News

The imminent publication of IEC 60079-0 Edition 8 will likely mark a significant development for the explosion-protection industry, with expected refinements reflecting both evolving industrial realities and lessons learned from the practical application of Edition 7. For manufacturers, certification bodies, and end users alike, the updated standard will represent more than a routine revision; signalling a broader industry shift toward greater transparency, more robust verification requirements and improved clarity in the communication of safety-critical information. 

At its core, Edition 8 is expected to address the increasing complexity of hazardous area operations. Modern industrial environments are now shaped by wider global temperature variations, the continued growth of portable electronic equipment and the integration of digital technologies into plant infrastructure. The revised standard will likely respond directly to these changes while also resolving a number of technical ambiguities identified in the previous edition. 

One of the most noticeable expected changes is the revised approach to ambient temperature marking. Under Edition 7, equipment operating within the commonly accepted range of -20 °C to +40 °C often required no specific temperature marking. Edition 8 may remove this assumption entirely by requiring manufacturers to state the exact rated ambient temperature range on all certified equipment. Although seemingly straightforward, this amendment will introduce a much higher level of clarity for operators and maintenance teams working across diverse environmental conditions, from arctic installations to high-temperature process environments. 

The standard will place greater emphasis on verification through testing rather than reliance on procedural controls. This is particularly evident in the treatment of portable equipment. Previous editions allowed certain electrostatic discharge considerations to be addressed through Specific Conditions of Use, commonly identified by an “X” suffix on certification documentation. If Edition 8 moves away from this approach, we will see transferred charge testing and maximum capacitance assessments mandatory for portable devices. The result will be a more consistent and demonstrable safety baseline supported by measured performance rather than operational caveats. 

Several of the revisions may appear relatively minor at first glance, yet they carry potentially significant engineering implications. Updated voltage ratings for batteries

and cells, for example, can directly influence the calculations associated with intrinsically safe circuits. Similarly, if ingress protection requirements are expanded, it will ensure equipment integrity is maintained even while systems are not in operation. We expect to see enclosures incorporating socket-outlets to include protective caps or equivalent safeguards to prevent the ingress of dust or moisture during periods of inactivity. 

The industry’s digital transformation will likely be addressed in Edition 8. Manufacturers should be permitted to supplement conventional product markings with QR codes and machine-readable codes, providing improved access to certification data, instructions and safety information. At the same time, the standard should reinforce the importance of clearly identifying equipment subject to Specific Conditions of Use, ensuring that “X” markings remain explicit and easily understood. 

For manufacturers operating in global markets, the introduction of Edition 8 will provide an opportunity to reassess existing product portfolios against revised requirements. While equipment certified to Edition 7 remains valid to that standard, a proactive review of product markings, documentation and technical assumptions will help organisations align with the latest expectations of the international hazardous area sector. In an industry where compliance, clarity and confidence are inseparable from safety, the transition to Edition 8 will be a meaningful step forward. 

Jayson Shepherd, Certification Engineer, Element 

Learn more about explosive atmosphere testing and certification with Element at

https://www.element.com/connected-technologies/explosive-atmosphere-testing-and-certification 

Specialist Explosion Protection Training and Consultancy Company Opens Purpose-Built Training Facility in South India

EPIT India, a specialist training and consultancy company formed through a strategic partnership between Explosion Protection International Training Ltd (EPIT UK) and TUFF Offshore Energy & Engineering (India) Pvt Ltd (TUFF INDIA), has officially launched its purpose-built Explosion Protection and CompEx training facility in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.

The launch brings together EPIT UK’s internationally recognised expertise in hazardous area and Explosion Protection training with TUFF INDIA’s strong industrial capabilities and regional presence to support growing demand for specialist industrial competency development across South India and surrounding regions.

EPIT India has been established to deliver specialist training, consultancy, and competency solutions for engineers and technicians working in hazardous and industrial areas, offering courses on, electrical safety, high voltage and low voltage (HV & LV), and explosion protection (Ex), including internationally recognised CompEx courses.

The new company will support engineers, technicians, supervisors, contractors, and industrial organisations operating across sectors including oil & gas, petrochemical, renewables, manufacturing, energy, EPC, offshore operations, and industrial services.

Purpose-Built Training Facility

EPIT India has opened a dedicated custom-built training facility designed specifically for practical hazardous area (Ex) training and competency development.

The facility has been developed to provide both classroom based learning and practical assessment within a realistic industrial training environment, supporting safer working practices and improved workforce competency.

