IECEx and Hydrogen

Mr Paul MEANWELL – IECEx Chair

What is the IECEx Conformity Assessment System?

• Specially designed equipment is required where there is a risk of hydrogen gas getting into the general
atmosphere.

• IECEx provides a platform for 3rd party Ex test laboratories and certification bodies to operate on. (One
entity in South Africa)

• Its focus is on the consistent application of IEC standards.

• IEC TC31 writes standards for explosive atmospheres.

• It provides guidance and rules to ensure global conformity to these standards.

Why is IECEx involved?
• Hydrogen is highly explosive!

• The IEC TC31 standards (IEC 60079 and IEC 80079) have covered
equipment for use in the hydrogen industry for many years

• Hydrogen is now getting into the public domain

• The world is moving towards a circular economy and green energy.

• Hydrogen allows vast quantities of clean energy to be stored for long

durations and is fast becoming a globally used gas, with production
increasing rapidly.

We need Safety Standards!

Other parts of the standard cover:

• Flameproof
• Intrinsic Safety
• Increased Safety
• Pressurisation
• Area Classification
• Selection of equipment
• Installation requirements
• Maintenance requirements
• Repair and reclamation requirements
• Competency requirements

• All adopted from IEC

 IECEx – Applying proven solutions to Hydrogen Technologies, including GH2

Traditional Areas – Areas where IECEx provides a single global solution for
Flammable and Combustible materials
may be present assessment + Certification of
Equipment/Services/Persons

• Key Role in the new Emerging Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Economy
• According to World Energy Council by 2025, hydrogen strategies can be expected to cover
countries representing over 80% of global GDP
• Logical extension to IECEx past coverage of Ex Equipment in Hydrogen areas
• IECEx Expert WG 19 “Hydrogen Technologies” current focus:
• Personnel Certification of Competence according to ISO TC 197 and IEC TC 105
Standards (eg ISO 15916 Basic considerations for the safety of hydrogen systems)
• Certification of Equipment associated with Hydrogen dispensing systems
• Certification of Stationary and Portable Fuel Cells (IEC 62282 series).

• Hydrogen is highly explosive!

Hazardex magazine

September 2023

Technology saved
the day

Maintenance and
Competence will
play a major part
in safety

This is why we need

Standards!
IEC: the beginning………
St. Louis 1904: palace of electricity

• International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) – Swiss incorporated

Not For profit Company

• Officially formed in 1906 – Lord Kelvin the first IEC President

• Formed to serve needs of industry

• Continues to evolve to the needs of industry

During the 1904 Convention of Scientists is was felt that a need exists
to “Standardise on Terminology” when discussing Electrotechnology,
thereby planting the seed for IEC. In 1906 IEC was formed with TC 1
“Terminology” the first Committee of IEC and still exists today.

In 1947, at the instigation of IEC General Secretary, Charles Le Maistre, ISA

expanded its field of activity and
(International Federation of the National Standardising Associations)
changed its name to ISO.
IEC and ISO continue to collaborate, eg ISO/IEC Directives, Joint JTC1 + ISO/IEC 17XXX + More

Global reach: 174 countries

IEC CO
Geneva

IEC-
ReCNA IEC-APRC
Boston Singapor
e

IEC-LARC
São Paulo

IECEx/IECQ
89 Members 85 Affiliates Sydney
 IEC: A Standardization Organization
Not just a Standards writing Body!

Standards Conformity

Development Assessment

and to relevant

Maintenance Standards

Eg IEC TC 31 IECEx

The 2 Sides to the House of IEC:

Standards Development + Conformity Assessment

IEC’s Standards + Conformity Assessment Services

40+ years Operating

Standards used for IEC
More than 1 Million Certificates CA Activities
issued

Over 100 years Electrical + Mechanical

Products

210 Electrical + Mechanical

Committees Components

Electronic Components and

20,000 Experts assemblies

Process Certification
Others:
Personal Competence - Regulations
- Specifications
Sector Specific, e.g. Avionics

IECEx works with standards produced by IEC Technical Committee 31

(TC31 – Explosive Atmospheres)
UN Sustainable Development Goals

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations
Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for
people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries -
developed and developing - in a global partnership

The IEC – Strategic Business Plan

Vision — IEC everywhere for a safer, more efficient world.

Mission — Our mission is to achieve worldwide use of IEC
International Standards and Conformity Assessment Systems to ensure
the safety, efficiency, reliability and interoperability of electrical,
electronic and information technologies, to enhance international trade,
facilitate broad electricity access and enable a more sustainable world.

3 Strategic Themes supported by 9 Strategic Goals

- Enabling a digital and all-electric society
- Fostering a sustainable world
- Leading on Trust, inclusion and collaboration

All 17 UN SDGs supported – confirmed by IEC Conformity

Assessment Board Decision 52/16
 What is IECEx?
A voluntary global system open to any qualifying Certification Body
(ExCB) and/or Testing Laboratory (ExTL) involved in the testing of
product and/or services used in areas where an explosive
atmosphere may be present.

