Five IECEx certificates 'open the door' for dual ATEX-IECEx marking for hazardous area connection products.

Renowned for the quality of their ATEX certified cable glands and hazardous connection products, Hawke International, has now received a suite of five IECEx certificates from BASEEFA. This opens the door for dual marking. In place since 2004, IECEx was introduced to provide a worldwide certification scheme where participating countries readily accept test information for IECEx certified products that have been tested against the requirement of the IEC 60079 series of standards.

This new approach enables these products to be accepted in those countries that take part.

Although the IECEx introduces some additional requirements, common elements in the IECEx and ATEX certification markings make it possible for Hawke International to include both sets of marking on their cable gland ranges.

'Dual marking will make gland selection much easier for users.

It will enable Hawke International's cable glands to gain an equal acceptance status in the countries signed up to IECEx as they currently receive within Europe, commented Phil O'Connor, Hawke's head of development and marketing.

'Safety is paramount in situations where potentially explosive environments are a hazard such as oil, gas, mining, chemical and many processing industries.

These activities take place on a global scale so a worldwide certification scheme will give company buyers even greater confidence,' concluded O'Connor.