IECEx OD 210
Edition 1.0

2019-09

IECEx
OPERATIONAL DOCUMENT
IEC System for Certification to Standards relating to Equipment for use
in Explosive Atmospheres (IECEx System)
IECEx Certified Equipment Scheme

IECEx OD 210:2019(E)Guidance on the preparation of IECEx Equipment
Certificates and Reports of a Modular Combination

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IECEx OD 210
Edition 1.0

2019-09

IECEx
OPERATIONAL DOCUMENT

IEC System for Certification to Standards relating to Equipment for
use in Explosive Atmospheres (IECEx System)
IECEx Certified Equipment Scheme

Guidance on the preparation of IECEx Equipment
Certificates and Reports of a Modular Combination

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICALCOMMISSION

IECEx OD 210

Page 0INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
IECEx Operational Document IECEx OD 210
IECEx Certified Equipment Scheme

Guidance on the preparation of IECEx Equipment
Certificates and Reports of a Modular CombinationIntroduction
This document is supplementary to the IECEx Rules, other IECEx Operational Documents andprocedures operated by IECEx Certification Bodies (ExCBs) that have been approved by the IECEx
Management Committee to issue IECEx Certificates of Conformity (CoCs) for Equipment.
The purpose of IECEx Operational Documents (ODs) is to ensure that each ExCB accepted by theExMC for the purposes of issuing IECEx CoCs and QARs does so in a consistent manner.
This Operational Document, IECEx OD 210 provides guidance on the preparation of IECEx Equipment
Certificates and Reports of a Modular Concept. This Operational Document, IECEx OD 210 is a
supplementary document to IECEx OD 009 and IECEx OD 034.

Document History
DateSummary

September 2019

Original issue (Edition 1.0)

Address:
IECEx Secretariat
Australia Square
Level 33, 264 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Contact Details:
Tel: +61 2 4628 4690
Email: info@iecex.com
Web: http://www.iecex.com

IECEx OD 210

Page 1

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 31

Scope .............................................................................................................................. 42

Normative references ...................................................................................................... 43Terms and definitions ...................................................................................................... 43.1
Modular Combination .............................................................................................. 43.2
Fixed Device ........................................................................................................... 43.3
Modular Device ....................................................................................................... 43.4
Safety relevant parameter ....................................................................................... 44
Construction of a Modular Combination ........................................................................... 4
4.1
General ................................................................................................................... 44.2
Concept Document of the Modular Combination ...................................................... 5
4.3
Certification of the Modular Combination ................................................................. 6
5
Documentation ................................................................................................................ 66Considerations ................................................................................................................ 6

IECEx OD 210

Page 2

INTRODUCTION
Divergent practices between IECEx Certification Bodies in respect of the number of different productsthat can be covered on a single certificate have potential implications for the easy management ofcertificates. These include the frequency of raising the issue level of a certificate, the listing of ExTR
documents on the certificate for each new technical issue and a direct influence on the cost recoveryof the scheme.
An example of such different products covered on a single certificate is a Modular Combination, acombination of separate certified Ex Products with all internal electrical and mechanical connectionsand structural components. To ease the handling and maintenance of such a combination thisOperational Document provides guidance for the certification of a Modular Combination.
Without this approach, any revision of an individual built-in Ex Product Certificate necessitates inmost cases a revision of the Ex Equipment Certificate of the combination. In case of a replacement
or extension of an Ex Product, listed in the Ex Equipment Certificate of the combination, thisEx Equipment Certificate shall be updated to list the new Ex Product with its type designation andcertificate number.
The purpose of this Operational Document is to provide a standardised approach for the preparationof IECEx Certificates and Reports covering a Modular Combination.
A further point to note is the importance of being able to match the list of models covered by acertificate with the specific model reference as listed or displayed on each product produced. This isparticularly important during installation, maintenance and repair.

IECEx OD 210

Page 3

Guidance on the preparation of IECEx Equipment Certificates and Reports of a
Modular Combination
1ScopeThis document defines the structural and technical details for issuing an Ex Equipment Certificate fora Modular Combination. This Operational Document, IECEx OD 210 is a supplementary document toIECEx OD 009 and IECEx OD 034.
The Modular Combination itself and this document are not covering assemblies in accordance with
IEC TS 60079-46.

2

Normative references

IEC 60079-0, Explosive atmospheres – Part 0: Equipment – General requirements
IECEx OD 009, Operational Document - Procedures for the Issuing of IECEx Certificates ofConformity, IECEx Test Reports and IECEx Quality Assessment Reports
IECEx OD 034, Operational Document - Guidance on the preparation of IECEx Equipment Certificatesand Reports covering more than one identifiable item of equipment

3Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60079-0, as well as thefollowing apply.
NOTE Additional definitions applicable to explosive atmospheres can be found in IEC 60050-426.

