Technical Article
ATEX vs IECEx for Hazardous-Area CCTV
What ATEX and IECEx certification cover, why certification is model-level rather than brand-level, and what to request from a supplier.
ATEX and IECEx are two separate certification systems that both verify electrical equipment is safe to operate in an explosive atmosphere. The practical difference is who issues the certificate and where it is recognised — the safety principles are the same.
ATEX (EU Directive 2014/34/EU) is mandatory for equipment placed on the European market and is signalled by the CE mark. IECEx is a voluntary international scheme run by the IEC that produces a publicly verifiable Certificate of Conformity.
A hazardous-area camera is normally certified under one or both of these systems, and marine installations additionally carry a classification-society approval such as DNV or CCS.
Explosion-protection schemes compared
| Standard | Category | Issued by | Primary use | Where recognised |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATEX | Explosion protection | Notified Body (e.g. DNV) | Hazardous-area equipment, gas + dust | EU / EEA |
| IECEx | Explosion protection | ExCB (e.g. DNV) | Hazardous-area equipment, gas + dust | International |
| CNEx | Explosion protection | Chinese certification body | Hazardous-area equipment for China | China |
| DNV | Classification society | DNV | Marine / offshore equipment | Marine / offshore projects |
| CCS | Classification society | China Classification Society | Marine equipment | China-flagged / CCS-classed vessels |
How to read an Ex marking
A marking such as Ex db IIC T6 Gb encodes everything you need to check against your site's area classification.
- Ex db — flameproof enclosure (db) with Equipment Protection Level Gb, suitable for Zone 1 and Zone 2 gas atmospheres.
- IIC — gas group IIC, the most severe class (hydrogen, acetylene); IIA and IIB cover less sensitive gases.
- T6 — temperature class T6, a maximum surface temperature of 85 °C, the strictest class (T1 at 450 °C is the least strict).
- Ex tb IIIC T85 °C Db — the dust equivalent: dust-protected enclosure (tb), dust group IIIC (conductive dust), EPL Db for Zone 21/22.
Frequently asked
- Is ATEX certification valid outside Europe?
- ATEX is an EU directive, so the certificate itself is recognised within the EU/EEA. Many Middle East and Asia projects accept ATEX certificates as evidence of explosion safety, but always confirm the acceptance criteria with your end user or project specification before relying on it.
- Why is certification model-level rather than brand-level?
- Because the certificate covers a specific model's enclosure, optics and electronics together. A different model from the same manufacturer has a different certificate, and a model sold in multiple regions may carry different certificates. Always ask for the model-specific certificate number.
- What documents should I request from a supplier?
- Request the model-specific certificate (ATEX EC-Type Examination or IECEx Certificate of Conformity), the full Ex marking string, and confirmation of the exact zone, gas/dust group and temperature class. Include these requirements with your enquiry so the documentation can be reviewed for the selected model and configuration.
Related blog posts
- Five Installation Mistakes That Cost an Explosion-Proof Camera Its Compliance
The certificate covers the assembled unit — housing, gland and blanking plug together. These five installation choices are the ones that most often turn a certified camera into a non-compliant one.