IECEx Certification

IECEx Certification

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the IECEx scheme for CoPC (certification of personnel competence) is to use the principles of conformity assessment to provide employers and others with the confidence that the personnel working in or near hazardous areas containing explosive atmospheres have been independently certified as competent

Each unit of competence describes the competence required for a particular work function. It is envisaged that an individual’s job description will probably require more than one of the specific units of competence outlined below. Unit Ex 001 can stand alone, but all other units require completion of Unit Ex 001 as a minimum.

IECEX 001 - Apply Basic Principles of Protection in Explosive Atmospheres.

OVERVIEW: This Unit of Competence covers the basic principles of protection in explosive atmospheres of plant and machinery. Ex 001 is based on various parts of IEC 60079 series, and it is a prerequisite for the higher units. EX001 ensures that the candidate will have a basic understanding and knowledge of:

• Common characteristics of explosion-protection techniques
• General requirements to work in hazardous areas
• How to observe condition of explosion-protection areas
• How to take actions to limit risk of an explosion
• Methods for compliance
• Ex certification schemes
• Ex Principles
• Explosion-protection checks
• Flameproof (Ex 'd') explosion-protection technique
• Increased safety (Ex 'e') explosion-protection technique
• Type of protection 'n' (Ex 'n')
• Intrinsic safety (Ex 'i') explosion-protection techniques

EX 002: Perform classification of hazardous areas (Classification Engineers).

OVERVIEW: Competence in gathering and analysing technical data and using this data for risk assessment. This unit includes a review of the candidates work-and training record. At least 3 years relevant work experience is required, see IECEx OD 504 for details. The assessment has a theoretical part and a practical part. Competence in gathering and analysing technical data and using this data for risk assessment

EX 003 & 006: Installation and Testing- IECEx. Install explosion-protected equipment and wiring systems. Test electrical installations in or associated with explosive atmospheres.

OVERVIEW: These two units are assessed together for installation personnel (Technicians), with focus on IEC 60079-14. Both units include a review of the applicant's work and training record. At least 3 years relevant work experience is required, see IECEx OD 504 for details. The assessment has a theoretical part and a practical part. EX003 and EX006 ensures that candidates will have a basic understanding and knowledge of:

EX 004, 007 & 008: Maintenance and Inspection – IECEx. Maintain equipment in explosive atmospheres.

OVERVIEW: These 3 units covers maintenance & evaluating of equipment in an explosive atmosphere. It covers evaluating the hazardous area aspects of conducting initial, periodic and sample audit inspections. The ability to audit a verification dossier is required. Prerequisite is EX001

EX 009: Design electrical installations in or associated with explosive atmospheres (Design Engineers).

OVERVIEW: This unit includes a review of the candidates work and training record. At least 3 year relevant work experience is required, see IECEx OD 504 for details. Ex 001 is a prerequisite. A degree or diploma or equivalent in a technical subject is recommended by not necessary. The assessment has a theoretical part and a practical part.

Unit Ex 010 – Perform audit inspection of electrical installations in or associated with explosive atmospheres.

OVERVIEW: This unit allows for the individual to perform audit inspection of electrical installations in or associated with explosive atmospheres. The pre-requisite for this unit is EX001, EX008 and EX009

• Common characteristics of explosion-protection techniques
• General requirements to work in hazardous areas
• How to observe condition of explosion-protection areas
• How to take actions to limit risk of an explosion
• Methods for compliance
• Ex certification schemes
• Ex Principles
• Explosion-protection checks
• Flameproof (Ex 'd') explosion-protection technique
• Increased safety (Ex 'e') explosion-protection technique
• Type of protection 'n' (Ex 'n')
• Intrinsic safety (Ex 'i') explosion-protection techniques

Unit Ex 011 – Basic knowledge of the safety of hydrogen systems.

OVERVIEW: This unit covers the knowledge (ONLY) regarding safe working in the presence of a hydrogen atmosphere or on equipment producing, storing, transporting, processing, using or consuming hydrogen in gaseous or liquid form. This unit of knowledge also covers the safety obligations and minimum basic knowledge of persons entering a site that has been classified as a hazardous area.

Impartiality

Tech Skills International (TSI), as an IECEx CoPC Certification Body, ensures independence, impartiality and transparency in all its activities. TSI strives to avoid situations where the risk of impartiality may arise, or a potential conflict of interest could exist, or be seen to exist.

TSI defines conflict of interest (COI) at the individual level as being when a person has a certain interest or close arrangement or affiliation with a specific organisation. In TSI, all such cases are disclosed by individuals and recorded in TSI database. An Impartiality Management Committee exists at the organisational level when the whole organisation is involved, irrespective of individual interests.

A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organisation has multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in another. TSI structure and policies have been designed to avoid any potential or actual conflict of interest, at both individual and institutional levels.

Principles to Assure Impartiality

The following principles are applicable to the entire TSI to assure impartiality and reduce the risk derived from conflict of interest:

• Any individual engaged with a TSI project or certification activities or involved in other advisory or decision-making processes, including Board members and Impartiality Committee members, shall declare and sign a conflict-of-interest statement, and disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest. Such disclosures shall be analysed, and appropriate risk mitigation measures undertaken.
• TSI identifies, documents, analyses and mitigates risks of impartiality via, but not limited to, staff feedback and candidate feedback on an ongoing basis.
• Oversight of TSI impartiality is through the TSI Review Group meeting on a regularly basis, but not longer than 6 months.
• Dispute resolution is conducted by staff who are not involved in the subject of a dispute.

To avoid conflict of interest, no certification-related consultancy will be given to an organisation which will be the subject of certification, unless consultancy is required or allowed by the certification/verification scheme. Certification-related consultancy is defined as participation in an active, creative manner to give specific advice to the company or institution being subjected to the certification issuance; with such advice relating to the development and implementation of management systems covered by the scope of the certification.

Activities Not Considered Certification-Related Consultancy

The following are considered by TSI not to be certification-related consultancy activities:

• Planning and organising generic information meetings, workshops, courses, conferences regarding certification, natural resource management, and other issues within the scope of TSI activities.
• Providing generic tools and guidance for applicants and organisations preparing for certification which are not specific or targeted towards the specific company in any way.
• Arranging and participating as a lecturer in the above-mentioned events with presentations that are confined to the provision of generic information which is freely available in the public domain, while not providing any company-specific advice.
• Making available or publishing on request, information relating to the interpretation of any relevant normative requirements.
• Running activities prior to certification aimed solely at determining readiness for assessment, where these activities do not result in the provision of recommendations or advice (e.g. pre-assessment, gap analyses).
• Adding value during assessments and surveillance visits, by identifying opportunities for improvement as they become evident during the audit.
• Applying for and running projects related to any topic within TSI scope of activities, where these projects are confined to tasks that do not have a direct relationship to the applicants or organization being assessed for certification.
• Any other activities that are not considered as participation in an active, creative manner in giving specific advice − within the scope of the certification activities − to the company or institution that is the subject of eventual certification.