ATEX and IECEx Heat Tracing: 7 Things Buyers Should Verify

Most heat tracing procurement problems trace back to certificates that were never checked. ATEX and IECEx claims are easy to make and slow to verify, so buyers should confirm a small number of specific facts before an order is placed.

1. The certificate number and its scope

Ask for the certificate number and check what equipment it actually covers. A certificate for a junction box does not cover a cable; a certificate for one cable family does not cover every model. Confirm the model range, temperature class and ambient range stated on the certificate.

2. Which standard the certificate is issued against

ATEX certificates reference the EU directives and harmonised standards; IECEx certificates reference the IEC 60079 series. Both can be valid — the question is whether the certificate matches the destination market and the plant specification.

3. Temperature class and maximum surface temperature

For hazardous areas the temperature class matters as much as the "Ex" marking. Verify that the declared temperature class matches the gas group and the maximum surface temperature the process allows. For self-regulating cable, check the temperature class of the highest-power model in the range, not only the smallest.

4. Certificate validity and issuing body

Check the certificate is current, not withdrawn, and issued by a recognised notified body or IECEx accepted certification body. Expired or transferred certificates are a common source of last-minute project delays.

5. System approach, not just components

A certified cable with an uncertified termination kit is not a certified installation. Ask how the termination, junction box, thermostat and cable are certified together, and which combination the certificate covers.

6. Documentation for the project file

Buyers should receive the certificate, declaration of conformity, installation instructions in the project language, and the temperature class table. These documents are usually required at handover and during audits.

7. Common questions to ask a supplier

• Which certificate number covers the exact model you are quoting?
• What is the temperature class for this model at the specified ambient?
• Is the termination kit covered by the same certificate?
• Can you provide the declaration of conformity and installation manual?
• Which markets has this model been supplied to in the last two years?

What to do when a claim cannot be documented

Treat it as unavailable. In hazardous areas, undocumented certification is a risk that lands on the buyer's project, not the supplier's. A supplier who can produce the documents quickly is usually the one who actually holds them.