FAQs on Ex certification

• Australian (Ex) Certification
• International (Ex) Certification
• ATEX (European)
• JAS-ANZ Accreditation
• Interlab Agreements
• FAQs on Ex Certification
• Testing Capabilities
• NATA Accreditations
• NATA Signatories
• Calibration
• ISO9000 Certification

This section has been prepared by TestSafe Australia to provide some answers and guidance to questions often asked by our clients on Ex certification matters.

Please note that changes in the certification schemes, installation standards or legislation may alter some scenarios.

We strongly recommend you obtain clear and current advice when taking decisions on the use of the various schemes.

1. Where can I locate an Australian (AUSEx & ANZEx) Certificate?
   The AUSEx and ANZEx schemes are administered by CRA-International, which maintains the online EPEE (Explosion Protected Electrical Equipment) website database for all Australian certified products and certificates. Certificates may be located at ANZEx website: http://www.anzex.com.au
2. What Standards and Certification should I use for equipment to be installed in an underground coal mine (Group I) in NSW or Queensland?
   Use either AS/NZS or relevant IEC Standards (for example the IEC 60079 series). Use ANZEx or IECEx certificates issued by TestSafe (or other Australian Certification Bodies). AUSEx certificates may also be used but no applications for new AUSEx certificates are accepted after 31 December 2003.
3. What Standards and Certification should I use for surface industries (Group II) in Australia?
   Use either AS/NZS or relevant IEC Standards. Use ANZEx, AUSEx or IECEx certificates.
   Note: It is recommended that IECEx certificates be verified by checking with the IECEx website. You may also wish to check the associated ExTR.
4. Where only an AS or AS/NZS Standard is available, what certification can I use?
   Use the AS or AS/NZS Standard, and use an ANZEx certificate.
5. I have an ATEX (or other overseas) certification. How do I get an Australian certificate?
   You need a Test Report to AS/NZS or IEC Standard. This could be issued by an overseas Testing Laboratory that has an MRA with TestSafe, or the Report may be an IECEx ExTR. After a successful review of the Test Report, and an on-site quality audit of the manufacturer leading to the issue of a QAR, you can then obtain an ANZEx or IECEx certificate. The QAR must be issued by an ANZEx certification body or an IECEx CB, and is also to be accepted after review.
6. I have a current AUSEx certificate. How do I upgrade it to an ANZEx certificate?
   Check that the Test Report is to current AS/NZS Standard, prepare a Product Quality Plan for the equipment, have an on-site audit of the manufacturer that results in a QAR, then obtain ANZEx certificate. For further detail please refer to the guidance document, please click here.
7. I have a current ANZEx or AUSEx certificate. How do I get IECEx certificate?
   Obtain an (IECEx) ExTR and QAR from TestSafe. An IECEx CoC may then be issued. (Note: QAR issued for ANZEx should satisfy IECEx)
8. I want to apply for the 'old' AUSEx certificate. Can I?
   No. For new certification, this was possible only till 31 December 2003.
9. I have an AUSEx certificate that has an expiry date printed as 21 Nov 2010. Will it now expire before that?
   The expiry date on currently issued certificates remains valid.
10. I have an AUSEx certificate valid for another 7 years, and I wish to make some changes to my equipment. Can I obtain a supplementary certificate to cover these changes?
    Yes. The expiry date on the certificate will not change as a result of applying for a supplementary. AUSEx form
11. I have a certificate issued by CSA (or FM, or PTB, etc). Can you issue an Australian scheme certificate based on this?
    No. However, we can accept or review Test Reports issued by the overseas laboratory if it has an MRA with us, or if the Report is an IECEx ExTR. Such Reports, as well as the QARs, will be reviewed and CoC issued.
12. I don't manufacture equipment in Australia, but I am an importer. Can I get ANZEx or IECEx certificates here?
    You need to demonstrate that you have sufficient authority and control over the production process and quality to be able to be considered as a 'manufacturer' for obtaining ANZEx and IECEx CoC.
13. Will a certificate issued under ANZEx or IECEx schemes be valid forever?
    Yes, provided that:
    
    • surveillance audits continue and are satisfactory
    • the Standard under which the product has been designed has not been withdrawn for safety reasons
    • there has been no other reason as covered by the ANZEx and the IECEx Schemes that might lead to withdrawal.