IEC is the Scheme owner and has a dedicated full-time team of

technical personnel at the Secretariat. Certification Bodies,
appointed by IECEx are the IECEx Certification Providers

Vision: One test, one certificate, worldwide acceptance

Why Conformity Assessment?

It’s easy to claim compliance with a standard
But how do you prove compliance?

• 1st party
• 2nd party
• 3rd party

IECEx is a 3rd party System and an ISO type 5 system, looking at both
the product and the manufacturing capability and quality to ensure
on-going compliance in production.
 Why Conformity Assessment?
Compliance with standards is not as clear cut as it may seem

• Interpretation

• Languages

• Competence of test and assessment personnel

• Independence of test and assessment personnel

Proficiency Testing Programme – made mandatory in 2017

Temperature
Meaurement
2014 – 46 Participants, 13
Results of concern (28%)

Action
Warning

2019 – 77 Participants,
1 Result of concern
Warning (1.3%)
Action
 What does IECEx offer?

The IECEx Certified Equipment Scheme

The IECEx Certified Service Facilities Scheme

The IECEx Conformity Mark Licensing Scheme

The IECEx Certification of Personnel Competencies (CoPC) – Unit 11

Three separate certification schemes

 IECEx Certificates of Conformity
• Operation within the IEC
– Not for Profit

Equipment Assemblies Services Personnel • Single International

Schemes with CBs and
TLs as Scheme providers
since 1996

• Standardised way of
doing Certification

• Self funded with annual

operating Budget CHF
1.8M / 2.4M in reserves
Ex Equipment, Ex Equipment Unit Ex Services, eg Ex Competent
Components + Verification e.g. Repair + Overhaul Person, with Photo
Systems + “Assemblies” ID Card • Centralised On-Line
Installation
Mechanical Certificates – Free
Equipment Inspection
Public Access

IECEx Certificates issued in 90+ Countries 19

IECEx Stats @ end 2022

Total Equipment CoCs & Reports on the System

• > 100 Certification Bodies, across IECEx Schemes 160000

140000
– The IECEx Service Providers 120000

• > 80 Test Labs 100000

80000

• 35 Recognized Training Providers 60000

40000

• 140,000+ CoCs & Test Reports for Equipment 20000

• 485 Certificates for Service Providers

2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022

• 5,800+ Certificates for Competent Persons

Certified Personnel Scheme - Cumulative Total
6000
Service Facility Certificates - Cumulative Total
500 5000
450
400 4000
350
300 3000
250
200 2000
150
100 1000
50
0 0 20
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
IECEx Website www.iecex.com updates / enhancements

Direct access to 3 separate IECEx Animated Videos (also

accessible from YouTube):-
1. Certified Equipment Scheme
2. Certified Services Scheme
3. Certified Persons Scheme

Tailored version of the videos available to ExCBs to insert

their own logos – many have taken this up

IECEx Website Video Guides on how to use/navigate:

1. The IECEx Website (intended for everyone)
2. The On-Line Certificate System (aimed at those seeking
to look up certificates)
3. The On-Line Certificate System – Back Office (mainly
for ExCB Staff – how to create/issue CoCs)

Carbon Footprint Declaration Verification - available mid 2023

• Progress with drafting IECQ Scheme Documents to provide

Verification Statement on Carbon Footprint Declarations, using
ISO 14067
Verification according to ISO/IEC 17029
Use of ISO 14067
Collaboration with IEC TC 111
Caters for future publication of IEC 63372

• Purpose: To provide an International approach to independent

Verification that an Organisation has applied ISO 14067 in
determining their Product Carbon Footprint Claim 22
© IECQ
2022
 IECEx + ISO TC 197 Cooperation
IECEx + ISO TC 197 SC1 Formal Liaison established Dr Thorsten ARNHOLD
(Former Chair of the IECEx) and Member of the IEC Board on Conformity
Assessment, as from January 2023

Many of the TC197 ISO standards

reference the IEC 60079 series
documents.

Formal Liaison now being considered

with IEC TC 105 – Fuel Cells.

New IECEx OD 290 - Certification of H2 Dispensers

Tokyo, Japan Wisebaden, Germany

Used in conjunction with IEC TS

60079-46, Equipment Assemblies,
until ISO 19880-2 is available

New Unit 011 Hydrogen

Safety, using ISO/TR
15916 added to the
IECEx Certificate of
Personal Competence Völs, Austria Cologne, Germany
Scheme
IECEx OD 290

In Conclusion

• Safety is the overriding of the IEC TC31 standards and testing requirements

• The IEC has lots of experience in standards covering hydrogen gas

• The IECEx has lots of experience in testing product to standards

• IEC and ISO have strong liaisons and are further collaborating

• IECEx certificates of conformity are freely available on the website

• Industry has to protect the public, they can’t protect themselves

Questions?