EPIT India will provide:

• CompEx Certification
• IECEx Certification
• Explosion Protection (Ex) Training
• Hazardous Area Awareness
• Electrical Safety Training
• HV & LV Training
• Industrial Competency Development
• Specialist Consultancy Services

Built around real-world industrial application, the centre has been designed to support the increasing demand for qualified personnel trained to internationally recognised standards.

Supporting Industrial Growth Across South India

As industrial sectors across South India and the surrounding regions continue to expand, demand for skilled personnel continues to increase significantly.

EPIT India aims to support this growth by providing practical, internationally aligned training and consultancy services for:

• Electrical Engineers
• Instrumentation Engineers
• Maintenance Technicians
• Offshore Personnel
• Supervisors & Industrial Teams

The company will support both individual professionals seeking internationally recognised certification and organisations focused on improving workforce competency, compliance, and operational safety standards.

Centre Information

EPIT India
36 Sundar Towers, Salai Road
Woraiyur, Tiruchirappalli, 620003
India

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: https://epitindia.com/

Part 1 set out why ATEX should be treated as the foundation of a broader compliance system, not a product checkbox. Part 2 looks at where that system breaks down, and what it takes to make it work.

The Gap Between Certification and Operation

One of the most common failures in hazardous area compliance is not a bad certificate, but rather a good certificate applied badly.

Zone classification drawings and permit-to-work systems are often maintained by different teams, on different timelines, and never formally linked. The drawing says Zone 1. The permit was written for a previous configuration. The technician follows the permit, not the drawing. This is where compliance gaps become safety gaps, not because the equipment was wrong, but because the controls around it were never connected.

Closing this gap requires zone drawings linked to permit-to-work controls, with a defined trigger for review whenever either changes. A competent workforce, evidenced through schemes such as CompEx, is not a supplementary credential. It is the mechanism that makes every other control meaningful.

When the Certificate Leaves the Factory

For manufacturers, ATEX certification is awarded against a defined design. Maintaining it over the product lifecycle is a separate obligation, governed by quality assurance schemes most end users never see.

Under QAN and QAR arrangements, manufacturers carry ongoing responsibility for ensuring every unit continues to conform to its certified design. EN ISO/IEC 80079-34 defines what this requires: change control, component traceability, internal audits, and a formal process for assessing whether any modification affects the basis of certification.

When these systems work, the certificate remains meaningful throughout the product's life. When treated as paperwork, the gap between certified design and actual product quietly widens, particularly in control panels, skid-mounted systems, and complex enclosures. This is where many failures start: an engineering change is raised, the modification is made, and nobody checks whether the original Ex assessment still holds.

What Insurers and Auditors Are Now Asking For

Hazardous area compliance is increasingly visible beyond the engineering team. Insurers and auditors are not only looking for Ex certificates, they want evidence of joined-up governance: inspection histories, management-of-change (MOC) records, and clear links between zone classification, maintenance, and environmental monitoring.

A flammable vapour release that creates or extends a Zone 2 atmosphere may affect ATEX zoning, DSEAR risk assessment, environmental controls, and maintenance priorities simultaneously. Organisations managing these as separate files struggle to demonstrate control when any one is challenged. The pattern auditors repeatedly find is not non-compliant equipment. It is disconnected systems.

What Good Looks Like

The answer is not more certification. It is better connection between the systems that already exist.

That means digital asset registers where every item of Ex equipment carries its certificate, zone location, inspection history, and next inspection date. It means change control that flags ATEX implications automatically. It means inspection schedules aligned with DSEAR review cycles and IEC 60079-17 requirements.

The barrier is rarely technology. It is the organisational decision to treat compliance not as a file to be maintained, but as a system to be managed.

https://exveritas.com/

Casella, global occupational and environmental monitoring equipment manufacturer, has announced its latest schedule of training webinars for environmental and workplace monitoring.

The schedule of free-to-attend webinars will cover: workplace monitoring for noise, environmental boundary monitoring, hand and arm vibration, air sampling, as well as instrumentation usage and best practice.

New for 2026, Casella has also added dedicated software webinars covering Casella Insight Data Management and Casella NoiseSafe, giving attendees the opportunity to see live demonstrations of data workflows including importing, viewing and manipulating results, device configuration and reporting.

Available worldwide, most webinars will be hosted twice in one day at 10:00am and 3:00pm (UK time) to support attendance across multiple time zones. Software and solution demonstration sessions (including Insight, NoiseSafe and Guardian 2) will run as dedicated sessions. Each webinar will conclude with a Q&A session for attendees to ask Casella experts any pressing questions on the topic.

