Approvals, standards and certificates
The approvals, standards and documents behind every Electra flameproof product, from CIMFR and PESO to IECEx and ATEX.
Certificates supplied with our products
The core approvals and ratings you will see on an Electra flameproof product and its paperwork.
IS/IEC 60079-1:2007
Flameproof enclosure "d" standard. Products are built and tested to contain an internal explosion and prevent it igniting the outside atmosphere.
CIMFR / PESO Test Certificates
Official test certificates are supplied with every batch, so your inspection and statutory paperwork is ready at delivery.
IP66 · IS/IEC 60529
Dust-tight and protected against powerful water jets, suited to washdown areas, outdoor yards and dusty plants.
Gas Group & Temperature Class
Ex d IIA / IIB / IIC options with the temperature class marked on the product (for example T6 on selected LED luminaires).
Zone 1 & Zone 2 Suitability
Equipment selected for Zone 1 and Zone 2 hazardous areas. Share your zone and gas group and we will confirm the right model.
What the certificate pack looks like
Four documents travel with an Electra flameproof order. The layouts below are specimens for illustration. Ask us for the actual certificates of the exact model you plan to buy.
Approvals and marks you will meet
Indian regulators, international schemes and the ratings printed on a marking plate. Marks shown are simplified illustrations, not official logos.
Approvals and authorities in India
Flameproof equipment sold in India is normally accepted on the strength of a test certificate from a recognised Ex test house, together with the statutory requirements of the regulator for your industry.
| Authority / approval | Role | Why it matters for flameproof equipment |
|---|---|---|
| CIMFR (CSIR – Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research) | Government test house that tests and certifies Ex equipment to the IS/IEC 60079 series, including flameproof Ex d, and certifies mining (Group I) equipment. | CIMFR test certificates are the document most Indian refineries, EPC contractors and inspectors ask for first. |
| PESO (Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation) | Statutory regulator for petroleum, explosives and compressed-gas installations under the Explosives Act and Petroleum Rules. | Installations in hazardous areas (storage, filling stations, process plants) must use equipment backed by a recognised test certificate; PESO inspectors check it. |
| DGMS (Directorate General of Mines Safety) | Regulator for coal and metalliferous mines. | Underground and mining equipment must be Group I certified and accepted for use in gassy mines. |
| BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) | Publishes the IS and IS/IEC standards and runs product certification (ISI mark / Compulsory Registration Scheme). | Applies in addition to Ex certification where a product category, such as LED luminaires, is covered by a mandatory BIS scheme. |
| CEA safety regulations | Central Electricity Authority rules on safe electrical installations, including installations in hazardous areas. | Drives selection, installation and periodic inspection of Ex equipment in plants. |
Requirements vary by industry, state and consultant specification. Confirm the exact approval route with your safety officer or PESO / DGMS office before ordering.
Indian and IEC standards for flameproof equipment
IS/IEC 60079 is the Indian adoption of the IEC 60079 series. The standards below are those most often called up for flameproof (Ex d) and associated explosion-protected electrical equipment.
| Standard | What it covers | Relevance to flameproof / explosion-proof products |
|---|---|---|
| IS/IEC 60079-0 | Explosive atmospheres: equipment, general requirements | Base requirements for every Ex product: marking, materials, ambient range, tests. |
| IS/IEC 60079-1 | Equipment protection by flameproof enclosures "d" | The core standard for flameproof products: flame paths, enclosure strength, overpressure test. |
| IS 2148 | Older Indian standard for flameproof enclosures | Superseded in practice by IS/IEC 60079-1 but still cited in some older specifications and certificates. |
| IS/IEC 60079-7 | Increased safety "e" | Used for terminal chambers in junction boxes and combined Ex de designs. |
| IS/IEC 60079-11 | Intrinsic safety "i" | Low-energy signalling and instrument circuits in Zone 0, 1 and 2. |
| IS/IEC 60079-2 | Pressurized enclosures "p" | Large panels and analysers kept under purge or positive pressure. |
| IS/IEC 60079-15 | Type of protection "n" | Zone 2 only equipment. |
