Find practical answers to common product compliance questions. Learn what CE Marking, ATEX Certification, PED Compliance, EAC Certification and IECEx mean, when they apply, how conformity assessment works, what documents are normally required, how product marking is used, and what manufacturers should review before starting a certification project.
Understand the key principles, standards, documentation and conformity assessment routes behind major international product certification requirements.
Concept: CE Marking is the manufacturer's indication that the product has undergone the applicable conformity assessment and meets the requirements of the EU legislation that applies to it.
Procedure: Define the product and intended use → identify applicable EU Directives/Regulations → identify applicable standards → perform risk assessment → design and verify the product → prepare technical documentation → carry out testing/assessment where required → complete the applicable conformity assessment procedure → prepare and sign the EU Declaration of Conformity → affix the CE marking and maintain required records.
Marking & documents: CE marking must be applied in accordance with the applicable rules. The technical file normally includes product description, drawings, calculations, risk assessment, standards used, test evidence, instructions and declarations, as applicable. Where a notified body is required, its identification number may accompany the CE marking as required by the applicable legislation.
Important concept: CE is not a single universal certificate. The applicable legislation and conformity assessment route determine what evidence and third-party involvement are required.
Concept: ATEX 2014/34/EU concerns equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. The assessment focuses on preventing ignition hazards associated with the equipment and its intended operating conditions.
Procedure: Define product and intended use → identify hazardous-area conditions and applicable equipment group/category → identify ignition hazards and protection concept → select applicable EN/IEC 60079 standards → review design and materials → prepare drawings, calculations and technical documentation → perform required testing → assess conformity using the applicable ATEX procedure → prepare documentation and declarations → apply the required Ex and ATEX marking.
Marking: Depending on the product and protection concept, Ex marking communicates information such as equipment group/category or EPL, protection type, gas/dust designation, temperature class or maximum surface temperature, and other applicable information. Exact marking depends on the certified design and applicable standard.
Important concept: Hazardous-zone classification is used by the user/operator to select suitable equipment; the equipment certification route and marking must correspond to the product's intended use and protection characteristics.
Concept: PED 2014/68/EU applies to pressure equipment and assemblies within its scope. Classification determines the applicable conformity assessment requirements.
Procedure: Identify equipment type → determine maximum allowable pressure (PS), volume (V) or nominal size (DN), and temperature limits → identify the fluid and fluid group → determine the applicable PED category → select the applicable conformity assessment module → review design, materials, manufacturing, welding, inspection and testing → complete the required conformity assessment → prepare technical documentation and Declaration of Conformity → apply required marking.
Marking & documents: Pressure equipment marking and documentation depend on the PED route. Typical technical records may include drawings, design calculations, material certificates, welding qualifications, inspection/test reports, safety information, nameplate details and conformity documentation.
Important concept: PED classification is not based on pressure alone. Equipment type, fluid, pressure, volume or DN and fluid group are key inputs to determining the category and assessment route.
Concept: EAC conformity assessment is associated with applicable Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Technical Regulations and is used for products entering the relevant EAEU markets.
Procedure: Identify the destination EAEU market and product → determine applicable Technical Regulations → identify whether certification or declaration is required → determine applicable standards/testing → prepare technical documentation → perform required testing and conformity assessment → issue the applicable certificate or declaration → complete EAC marking and other required market-access information.
Marking: The EAC mark identifies products that have completed the applicable EAEU conformity assessment requirements. The mark, documentation and accompanying information must follow the applicable Technical Regulation and conformity route.
Important concept: EAC is not one single regulation. The applicable EAEU Technical Regulation depends on the product and its characteristics, so the first step is always to establish the correct regulatory scope.
Concept: IECEx is an international conformity assessment system for equipment, services and personnel associated with explosive atmospheres, using applicable IEC standards and scheme rules.
Procedure: Define equipment and intended Ex application → identify applicable IEC standards and protection concept → review design and technical documentation → conduct required testing → prepare the ExTR where applicable → assess the manufacturer's quality system/processes through the applicable IECEx route → issue the relevant IECEx certification documentation.
Marking & documents: Ex marking communicates the protection characteristics of the certified equipment. IECEx documentation can include an ExTR for test results and a QAR relating to the quality assessment requirements, depending on the certification route.
Important concept: IECEx certification and ATEX certification are related to explosion protection but are different conformity assessment systems. The applicable market and certification scheme determine which route is appropriate.
Concept: Technical documentation is the evidence package demonstrating how a product has been designed, assessed and verified against the applicable regulatory and technical requirements.
Procedure: Define product scope → identify applicable legislation and standards → collect product specifications and drawings → document materials and components → perform risk assessment → prepare design calculations where applicable → compile test reports and certificates → prepare instructions and marking information → prepare declarations and other conformity records → maintain the technical documentation throughout the required retention period.
Typical contents: Product description, GA/engineering drawings, schematics, BOM, specifications, risk assessment, calculations, material certificates, component certificates, test reports, inspection records, user manual, nameplate/marking details, Declaration of Conformity and conformity assessment records, as applicable.
Important concept: There is no single universal technical-file format for every product. The required contents depend on the applicable legislation, standards, product type, conformity assessment procedure and certification scope.
