EX-cellent CE marking

EX product certification for Europe is governed by the ATEX equipment directive 94/9/EC under the European Commission's new-approach (CE marking) regime and is one of several directives or requirements relevant to equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres. Manufacturers may also have to consider the design, documentation, manufacturing and quality system implications for EMC, machinery safety, electrical safety and radio/telecoms compliance before applying the CE mark.

2010 brings in new CE requirements, set out in Council Decision 768/2008. The Decision also sets out restriction, prohibition and recall provisions for persistent non-compliance in equipment safety or supporting documentation. The Decision is likely to be applied, within twelve months, to all current directives.

In addition to regulatory aspects, functional (e.g. radio/telecoms) and/or environmental performance criteria (e.g. vibration, shock, wind, rain) may apply. TRaC provides notified body, certification body and testing laboratory services for these complementary directives, from its seven UK sites.