| IS/IEC 60079-18 | Encapsulation "m" | Potted electronics and components. |
| IS/IEC 60079-31 | Dust ignition protection by enclosure "t" | Combustible dust areas (Zones 20, 21, 22). |
| IS/IEC 60079-10-1 / -10-2 | Classification of areas: gas and dust | How the hazardous zone is defined, which decides what equipment you need. |
| IS/IEC 60079-14 | Electrical installations: design, selection and erection | Selection, cable entry, glanding, earthing and installation rules on site. |
| IS/IEC 60079-17 | Inspection and maintenance | Initial, periodic and sample inspection regime for installed Ex equipment. |
| IS/IEC 60079-19 | Equipment repair, overhaul and reclamation | Rules for repairing flameproof enclosures without losing certification. |
| IS 5571 | Guide for selection of electrical equipment for hazardous areas | Indian guide linking area class to equipment type. |
| IS 5572 | Classification of hazardous areas (other than mines) for electrical installations | Indian method of classifying areas with flammable gases and vapours. |
| IS/IEC 60529 | Degrees of protection (IP Code) | IP65 / IP66 / IP67 rating of the enclosure. |
| IEC 62262 | Degrees of protection against impact (IK Code) | Impact rating for luminaires and guards where specified. |
| IS/IEC 60309 | Industrial plugs, socket-outlets and couplers | Basis for 16A to 63A flameproof plugs and sockets. |
| IS/IEC 60947 | Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear | Basis for DOL starters, switches and contactors in Ex enclosures. |
| IS/IEC 61439 | Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies | Basis for control panels and distribution boards. |
Edition years differ by product and certificate. The standard and edition are stated on each test certificate and datasheet.
International certification schemes for Ex equipment
Export projects, multinational EPC contractors and global operators often ask for one of the schemes below in addition to Indian approvals.
| Scheme / mark | Region | Governing standard or regulation | What you receive |
|---|---|---|---|
| IECEx | Global (accepted in India, the Middle East, Australia and many other markets) | IEC 60079 series | IECEx Certificate of Conformity backed by a test report and a factory quality assessment report. Separate IECEx schemes cover service facilities and personnel competence. |
| ATEX | European Union and EEA | Directive 2014/34/EU (equipment) and 1999/92/EC (workplace), with EN IEC 60079 standards | EU-Type Examination Certificate from a Notified Body, production quality assurance, CE mark with Notified Body number and the Ex hexagon. |
| UKEX / UKCA | Great Britain | Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2016 | UKCA marking with a UK Approved Body certificate. |
| UL, FM Approvals, Intertek (ETL) | United States | NEC Articles 500 to 506; UL 1203 (explosion-proof and dust-ignition-proof equipment), UL 844 (luminaires), UL 60079 series, FM 3615 | Listing or approval for Class I, Division 1 / 2 or Zone use, shown on the product label. |
| CSA | Canada | Canadian Electrical Code Section 18; CSA C22.2 No. 30 and C22.2 No. 60079 series | CSA certification for Class / Division or Zone locations. |
| EAC Ex | Eurasian Economic Union (Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and others) | TR CU 012/2011 | EAC certificate of conformity for explosion-protected equipment. |
| NEPSI | China | GB 3836 series | NEPSI Ex certificate. |
| INMETRO | Brazil | ABNT NBR IEC 60079 series | Certification through an accredited certification body. |
| Australia / New Zealand | Australia, New Zealand | AS/NZS 60079 series | Usually supported through IECEx certification. |
| Marine and offshore class approvals | Ships and offshore units | IEC 60092-502 (tankers), SOLAS and the rules of the class society | Type approval from a class society such as IRS, DNV, Lloyd's Register, ABS, Bureau Veritas or ClassNK. |
| Operator approvals | Oil and gas majors, Middle East | Company specifications | IECEx or ATEX is usually accepted, but some operators also require vendor registration or their own approvals. |
Electra Automation supplies CIMFR / PESO test certificates as standard. IECEx, ATEX or other approvals are model-specific and project-specific, so please ask for the certificate for the exact model you plan to order.
Flameproof and explosion-proof, plus the other Ex protection types
In Indian and IEC terminology "flameproof" (Ex d) is what North American practice calls "explosion-proof". Several other protection concepts exist and are often used together in the same installation.