Although the exact route depends on the product and applicable legislation, most certification projects follow a structured sequence from scope definition to final marking and documentation.
Establish the product type, model/series, intended use, operating conditions, target market and any existing certificates or test reports.
Determine the applicable Directive, Regulation or Technical Regulation and identify the standards and conformity assessment route relevant to the product.
Review drawings, specifications, materials, components, calculations, risk assessment, manufacturing information and existing test evidence to identify gaps.
Where required, perform or review the applicable tests, inspections, audits and technical assessments. The exact activities depend on the selected conformity assessment procedure.
Complete the applicable conformity assessment, prepare the required certificate or assessment record, and complete the manufacturer's declaration where required.
Apply the required product marking, identification and instructions, maintain technical records, and meet any post-certification or surveillance requirements applicable to the route.
Start with the question closest to your requirement. Each search opens the relevant articles and explanations available in the Knowledge Hub.
EuroAsiaCert - Global Certification & Compliance is an independent educational platform designed to make international product certification and compliance requirements easier to understand.
The content is intended to help manufacturers, exporters, engineers, designers, quality teams and business professionals understand the main concepts before beginning a compliance or certification project.
Important: Certification requirements depend on the specific product, intended use, market, applicable legislation, standards and conformity assessment route. The information on this website is educational and should be verified for the specific product and project.
Use the knowledge areas below to understand the main stages of a product compliance project.
Each article explains the subject from a practical compliance perspective, including scope, important technical concepts, documentation, assessment routes and points manufacturers should consider before starting a project.
This article explains how pressure equipment is classified under the Pressure Equipment & PED Requirements Directive 2014/68/EU. It introduces the main classification factors, including the type of equipment, fluid, pressure, volume or nominal size, and the applicable fluid group. It also explains why the resulting PED category is important when selecting the appropriate conformity assessment procedure.
This article explains the purpose of ATEX 2014/34/EU for equipment and protective systems intended for potentially explosive atmospheres. It covers equipment groups and categories, hazardous zones, explosion protection concepts, Ex marking and the role of conformity assessment. The guide is intended to help manufacturers understand the basic route toward ATEX compliance.
This article provides a practical overview of CE Marking and the responsibilities involved in placing regulated products on the EU market. It explains how manufacturers identify applicable EU legislation, select relevant standards, perform risk assessment and technical documentation, complete the required conformity assessment and prepare the EU Declaration of Conformity before affixing the CE marking.
This guide presents the main steps a manufacturer should consider when starting a CE compliance project. It covers product scope, applicable directives or regulations, harmonized standards, technical documentation, testing, risk assessment, conformity assessment and the Declaration of Conformity. It is designed as a practical starting point for manufacturers and exporters planning EU market access.
This article explains the typical stages of an ATEX certification project, from defining the product and intended hazardous-area application through technical documentation and applicable standards to testing, technical assessment and certification. It also highlights the importance of determining the required Ex protection concept, equipment category, EPL, temperature class and marking before finalizing the certification route.
This article gives manufacturers a broader view of major European and EAEU compliance routes. It explains the purpose and basic scope of CE Marking, ATEX and PED requirements and introduces EAC certification and declaration routes for the Eurasian Economic Union. The guide helps readers understand which regulatory framework may apply before preparing technical documentation and selecting a conformity assessment route.
Use the Knowledge Hub to understand the certification route relevant to your product and market.
Understand EU product compliance, applicable Directives and Regulations, harmonized standards, risk assessment, technical documentation, conformity assessment, Declaration of Conformity and CE marking.
Learn about ATEX 2014/34/EU, hazardous areas, equipment categories, Ex protection concepts, EN IEC 60079 standards, Ex marking, testing and certification documentation.
Learn how PED 2014/68/EU applies to pressure equipment, including PS, TS, volume/DN, fluid groups, categories, conformity assessment modules, materials, welding, testing and marking.
Understand EAEU Technical Regulations, EAC certification and declaration routes, product testing, technical documentation and EAC marking for applicable markets.
Understand IECEx certification, ExTR, QAR, IEC 60079 standards, explosion-protection concepts and international hazardous-area equipment certification.
Learn how product scope, standards, risk assessment, calculations, test reports, certificates, manuals, declarations and marking fit together in a certification project.
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Product marking is not simply a logo. It communicates the conformity status and, where applicable, technical characteristics required by the relevant legislation and standards.
Indicates that the manufacturer has completed the applicable EU conformity assessment requirements for the product. Where required by the applicable legislation, a notified body identification number may appear with the CE marking.
Communicates the explosion-protection characteristics of equipment, with the exact information depending on the certified protection concept, equipment classification and applicable standards.
Pressure equipment placed under a PED conformity assessment route carries the applicable identification and marking information required by the Directive and selected conformity assessment procedure.
Identifies products that have completed the applicable EAEU conformity assessment route and meet the relevant Technical Regulation requirements.
IECEx certification documents and associated Ex marking communicate the certified explosion-protection characteristics and applicable scope of the equipment.
Name, model/type, serial or batch identification, ratings, warnings, instructions and other required information support traceability and safe use. Exact requirements depend on the product and applicable legislation.
Build your understanding step by step: identify the applicable requirements, understand the standards, prepare the technical documentation and determine the appropriate conformity assessment route for your product.