Certifications
ATEX, UKEX & IECEx Certified Lighting
Certified for Explosive Atmospheres Worldwide
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What ATEX, UKEX, and IECEx Certification Mean
All three certifications address the same underlying hazard — equipment that could ignite an explosive atmosphere of flammable gas, vapor, or combustible dust — but they apply to different jurisdictions and are administered by different bodies.
ATEX takes its name from the French title of the EU directive governing equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres ("ATmospheres EXplosibles"). It's a legal requirement for equipment placed on the market within the European Union, covering both gas and dust hazards under the Zone classification system (Zone 0, 1, 2 for gas; Zone 20, 21, 22 for dust).
UKEX is the United Kingdom's equivalent framework, established after the UK's departure from the EU. It mirrors ATEX in technical substance — same Zone classification approach, same underlying safety principles — but is administered separately under UK law, with equipment marked UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) rather than CE. Equipment previously certified only under ATEX/CE is not automatically valid for the UK market; UKEX certification confirms compliance specifically with UK regulations.
IECEx is an international certification scheme, established by the International Electrotechnical Commission, recognized across many countries outside the EU and UK. Unlike ATEX and UKEX, it isn't a legal requirement in any single jurisdiction — it's a voluntary scheme designed to reduce the need for separate testing across multiple countries, widely accepted by regulators and specifiers internationally.
All three certifications involve testing and documentation confirming a fixture meets specific design, construction, and performance requirements for its intended zone, gas or dust group, and temperature class.
Comparing ATEX, UKEX, and IECEx
| ATEX | UKEX | IECEx | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | European Union | United Kingdom | International (voluntary) |
| Legal requirement? | Yes, for EU market | Yes, for UK market | No — but widely accepted |
| Marking | CE | UKCA | IECEx mark |
| Classification system | Zone (0/1/2, 20/21/22) | Zone (0/1/2, 20/21/22) | Zone (0/1/2, 20/21/22) |
Because the technical requirements are closely aligned, many manufacturers pursue certification under all three simultaneously — Red Sky Lighting fixtures are tested to meet ATEX, UKEX, and IECEx requirements together, rather than requiring separate product lines per region.
Where Each Certification Is Needed
- ATEX — required for equipment placed on the market or installed within the European Union
- UKEX — required for equipment placed on the market or installed within the United Kingdom, following the UK's departure from EU regulatory frameworks
- IECEx — commonly required or accepted for international projects outside the EU and UK, particularly in oil & gas, petrochemical, and industrial sectors globally
- Multinational operations — facilities or companies operating across the EU, UK, and international markets often require all three certifications for full compliance documentation across their footprint
Confirming the Right Certification for Your Project
Confirm which jurisdiction governs your specific installation — EU, UK, or international — since each has its own legal and documentation requirements even though the underlying technical standards are closely related. Projects spanning multiple regions (for example, a multinational company with facilities in both the EU and UK) typically need equipment certified to both ATEX and UKEX, since UK market access is no longer covered by ATEX/CE certification alone.