The TÜV SÜD Group (TÜV SÜD) successfully passed the final audit of IECEx 05 qualification on January 30, 2018. This qualification signifies that TÜV SÜD has further developed its certification services in the field of explosion protection and can supply enterprises in the explosion protection industry with even more professional services. The audit was completed by TÜV SÜD Greater China Region and proves that TÜV SÜD Greater China Region is a strong performer in the explosion protection certification Business.
IECEx is a professional system established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for certification in the field of explosion protection. It is comparable to the IECEE system familiar to manufacturers of general mechanical and electrical products. The IECEx certificate is currently recognized by more than 30 countries worldwide and is widely accepted in the international certification domain of explosion protection. The complete IECEx system includes five schemes, namely: general norms and standards, Certified Equipment Scheme, Certified Service Facilities, Conformity Mark Licensing, and Personnel Competencies certification. IECEx 05 focuses on personnel competencies. Certification Bodies obtaining IECEx 05 qualification can carry out training and accreditation activities. At present only 12 certification bodies worldwide are authorized to carry out IECEx 05 certification. A participant in this audit was Ralph Wigg, expert on the IECEx Committee and one of the initiators and founders of IECEx, who has great expertise and authority in the global certification field of explosion protection.
IECEx 05, also abbreviated as “CoPC,” as the acronym for “Certification of Personnel Competence”, also includes basic knowledge on hazardous areas, electrical equipment, protection principles, area classification, installation, maintenance, repair, testing, witness inspection, design, and audit, to give a total of eleven units of competence. It is basically applicable to all practitioners in the anti-explosion industry except certification institutions.
Personnel competence training and certification will benefit groups such as workers in hazardous industries including petrochemical engineering, wood processing, food processing, coal and mineral products, pharmaceuticals, and tobacco. They will familiarize themselves with the operation specifications for hazardous areas, qualify themselves for hazardous operations, and reduce explosion risks caused by human error. Training and certification will also benefit personnel who design, repair and maintain equipment and systems in hazardous areas, by improving the standardization of product design, installation, and maintenance and thereby enhancing safety. The enterprises, in turn, will benefit from reduced purchase costs of explosion protection equipment and components.
Guangzhou Academy of Special Equipment Inspection & Testing (GZSEI) and TÜV SÜD jointly completed the qualification. GZSEI launched a strategic cooperation with TÜV SÜD in 2014 and has built the anti-explosion certification business in South China from the ground up. It obtained accreditation as a domestic anti-explosion certification body, qualified as national supervision and inspection center for anti-explosion products, and has become an ATEX test lab recognized by TÜV SÜD ATEX notified body.
The various instruments needed for the operational training and tests involved in this qualification were supplied by R-Stahl, an equipment supplier and design integrator providing professional solutions for hazardous areas. Founded in 1876, R-Stahl Group started to produce explosion-proof electric equipment in 1921. With 20 subsidiaries and 1,900 employees globally, the steel supplier employs 110 research and development experts and 230 engineering technicians. It manufactures various kinds of products, from lamps and luminaires to electrical equipment and automation products, and has acquired major standard authentication certificates worldwide.
By passing the IECEx 05 audit and obtaining the relevant qualifications, TÜV SÜD has further enhanced its capability to provide rapid explosion protection testing and certification services for domestic and global markets. In the future, TÜV SÜD will offer ATEX/IECEx product certification and quality system assessment services, site evaluation services, explosion protection training services, design audit services, and other international certification services in the field of explosion protection to an even greater number of explosion protection companies.
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Press contact: Dr. Thomas Oberst
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