DSS020: Understanding Ex Certification of Equipment and Personnel with Arpad Veress

In this episode of the Dust Safety Science Podcast, we interview Arpad Veress, Managing Director of ExNB Certification Institute in Budapest, Hungary.

Arpad has a comprehensive background in hazardous areas and explosion protection within Europe and the Middle East. His company, ExNB, is certified through ISO to deliver personal competency training and to certify equipment, so Arpad shares a lot of valuable information on how this process works. During this interview, he discusses the following:

The role of ATEX Notified Bodies
The Ex certification of electrical and non-electrical equipment for use in hazardous environments
Ways that European facility managers can confirm certification of equipment and the competency of personnel working on design and installation
Difference between gas explosion hazards and dust explosion hazards in the international system
Training and certification for equipment manufacturers in Europe

Certification of Electrical and Non-Electrical Equipment in Europe

The ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU covers equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. It is mandatory for manufacturers in Europe, so Notified Bodies like ExNB are approved to certify electrical and non-electrical equipment for safe use in possibly hazardous environments

A difference between electrical and non-electrical equipment are possible ignition sources. With electrical equipment, the source is typically a switch or plug. With non-electrical equipment, it could be a something like a pump delivering liquid from one point to another.

Ex Certification of Equipment and Personnel Competency

There are two parallel levels of certification in Europe: one for equipment and the other for the competency of the personnel who deal with hazardous area inspection, installation, design, and repair. The IECEx System standards for equipment used in potentially hazardous environments include the following:

IEC 60079-14: Electrical installations design, selection and erection
IEC 60079-17: Electrical installations inspection and maintenance
IEC 60079-19: Equipment repair, overhaul and reclamation

These standards specify that the equipment shall be installed, designed, specified, operated and maintained by Ex-competent personnel. While this Ex competency requirement may not always be legally mandatory, it does provide reassurance that the person installing or otherwise working with the equipment has demonstrated their ability to work in a potentially hazardous environment.

Arpad’s company, ExNB, is approved as a Notified Body for the various modules of the ATEX product certification. It is also approved under ISO 17024 which is the international standard of personal competency certification. Although it does not train personnel, ExNB will perform assessments and certifications based on the various levels like designers, technicians, and supervisors. There is a section on the company website that lists:

Issued certificates for products
Issued certificates for personnel competency

Employers looking for employees or subcontractors with this type of competency can check the list of personnel that EXNB has certified. The website also has an ExAMOnlineTool that can be used to verify competency. All notified bodies are required under ISO 17024 to list all names of the people they certify, although the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) allows the publication of such information only with the person’s consent.

In North America, the situation is different. One common complaint from managers is that they have no way of confirming whether the person doing a dust hazard analysis in their facility is competent to do so.

Gas Explosion Hazards vs. Dust Explosion Standards in the International System

When asked whether the international system had different standards for gas explosion and dust explosion hazards, Arpad said that it doesn’t matter where in the world you are: ethylene, natural gas, and materials like sugar or cocoa powder explode. He said that the hazard was the same and there was no difference in terms of certification.

Training for Equipment Manufacturers

Addressing the question of training and certification for equipment manufacturers in Europe, Arpad said that manufacturers don’t have to be certified as Ex competent. Their competency is measured by the certificates given for their products, but they are required to have in-depth knowledge of their product and understand how to make it safer and more effective.

ExNB recently trained a company that develops and provides pressure switches. The people there were surprised to learn that their equipment was being installed and used in a potentially hazardous environment. They agreed that this type of knowledge is a must-have for others in the equipment manufacturing space.

Conclusion

Arpad said that all ExNB training sessions start with one phrase: “First your product or your installation shall be Ex and then functional.” If you are involved with a hazardous environment and your lamp is not Ex, then it can not function. The same is true for a compressor or dust collector or anything installed in a setting that presents a fire or explosion risk. Ex certification and explosion safety must be demonstrated first before functionality is even considered.

Safety is an essential part of understanding fire and explosion hazards and their impact on people, equipment and facilities. Ensuring that the equipment used in hazardous environments is safe first and functional second can go a long way toward reducing the number of incidents and saving lives.

If you would like to discuss further, leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
You can also reach Arpad Veress directly:
[email protected]
http://www.exnb.eu/en/main
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