Flameproof (Ex d): IEC / IS / ATEX
- Areas classified as Zone 0, 1 or 2 (gas) and Zone 20, 21 or 22 (dust)
- Gas groups IIA, IIB, IIC and temperature classes T1 to T6
- Certified to IS/IEC 60079-0 and 60079-1
- Used in India, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and most of the world
Explosion-proof: North American practice
- Locations defined by Class, Division and Group, for example Class I, Division 1, Groups C and D
- Listed to UL 1203, UL 844, FM 3615 or CSA C22.2 No. 30
- Rules set by NEC Articles 500 and 501 (and 505 for the Zone method)
- Certification in one system is not automatically accepted in the other, so check with the local authority having jurisdiction
| Symbol | Protection concept | Standard | How it works | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ex d / Ex db | Flameproof enclosure | IS/IEC 60079-1 | The enclosure withstands an internal explosion and cools escaping gas across precisely machined flame paths so the outside atmosphere does not ignite. | Luminaires, motors, switchgear, starters, junction boxes, plugs, control stations. Zone 1 and Zone 2 (db / Gb). |
| Ex e | Increased safety | IS/IEC 60079-7 | Extra measures prevent arcs, sparks and hot surfaces in normal service. | Terminal boxes, lighting, motors. Zone 1 and Zone 2. |
| Ex i | Intrinsic safety | IS/IEC 60079-11 | Limits electrical and thermal energy below ignition level. | Instrumentation and signalling. ia: Zone 0, ib: Zone 1, ic: Zone 2. |
| Ex p | Pressurization | IS/IEC 60079-2 | Protective gas inside the enclosure keeps the hazardous atmosphere out. | Large panels, analyser houses. |
| Ex m | Encapsulation | IS/IEC 60079-18 | Parts that could ignite are embedded in compound. | Electronics, solenoid coils. |
| Ex o | Oil immersion | IS/IEC 60079-6 | Equipment is immersed in oil. | Transformers, switchgear. |
| Ex q | Powder filling | IS/IEC 60079-5 | Enclosure is filled with quartz or similar powder. | Capacitors, electronic assemblies. |
| Ex n / Ex ec | Non-sparking and Zone 2 concepts | IS/IEC 60079-15 | Reduced risk of ignition in normal operation. | Zone 2 only equipment. |
| Ex t | Protection by enclosure for dust | IS/IEC 60079-31 | Dust-tight enclosure with limited surface temperature. | Combustible dust areas, Zones 20, 21, 22. |
Zones, gas groups and temperature classes
The area classification decides which markings you need on the equipment. Match the zone, gas group and temperature class of your area to the marking on the product.
Zones and equipment protection levels
| Hazard | Zone | Likelihood of explosive atmosphere | Equipment protection level (EPL) | ATEX category | Approx. NEC equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas / vapour | Zone 0 | Continuous or long periods | Ga | 1G | Division 1 |
| Gas / vapour | Zone 1 | Likely in normal operation | Gb | 2G | Division 1 |
| Gas / vapour | Zone 2 | Unlikely, and for short periods only | Gc | 3G | Division 2 |
| Combustible dust | Zone 20 | Continuous or long periods | Da | 1D | Class II, Division 1 |
| Combustible dust | Zone 21 | Likely in normal operation | Db | 2D | Class II, Division 1 |
| Combustible dust | Zone 22 | Unlikely, and for short periods only | Dc | 3D | Class II, Division 2 |
| Mining (firedamp) | Group I | Methane and coal dust in mines | Ma / Mb | M1 / M2 | Not applicable |
Gas groups
| Gas group | Typical gases and vapours | Max experimental safe gap (MESG) | NEC group equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Methane (firedamp) in mines | Mining application | Not applicable |
| IIA | Propane, acetone, ammonia, petrol, hexane | Above 0.9 mm | Group D |
| IIB | Ethylene, hydrogen sulphide, ethyl ether | 0.5 to 0.9 mm | Group C |
| IIC | Hydrogen, acetylene | Below 0.5 mm | Groups A and B |
Temperature classes
| Temperature class | Max surface temperature | Example gases (ignition temperature class) |
|---|---|---|
| T1 | 450 °C | Hydrogen, acetone, propane |
| T2 | 300 °C | Ethylene, acetylene |
| T3 | 200 °C | Petrol, hexane, diesel |
| T4 | 135 °C | Acetaldehyde, diethyl ether |
| T5 | 100 °C | Rare, few common gases |
| T6 | 85 °C | Carbon disulphide; safest rating, suits all T1 to T6 gases |
Equipment certified for a higher gas group also covers the lower ones: IIC covers IIB and IIA, and IIB covers IIA. Choose a temperature class equal to or higher-numbered than the gas's own class, so a T6 product suits every gas rated T1 to T6. Ex d equipment marked Gb is suitable for Zone 1 and Zone 2. Zone and Division comparisons are approximate; final acceptance rests with the authority having jurisdiction.
