Growing demand for Ex testing and certification in China

Projects involving the development of natural
gas (or ethylene), oil refining and coal will
continue to surface throughout China

With the rapid growth of the Chinese economy, a great number of engineering projects are underway. Many of those are undertaken in hazardous areas, dealing directly or indirectly with explosive atmospheres. Projects involving the development of natural gas (or ethylene), oil refining and coal will continue to surface throughout China.

Statistical data indicates that the demand for Ex products and services keeps increasing rapidly in the country. Because Chinese manufacturers export the vast majority of their production, they need to prove that their products are safe and reliable.

So the Chinese Ex industry is no exception. It needs to trade globally, inspire confidence on the international scene. This is why IECEx, the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres, is the perfect tool to help them enter the global market and gain a solid reputation of performance, safety and reliability, through compliance with International Ex Standards, such as those published by IEC TC 31: Equipment for explosive atmospheres.

IECEx, a truly international CA (Conformity Assessment) System, is providing the fast track to National Certification/Approvals, by way of IECEx testing and certification, that the Chinese industry requires to be competitive and play a leading role in the global market.

IECEx promotion in China

A Symposium on "Future Developments and Applications of Explosion Protection Techniques" took place in Shanghai, China, on 16 October 2009. The event was held in conjunction with the 10th China International Petroleum & Petrochemical Technology and Equipment Exhibition, the largest annual petroleum exhibition in Asia and one of the top four in the world.

Supported by various Chinese testing and certification bodies, among them NEPSI (National Supervision and Inspection Center for Explosion Protection and Safety of Instrumentation), the symposium attracted more than 130 experts from 115 Ex manufacturers, designing institutes, engineering companies, testing and certification organizations, regulatory bodies and end users. It was organized by a division of CEEIA (China Electrical Equipment Industrial Association) responsible for explosion protection for electrical equipment.

A total of 10 presentations, tackling issues of major importance to the Ex field, were given during the symposium. Professor Xu Jianping, one of the IECEx Lead Assessors and Director of NEPSI, gave a speech entitled "IECEx System – A Total Solution of Global Marketing". The objective of his presentation was to help all participants understand the rules, procedures and principles of the IECEx System. It also gave a detailed description of the three IECEx Schemes: IECEx Certified Equipment Scheme, IECEx Certified Service Facilities Scheme and the new IECEx Certification of Personnel Competencies Scheme.

Successful events such as the Shanghai Symposium are an excellent opportunity for the local and regional Ex industries to familiarize themselves with IECEx and international testing and certification systems.