HazardEx - Standards

The Role of IECEx ExTAG Decision Sheets 10 May 2018

In my previous article (Hazardex March 2018) I highlighted the role of European Notified Bodies in providing common interpretations of procedures relating to ATEX certification by issuing “Clarification Sheets”. I also alluded to the IECEx having a similar system of issuing “Decision Sheets”. ...

The IECEx Recognized Training Provider Program 10 April 2018

As regards the industrial internet of things and Industry 4.0, concerns have been raised about the impact of these new technologies on the situation of the working population. What will happen if intelligent machines replace their human counterparts by carrying out work at less cost and more reliably? The only reasonable answer I have found to this question is to continuously improve the competence levels of the workforce. ...

The European Notified Bodies Group Meeting 02 February 2018

Once a year, most of the European Notified Bodies for the ATEX Directive (ExNB) meet in Brussels. This group is sponsored by the European Commission and its function is to sort out details of procedure and technical interpretations for the operation of the ATEX Directive, in much the same way as IECEx ExTAG discusses and issues Decision Sheets related to the IECEx Scheme. ...

Digitalisation is king! 15 January 2018

At the present time, there are few conferences or technical trade shows that do not have the Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) as the main focus. One of the most important consequences of this trend are the drastically shrinking value chains and innovation cycles in every sector, and especially in the process industries. ...

Vladivostok and Brussels 15 December 2017

IEC TC31, its sub-committees and some working groups, met in Russia in October, during the General Meeting of the IEC. Those of us who went to Vladivostok were impressed both by the city itself and by the venue, The Far Eastern Federal University. SC31J (installation related standards) and SC31M (non-electrical standards) held their meetings immediately before the plenary meeting of TC31....

IECEx at the end of 2017 - challenges and opportunities 01 December 2017

The 2017 IECEx Management Committee Meeting took place in Washington D.C., a location with a special meaning for our organisation. Our hosts from the US National Committee did a great job to provide the best conditions for a successful event. ...

Trumpism and Brexit – a challenge to the ethos of the IEC 01 November 2017

A good headline, but the words spoken by James Shannon (President of the IEC) require a context. He was giving his introductory address to the IECEx Management Committee meeting in Washington at the end of September. ...

The start of the IECEx season 03 October 2017

Every year at the beginning of August, email traffic and telephone calls inside the IECEx community and the number of working group and national committee meetings rises sharply. This is a good indication that the IECEx Management Committee (MC) meeting and other major annual events will be upon us soon. In 2017, the IECEx MC will take place in Washington DC. ...

Awaiting Autumn 03 August 2017

Because of the editorial deadlines for HazardEx, I am putting finger to keyboard at the start of August, but already looking forward to a busy series of meetings in the autumn. The first meeting of the busy season is scheduled for the last week of September, in Washington DC. ...

Singapore – an IECEx trailblazer 17 July 2017

This time I am writing from Singapore, a city I always like to visit. Every time I come there are interesting changes - beautiful new buildings have been erected, new parks laid out or a new stadium opened. I like the clean streets with all the friendly and industrious people and the quiet evenings on the Singapore River. Unfortunately, I am always in the city on business and must be missing many of the city’s other attractions....