notified body is required, and the notified body's number appears next to the CE mark.
Lower-risk equipment may follow a route in which the manufacturer controls production itself. The precise route depends on category and equipment type, so ask the supplier to explain which one applies.
What to ask an Indian supplier
Ask for documents, not assurances.
- The EU declaration of conformity, naming Directive 2014/34/EU and the harmonised standards used.
- The EU-type examination certificate where one is required, with its number and the notified body's name, which you can check on the European Commission's NANDO database.
- The marking plate for the exact model you are buying, in a photograph.
- The instructions in the language of the country of use, including safe installation limits.
- The production quality assurance notification, where applicable.
IECEx and Indian approvals are different
IECEx is an international scheme, and Indian equipment may carry IECEx certificates or national approvals for the domestic market. These are useful evidence but are not the same as an ATEX route. For sale in the EU, the directive's own procedure applies. Outside the EU, many countries accept IECEx, and some have their own rules, so confirm with your regulator.
Check whether the equipment is in scope at all. Many general machines are not ATEX products, but may carry other obligations; see CE marking for machinery and the declaration of conformity.
Next step
ATEX is a safety requirement, so confirm the details with a notified body or a specialist adviser before you rely on any supplier's claim. We find and audit manufacturers and check their documents against the product. To discuss your equipment, book a free sourcing review.