If you need background on what ATEX is and how hazardous zones are classified, see our guides: What is ATEX? and ATEX Zones Explained.
ATEX/IECEx inspection is the systematic examination ofequipment installed in hazardous (potentially explosive) areas to verify itremains safe, correctly installed, properly maintained, and compliant withexplosion protection standards. It is a legal requirement for any organisationoperating assets in classified zones, and the process is governed primarily byIEC 60079-17.
If your operations include areas where flammable gases,vapours, mists, or combustible dusts may be present, every piece of equipmentin those zones, electrical and non-electrical, needs to be inspected. Not once.Continuously, throughout its operational life.
That obligation sits at the heart of both the ATEXdirectives in Europe and the IECEx system internationally.
Two parallel frameworks drive the requirement for hazardousarea inspections, depending on where you operate.
ATEX refers to two European Union directives. Thefirst, Directive 2014/34/EU (commonly called ATEX Equipment), sets requirementsfor manufacturers placing equipment on the market for use in explosiveatmospheres. The second, Directive 1999/92/EC (ATEX Workplace), places dutieson employers to protect workers from explosion risks. That means classifying hazardous zones, maintaining an Explosion Protection Document, and putting inplace a regime of regular equipment inspection.
In the UK, the Workplace Directive is transposed through theDangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002, better knownas DSEAR.
IECEx (the IEC System for Certification to StandardsRelating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres) is the internationalequivalent. It is not a legal directive. It is a voluntary certification systemthat harmonises standards globally, so organisations operating across multiplejurisdictions can demonstrate compliance without duplicating effort.
Both frameworks point to the same technical standard when itcomes to inspection practice: IEC 60079-17 (published as BS EN 60079-17in the UK). This is the standard that defines how, when, and to what levelequipment in hazardous areas must be inspected and maintained.
Equipment installed in a hazardous area is specificallydesigned and certified to prevent it from becoming a source of ignition. Butcertification alone is not enough. Over time, equipment degrades. Enclosurescorrode, cable glands loosen, seals deteriorate. Modifications get made,sometimes without proper authorisation. Any of these issues can compromise theexplosion protection that the equipment was originally certified to provide.
Regular inspection is the mechanism that catches theseproblems before they become dangerous. It is also a legal obligation. UnderDSEAR and the ATEX Workplace Directive, employers and duty holders who own oroperate assets within classified hazardous areas must ensure that everyinstallation remains compliant, not just at commissioning but for the whole ofits service life.
Failure to maintain a proper inspection regime can result inregulatory enforcement action and increased risk of ignition events. At theextreme end, people get hurt.
IEC 60079-17 defines three inspection grades. Each one is more thorough than the last, and the grade applied depends on the type of inspection, the equipment involved, and the level of risk in its environment.
Alongside the three grades, IEC 60079-17 defines four types of inspection. Each one applies at a different stage of the equipment life cycle.
Performed before equipment is placed into service. IEC60079-14 requires a 100% detailed inspection of all equipment, electrical and non-electrical, prior to final commissioning. This establishes the baseline. Does the installation match the hazardous area classification? Has the right certified equipment been selected? Does the installation itself meet the requirements of the relevant standards?
Carried out at defined intervals to confirm that equipment continues to meet the required standard. IEC 60079-17 states that the interval between periodic inspections should not exceed three years, though organisations can adjust this based on a documented risk assessment.
Where large numbers of similar items (such as luminaires or junction boxes) are installed in similar environments, periodic inspection maybe carried out on a representative sample rather than every individual item. The sample size and inspection frequency must be subject to ongoing review, andif defects are found, the scope is extended.
Applies to portable and transportable apparatus, i.e. equipment that moves between locations or takes rougher handling than fixed plant. These items need their own inspection protocols because the risk profile is different. Typically, inspections are carried out every12-months.
The scope of an ATEX/IECEx inspection covers all equipment within classified hazardous areas. This includes electrical items such as motors, lighting, junction boxes, control panels, and instrumentation, as well as non-electrical equipment where it has been assessed as a potential source of ignition — for example, rotating machinery or equipment that could generate static.
What inspectors actually check depends on the grade and protection concept. Typical items: do the equipment markings match the hazardous area classification? Are enclosures undamaged and properly secured? Are cable entries and glands correct and tight? Is earthing and bonding intact? Have any unauthorised modifications been made?
The inspection checklist is not generic. It varies according to the equipment's protection concept: flameproof (Ex d), increased safety (Exe), intrinsic safety (Ex i), and so on. Each concept carries its own set of requirements, and the inspector must apply the correct checklist for the concept in question.
The Checklist Challenge: One of the most common sources of error in Ex inspections is applying the wrong checklist to the wrong protection concept. When inspections are managed on paper or in generic spreadsheets, this happens more than it should, particularly across large sites with thousands of items of equipment. Purpose-built Ex inspection software, such as Nexar, removes the risk by generating the correct checklist automatically based on the equipment's protection concept and the type of inspection being performed.
For years, Ex inspections have been managed with paper forms, spreadsheets, or some combination of the two. That approach works up toa point. But as sites grow more complex and regulatory expectations tighten, the cracks show. Data ends up siloed, reporting is slow, errors are hard to trace, and demonstrating compliance to an auditor means pulling together information from half a dozen different places.
More and more organisations are moving to digital inspection platforms that centralise the whole process. The practical benefits are obvious: inspectors work from auto-generated checklists on a mobile device, inspection data is captured in real time (even offline), equipment registers live in one system, and compliance reports can be pulled together in minutes rather than days.
For operations teams managing hazardous areas across multiple sites, the difference between chasing paper and working from a single, up-to-date system is not trivial. It changes how quickly problems get spotted and how confidently you can stand in front of an auditor.
If you are responsible for hazardous area compliance, start by understanding your obligations under the applicable framework (ATEX and DSEAR in Europe and the UK, or IECEx internationally). From there, the practical requirements are straightforward: maintain an up-to-date equipment register, complete initial inspections before commissioning, run a periodic inspection programme in line with IEC 60079-17, and keep thorough records that demonstrate ongoing compliance.
The standard itself is detailed, and the inspection process is inherently technical. But with the right systems and the right tools in place, it does not need to be complicated.
Nexar is Arnlea's cloud-based Ex inspection software, built on over 30 years of hazardous area expertise. It automates checklist generation, captures inspection data in real time, and lets your team see the compliance status of every site from a single dashboard. Request a demo →