How to read an Ex marking
Every flameproof product carries a marking plate. The three formats below are the ones you will meet most often in India and on export projects.
Indian / IECEx marking
- Ex: explosion-protected equipment
- db: flameproof enclosure, level of protection b (Zone 1)
- IIB: gas group (e.g. ethylene)
- T6: max surface temp 85°C
- Gb: protection level for Zone 1
Older marks read "Ex d" without the level of protection letter.
ATEX marking
- CE + number: conformity mark and Notified Body number
- II: surface industries (Group I is mining)
- 2G: category 2, gas, for Zone 1
- The rest follows the IEC marking
North American marking
- Class I: flammable gases and vapours
- Div 1: hazard present in normal operation
- Groups C, D: gas groups
- T6: temperature class
Zone-based labels read for example "Class I, Zone 1, AEx db IIB T6 Gb".
Other items on the marking plate
- Certificate number: ends in X when special conditions of safe use apply, or U for an unfinished component certificate
- Ta: ambient range, normally -20 °C to +40 °C unless stated otherwise
- IP66: ingress protection rating
- Manufacturer and serial number: traceability to the test certificate
- Rated voltage, current, wattage
- Warning text: for example "do not open when energised"
Typical certification basis by product type
A quick reference to the standards that normally apply to each product range. The exact basis for a given model is stated on its test certificate.
| Product | Typical protection concept and standards | Other typical ratings and standards |
|---|---|---|
| Flameproof LED well glass and clean room LED fixtures | Ex d, IS/IEC 60079-0 and -1; gas group and T-class on the plate (T6 on selected models) | IP66 (IS/IEC 60529); BIS requirements for LED luminaires where applicable |
| Fire alarms and hooters | Ex d, IS/IEC 60079-0 and -1 | IP66; model-specific sound and voltage ratings |
| Flameproof exhaust fans | Ex d motor to IS/IEC 60079-0 and -1; non-sparking fan construction | Motor standards under IS/IEC 60034; IP rating per model |
| Control panels | Ex d, or Ex de with increased safety terminals, IS/IEC 60079-0, -1 and -7 | IS/IEC 61439 assemblies; IP66 |
| Junction boxes | Ex d or Ex de, IS/IEC 60079-0, -1 and -7; certified Ex d / Ex e cable glands | IP66; cable entry sizes as ordered |
| Plugs and sockets 16A to 63A | Ex d with mechanical interlock, IS/IEC 60079-0 and -1 | IS/IEC 60309 pin and sleeve configuration; IP66 |
| Switchgear and DOL starters | Ex d, IS/IEC 60079-0 and -1 | IS/IEC 60947 switchgear and controlgear; IP66 |
Typical applicability only. Each certificate lists the standards, gas group, temperature class, ambient range and any special conditions for that specific model, so always check the certificate for the model you are buying.
Documents to ask for and how to verify them
Ask for the documents below with your order so your inspection, statutory and consultant approvals are ready at delivery.
Documentation pack
- Test certificateCIMFR or other recognised test house certificate showing Ex d, gas group and temperature class
- IECEx or ATEX certificateWhere the project requires it: IECEx Certificate of Conformity or ATEX EU-Type Examination Certificate
- DatasheetMarking, gas group, temperature class, ambient range, IP rating, ratings and dimensions
- Material test certificatesChemical and mechanical test reports for enclosure material such as LM6 aluminium alloy or stainless steel
- Routine test recordsOverpressure and production routine test records for flameproof enclosures
- IP test reportIngress protection test result to IS/IEC 60529
- Declaration of conformityManufacturer statement linking the product to the certificate and standards
- Installation and maintenance instructionsIncluding any special conditions of safe use shown by an X in the certificate number
How to verify a certificate
- 1Match the certificate number and manufacturer name to the marking plate on the product.
- 2Check that the standards and editions listed cover your use: Ex d, your gas group and temperature class, and your ambient temperature.
- 3Read the special conditions of safe use if the number ends in X.
- 4Check validity and scope. For IECEx, look the certificate up on the IECEx online certificate database at iecex.iec.ch.
Need help selecting the right flameproof equipment?
Share your zone, gas group and area details and our team will confirm the right model.