What do you do when you find an item of electrical or non-electrical equipment in a Zoned area with no label or appropriate certificate? 

Where no verifiable and/or correct certificate of conformity is available, EN/IEC 60079-17 states that a fitness-for-purpose assessment must be undertaken. Usually this will require a full assessment of the equipment including: 

Generation of a design specification (what concept should be used for example)

Necessary tests, calculations, and measurements equipment 

Other related issues such as checking accessories and cable types.

Anyone undertaking such an assessment will need to be able to demonstrate competency to assess the fitness-for-purpose of explosion-protected equipment as they will be making decisions and statements that the equipment is fit for its purpose and safe to use. Where tests are required, they should be carried out by a skilled person using the necessary calibrated test equipment. Verifying explosion protected equipment is fit for purpose is obviously highly skilled work that it outside of the normal training and competences of most training schemes. Some specialist courses exist (for example at ExVeritas) but it is unlikely that they will cover every type of assessment. 

This risk assessment should use the current applicable standards (for example IEC 60079-0) as a basis for the assessments. It must contain evidence that demonstrates an equivalent level of safety within an existing installation including highlighting any restrictions regarding the equipment (for example, the use of an ‘X’ condition)

The fully documented fitness-for-purpose assessment should be available to an inspector or regulator. The report should include a clause-by-clause assessment and testing according to the appropriate Standards where necessary. It should clearly state the final assigned level of risk and detail any special requirements that may need to be observed. This should include a clear summary of the level of conformity established by the assessment and whether it is sufficient for the specific environment. The equipment must then be clearly labelled (see fig.1)

ExVeritas can offer fully UKAS Accredited fitness-for-purpose assessments for all types of equipment and all protection concepts, including generation of an appropriate label, certificate, and assessment. 

For more information:
www.exveritas.com