Explosive Atmosphere Testing and Certification

Element's explosive atmosphere testing and certification services provide cost-effective, internationally recognized solutions to customers with products intended to enter explosive atmospheres and hazardous locations. 

Element is the ideal partner for manufacturers of electronic devices for use in potentially explosive or hazardous atmospheres. We help with explosive atmosphere testing and certification across a variety of industries:

• Petrochemical

• Oil and Gas

• Mining

• Food processing

• Aircraft refueling

• Pharmaceuticals

Explosive atmosphere testing services 

Our team of engaged experts can offer a range of explosive atmosphere testing services to a variety of global standards, including: 

• IECEx Testing and Certification - Element provides IECEx testing and certification. The IECEx is an internationally recognized Conformity Assessment System recognized in many countries.

• ATEX Certification and the ATEX Directive - As a European Notified Body (NB) and with broad technical experience in the wide-ranging disciplines for the ATEX Directive, Element can help you meet all the testing requirements you need to use the CE Mark and distinctive European Mark.

• Hazloc Testing and Certification - We provide Hazloc assessment beyond equipment testing and certification; additionally, we offer manufacturers factory inspections and field evaluations as required by North America's applicable explosion protection standards.

• DSEAR Assessment - Element can assist manufacturers with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations (DSEAR). In the UK, employers are required to assess and eliminate the risk to safety of hazardous environments in the workplace, including the risks of fires, explosions and substances corrosive to metals. The DSEAR Risk Assessment fulfils workplace health and safety requirements and can also be used to complement European ATEX Directive certification and international IECEx certification requirements.

Additional services for explosive atmosphere testing environments

Element is a UKAS and A2LA accredited test laboratory, a Notified Body (NB) for the ATEX Directive, an IECEx Certification Body (ExCB) and an IECEx Testing Laboratory (ExTL). We are also a leading provider of EMC testing, Radio/Wireless testing, Safety testing, and Environmental testing; we can support your product qualification and certification requirements to successfully CE Mark your products for the EU Market. 

Further capabilities - RTCA DO-160: explosive atmosphere testing for aviation

Element works with aviation manufacturers to produce and design equipment that can operate in fuel-air explosive atmospheres commonly found with aircraft fuels at ground level. We can assist aviation manufacturers by applying explosive atmosphere testing to all equipment designed for use in the vicinity of fuel-air explosive atmospheres associated with aircraft, including data recorders, switch gear and hand-held units.

There are three environments (I, II, III) and three Categories (A, E, H)  within RTCA DO-160 that take into account the potential risks caused by an explosion or the potential to cause an explosion:

• Category A test – This tests the effect of an explosion of an atmosphere within equipment and the ability of the design to prevent this explosion from spreading outside the enclosure. Tests are conducted under normal and fault conditions.

• Category E test – This test ensures that temperatures and sparking parts do not ignite an atmosphere under normal conditions.

• Category H test – This is a test to prove that there are no high temperatures that could cause an explosion under normal operating conditions.

Further capabilities - MIL-STD 810G: explosive atmosphere testing for defense

The commonly used explosive atmosphere test for military applications is taken from MIL-STD 810G. The test method 511.5 demonstrates the equipment's ability to operate in fuel-air explosive atmospheres without causing ignition. This method applies to all equipment designed for use in the vicinity of fuel-air explosive atmospheres associated with aircraft, automotive, and marine fuels at ground/sea level.

The explosive atmosphere test is conservative. If the test item does not ignite the test fuel-air mixture, there is a low probability that it will ignite prevailing fuel vapour mixtures in service. Conversely, the test item's ignition of the test fuel-air mixture does not mean it will always ignite fuel vapours that occur in actual use.

The test of method 511.5 is usually applied after the completion of environmental stress tests (detailed elsewhere in MIL-STD 810G). This ensures that seals and enclosures are representative of service use. The test is usually conducted at the highest operating service ambient conditions.

Element can test most equipment sizes, and we specialize in testing larger items. Our engaged experts would be happy to offer advice on customized testing programs. 

The Element advantage

Element is a Notified Body (NB) for the ATEX Directive, an IECEx Certification Body (ExCB) and an IECEx Testing Laboratory (ExTL) with test facilities in the UK and the US. Our experienced testing and certification experts can determine which certification scheme is most suitable for your equipment and support your product through testing to help you meet the requirements of local and global explosive atmosphere protection standards and directives. 

As well as being UKAS accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017, Element is a Notified Body for the European Radio Equipment, EMC directives, an Approved Body for the UK Radio Equipment Regulation, EMC Regulation and Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulation, a Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB) for the US, a Foreign Certification Body (FCB) for Canada and a Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) for Japan. Element is also a certification body under the IECEE CB Scheme. 

Ready to request a quote? Our deliverable is certainty - high-quality data, test reports and certificates that you can rely on when making decisions about your materials and compliance. Engage with an expert today. Contact us today.