3.1

Modular Combination

a combination of separate certified Ex Products with all internal electrical and mechanical connections
and structural components. The Modular Combination itself has one comprising Ex Equipment
Certificate.
3.2

Fixed Devicea non-interchangeable IECEx certified Ex Product defined by its type name
3.3

Modular Device

an interchangeable IECEx certified Ex Product with a defined set of safety relevant parameters
3.4

Safety relevant parametercharacteristic variable used to obtain information about the structure and performance of the Modular
Combination and of the Ex Products

4
4.1

Construction of a Modular Combination
GeneralThe determination of whether an Ex Product is a Fixed or a Modular Device depends on the individual
Modular Combination to be approved. The comprising Ex Equipment Certificate of the Modular
Combination covers the listed Fixed Devices and a set of Modular Devices.
Every individually certified Modular Device that meets the safety-relevant parameters specified in theEx Equipment Certificate of the Modular Combination can be equipped in the Modular Combination
without the need to update the Ex Equipment Certificate of the Modular Combination.
An example of the conceptual structure of a Modular Combination is shown in Figure 1 below.

IECEx OD 210

Page 4

Figure 1 – Exemplary structure of a Modular Combination

4.2

Concept Document of the Modular Combination

An overall descriptive document (Concept Document) for the specific Modular Combination shall beprepared by the manufacturer as part of the schedule drawings of the Ex Equipment Certificate. ThisConcept Document defines a set of safety-relevant parameters which shall be met by each ModularDevice, as well as a list of Fixed Devices. The IECEx TL/CB evaluates the Concept Document andincludes the safety-relevant parameters as technical data in the ExTR of the Modular Combination.
The Concept Document should contain all information about the Modular Combination. The intentionof this document is specifying the safety relevant technical data of the Modular Combination
comprising electrical equipment and their interfaces. The following is an example of the information:•Nomenclature for the Modular Devices•

General information (EPL, gas group, temperature classification, general electrical / mechanicalinformation, placement of devices, …)•Detailed information and safety relevant parameters (Ex rating, type, electrical information,segregation requirements, temperature assessment (e.g. power dissipation, interaction between
different parts), …)

NOTE 1 This listing is an example and can be adjusted where necessary
NOTE 2 The list of safety-relevant parameters is an agreement between the manufacturer and the IECEx ExCB. It is listed
as a confidential document in the ExTR to prevent a free assembly by the user.
NOTE 3 For the future maintenance of the Ex Equipment Certificate it is possible to add certain new safety-relevant
parameters, e.g. for implementing a new Ex product which was originally not covered by the Modular Combination.

Figure 2 shows the requirements for the individual parts of the Modular Combination.

IECEx OD 210

Page 5

Figure 2 – Requirements of a Modular Combination
4.3

Certification of the Modular CombinationIn support of the Ex Equipment Certificate of the Modular Combination the ExTR includes the ConceptDocument of the Modular Combination, the List of Fixed Devices and all necessary documents
required by the related standards. The List of Fixed Devices is part of the schedule drawings andincludes at least their type name, Ex marking and certificate number. The Ex Equipment Certificateof the Modular Combination shall include a reference to mandatory instructions provided with theModular Combination.
During the assessment of the Modular Combination the ExCB and applicant shall define the worstcase thermal setup of the Modular Combination. The thermal setup shall cover the maximum possible
installed Modular Devices and the maximum power consumption for the Modular Combination, so as
to allow for flexibility to revise or add Modular Devices without the need of a reassessment. The
thermal setup shall also consider the position of the devices within the enclosure and the service
temperatures of critical non-metallic parts. A thermal assessment as a type test shall be done inaccordance with IEC 60079-0.

5Documentation

The manufacturer shall maintain a record of all design verifications, including data used, calculations
and comparisons made, and the result of tests carried out. These design verification test records form
part of the manufacturer’s intellectual property. Such proprietary information will not normally be madeavailable to any third party including the user and at the discretion of the manufacturer.
NOTE These design verification procedure form part of the QAR to retrace the technical design by the ExCB.

6Considerations

Certain Ex Products may not be considered as Modular Devices but only as Fixed Devices. This
needs to be carefully considered by the manufacturer of the Modular Combination and the ExCB.
Examples of such Ex Products include the following:• Batteries,• Lasers or other continuous wave sources,• Radio frequency sources,• Rotating electrical machines,• Pressurization control systems.

IECEx OD 210

Page 6

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION3, rue de Varembé PO Box 131
CH-1211 Geneva 20 Switzerland
Tel: + 41 22 919 02 11
Fax: + 41 22 919 03 00
info@iec.ch
www.iec.ch