Tests for products intended for environments with a risk of potentially explosive atmospheres

All electrical and non-electrical equipment intended to be used in work places with a risk of potentially explosive atmospheres must have a level of safety that is appropriate to the installation area.

Products of this type are regulated by the ATEX Directive (2014/34/EU) and the IECEx scheme. EX products falling within the scope of Directive 2014/34/EU and/or the IECEx scheme can be:

  • Equipment and protective systems used in potentially explosive atmospheres;
  • Safety devices, controlling devices and regulating devices intended for use outside potentially explosive atmospheres but required for or contributing to the safe functioning of equipment and protective systems with respect to the risks of explosion;
  • Components means any item essential to the safe functioning of equipment and protective systems but with no autonomous function.

The product families forming the main focus of IMQ’s work are:

  • Electronic devices
  • Rotating machinery and related driven machines, brakes, pumps, compressors, fans, etc.
  • Non-electrical equipment (filters, stirrers, cylinders, turbines, skids, protective systems, etc.)
  • Installation materials and system components
  • Ventilation equipment
  • Lighting devices
  • Measuring and control instruments for industrial processes.

Main types of tests performed:

  • Measurement of temperature, hot and cold ageing, impact, UV ageing, charge test and electrostatic discharges (IEC/EN 60079-0)
  • Tests for determining the reference and non-transmission pressure of an explosion (IEC/EN 60079-1)
  • Pressurisation tests (IEC/EN 60079-2)
  • Vibration and corrosion with SO2 (IEC/EN 60079-7)
  • Spark test (IEC/EN 60079-11)
  • Tests on sealed devices, enclosed-break devices and flow-restricting devices (IEC/EN60079-15)
  • Verification of resin encapsulation (IEC/EN 60079-18);
  • Power measurement of LASER sources and radiance-irradiance of LED sources (IEC/EN 60079-28)
  • IP rating and temperature measurement with dust layer (IEC/EN 60079-31 and IEC/EN 60529)
  • Tests on mechanical appliances in accordance with EN ISO IEC 80079-36 and -37.
 Management system certification is the endorsement enjoyed by organisations that have chosen to equip themselves with efficient management systems and suitable skills and structures, aimed at continuous improvement. And the higher the prestige of the awarding body, the higher the value of the guarantee. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, our laboratories have full capability to put products through all the checks required by the major European directives and international standards. The certifications issued by IMQ are synonymous with trust. They guarantee safety, performance, efficiency and quality standards. More than 10,000 companies have turned to IMQ to certify their products and stand out on the market. Notified body for the main EU directives, IMQ offers tests and CE certifications to assess the conformity of the products to the requirements required to be marketed on the European market. Inspections and audits validate the conformity of electrical installations, equipment, supplies and services with the applicable technical and legislative specifications. IMQ is leader in Europe in the conformity assessment activity, technical partner chosen by Ministries and Authorities for market control purposes. IMQ is a brand recognized by the market as a synonym of safety and quality, and an internationally recognized partner, a valued member of the main international regulatory work groups. All IMQ personnel are required to strictly observe professional secrecy. IMQ has been working for 70 years trying to anticipate the future, to make the present safer.