A motor to be installed in a hazardous area should have its own design approved by an authorized body (mandatory for zone 0, 20, 1, 21, 22 with conductive dust) which attests that the motor is in conformity with the relevant IEC or EN standards corresponding to the zone.
The European single market for Ex-equipment requires a uniform qualification by these authorized bodies. In the frame of ATEX Directive these bodies constitute a group called: "ExNBG" = Notified Bodies Group for Ex-equipment to ensure all Notified Body members work to a uniform guideline to establish a comparable way for checking the requirements of ATEX Directive.
A Notified Body is an independent body who has been notified by the European Commission based on criteria stated in ATEX Directive 94/9/EC.
The ExNB (Notified Body) provides approval that the motors fulfill the regulations of ATEX Directive 94/9/EC and issues the following two certificates:
- A Production Quality Assessment Notification
- An EC type examination certificate
The Production Quality Assessment Notification delivered by the ExNB to ABB assess that the organizational structure and process manufacturing respects the tough requirements of ATEX Directive. The process manufacturing in ABB is already in conformity with the EN 13980 "Potentially explosive atmospheres - Application of quality systems" - compatible with ISO 9001:2000 coming into force in the year 2003, which will replace the Quality Assurance Notification.
The "EC Type examination" confirms that the validity of technical file established by ABB is in conformity with the ATEX Directive. All tests and examination of samples have been examined by the ExNB.
Based on the two certificates delivered to the manufacturer:
- ABB is allowed to stamp the motor with the CE marking.
- Manufacturer must establish the 'EC Declaration of conformity' acc. to Annex X of Directive 94/9/EC. This document is delivered to the customers to allow him to install the motor.
- Instructions for maintenance and installation must be delivered with the motor, as stated in Annex II of Directive 94/9/EC.
An "EC Declaration of Conformity" is a written commitment by ABB that the motor complies with the EHSR's ATEX Directive and thus the two certificates given to the manufacturer are not sent to the customer. The EC Declaration of Conformity states that:
- The process manufacturing used for the motor is in conformity with the quality requirements process required by ATEX Directive 94/9/EC
- The design of the motor is in conformity with the design approved by the Notified Body according to the category.
The complete list of Notified Bodies approved by European Commission for ATEX is available on ATEX site
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/atex.
ABB is working with the ExNB and the Ex-motors are stamped with CE and ExNB-number:
The certificates delivered by the ExNB are absolutely mandatory for any equipment stamped category 1 or category 2.
The ATEX Directive 94/9/EC allow the product manufacturer to make self declaration of conformity according to category 3 as all requirements of directive have been respected and the design according to EN standard recognized for category 3 (EN 60079-15, EN 61241-1).