ATEX Standards Updates

Since the superseding of the EN 50018 range of technical standards with the EN 60079 series, there has been a requirement for manufacturers with ATEX-certified equipment to ensure that their certified product range is up-to-date with the latest technical knowledge.

The ATEX Directive requires that technical knowledge, which can change rapidly, must be taken into account as far as possible and utilised immediately. By implementing this latest technical knowledge, also known as ‘the state of the art’, it ensures a technically up-to-date product which is in line with current legislation.

Whilst it is not mandatory, Sira recommends that manufacturers of component certified products have these certificates updated to the latest IEC standards as soon as reasonably practicable. This makes the process of assessment easier when incorporating them into new equipment.

Sira has published an article on this topic, which can be viewed here:

ATEX Standards Updates Article


The Ex Notified Bodies Group has also published a document that highlights the significant changes between the old and new standards, and the impact this has on Essential Health & Safety Requirements (EHSRs). Sira can provide a copy upon request.  

More Information on Standards Updates - Sira's Free Guide

Sira has produced a detailed guide of the changes between the standards, which can be provided free-of-charge to ATEX equipment manufacturers looking at upgrading their certificate range. This guide provides manufacturers with a checklist of the main changes, and is a valuable aid when it comes to reviewing your products for any onerous changes in the standards.

To request a copy of the guide, please Contact Sira for details.

The Steps Manufacturers must take to ensure their products are up-to-date

• Review your product against the EN 60079 series standards and determine whether there have been any changes that affect your product. The Sira guide (available upon request) can aid this review. Sira reports now contain compliance checklists along with the detailed assessment and this will make the process of cross-referencing easier.

• If there have been changes that bring in more onerous requirements, then have your certification revised and updated. Sira is able to provide cost-effective certificate upgrade services. If you have carried out your own review, then supplying the details to Sira could make it quicker and cheaper for us to complete the certification.

• If there are no ‘more onerous’ requirements, then modify your Declaration of Conformity to refer to ‘Compliance with the following standards' (i.e. remove the reference to harmonised standards).

• You should continue to reference the standards that are listed on your certificate, until it is upgraded to the latest EN 60079 standards.

• It may also be wise to include a note under the standards, on your Declaration, stating 'the requirements of these standards have been checked against [EN 60079-0 and EN 60079-11, etc. as applicable] and there were no differences affecting the latest technical knowledge for the product identified on this declaration.

How Can Sira Help?

Sira can help ensure you keep your product range up-to-date by offering the service to upgrade your range of certified products to the latest standards in cost-effective service packages.

We can also combine this upgrade by providing IECEx certification, thereby extending the marketability of your products on a global basis, at a relatively small additional cost.

For more details on our upgrade/IECEx services, please Contact Sira.