Further noise monitoring webinars will cover equipment best practice and the ‘dos and don’ts’ of using tools such as sound level meters and noise dosimeters.

For air sampling, Casella is offering webinars that introduce the principles of air monitoring as well as more practical guidance, including setting up air sampling pumps correctly to help ensure accurate exposure data. Additional sessions will also address specific airborne hazards and associated filter types, including an introduction to asbestos sampling.

Casella will also host webinars on the data required for environmental boundary monitoring on construction sites, including the key parameters for noise, particulate and vibration within regulations, alongside best practice guidance on siting, installation, operation and maintenance to support high-quality data and compliance with guidance and legislation.

For Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), Casella will deliver a webinar reviewing terminology about HAV measurement, legislation and exposure limits, as well as how to measure exposure on the tool correctly and subsequently calculate exposure levels.

Phil Bradley, Managing Director at Casella, said: “We’re pleased to bring back our free webinar series to help others to reduce occupational health and environmental risks in the workplace.

“These educational sessions provide in-depth knowledge and practical strategies to improve workplace health and safety. We have now included sessions around software use and data management as our solutions become more digital and data is more real-time focused.”

The series will run from April to November 2026. To view the full schedule and sign up for any of these webinars, free of charge, visit:
UK & International – Casella Webinar Series

Face-to-face training is also available. Dates for Casella’s in-person courses can be found here:
Casella Training Courses

To find out more about Casella’s industry-leading range of monitoring solutions, please visit
Casella Solutions

It was part of the Pellegrini Group of Companies, specialised in development, design and production of machinery, both custom made and in serial production for the metalworking and the precision mechanics industry.

Since 1982 M.E.P. Pellegrini Marine Equipments S.r.l. has been operating as an independent company, a worldwide-recognized leader in the design and construction of hoisting/handling machinery such as:

⦁ OFFSHORE CRANES AND FACILITIES
⦁ NAVY EQUIPMENTS
⦁ DECK MACHINERY & MARINE WINCHES
⦁ LIFE BOAT DAVIT AND RESCUE BOAT DAVIT
⦁ ENGINE ROOM OVERHEAD CRANES
⦁ A-FRAMES
⦁ SPECIAL EQUIPMENTS 

Our Plants 

PRODUCTION, TESTING & LIFTING FACILITIES
MEP is present in the OIL&GAS/shipbuilding market since approx. 45 years and is specialized in design, production, installation of Harbour and offshore cranes, deck machinery for merchant and Navy Vessels, barges and platform, lifting equipment for power & LNG plants, special equipment.

The production philosophy is “tailor made”, fully customized in way to provide products in compliance with the Client requirements and project specifications.

In detail, MEP has cooperated with the most important Companies for offshore and onshore projects to supply Offshore cranes and mooring winches for fixed platform, FPSO-FSO, Jack up barges, drilling rigs, pipe layers, hoisting equipment for LNG terminal tanks and other special application.

Our products are fully complied with the more stringent ATEX regulations and can be installed and safely used in Hazardous Areas.

Total area 25000 mq
Test benches 5
Capacity for the 2 main test benches 5000 tm
Capacity for the 2 test benches 1000 tm
Capacity for 1 test bench 500 tm
Worldwide service markets 14

DESIGN / ENGINEERING
The high experience of its technical office that uses the most modern computerized system together with a constant cooperation with a liable team of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, permits to M.E.P. the study and design of the above listed equipment to be installed on Naval, Merchant Vessels, Offshore Platforms, Jack up barges.
MEP designs and manufactures customized ship equipment meeting the requirements of International Conventions and Rules of Marine Classification Societies and it is specialized in the developing of special design of machinery devised for Navy installation

DESIGN AND INSTALLATION
ATEX AND IECEX ELECTRIC PLANTS
MEP has designed and produced several installations of cranes in OFFSHORE HAZARDOUS AREAS in the main sites of the world, such as UAE, Africa, China, Brasil, Europe. Typical installation of ATEX or IECEX components is for:

⦁ Junction Boxes Exe
⦁ Electric Panels Exd
⦁ Lighting Exe/Exde
⦁ Instrumentation Exi/Exd/Exm
⦁ Fire detections system sensors: smoke detectors, heat detectors, gas detectors.
⦁ Ultrasonic wind speed sensors
⦁ Force measurement pins
⦁ Pressure and temperature switches and transducers
⦁ Electric and electronic control valves.
⦁ Suitable cables glands Exd/Exe and relevant armoured cables

Installations are suitable for ZONE 1 and 2 IIA/IIB T3/T4 GAS.
The electric design of the cranes is made to manage all the electric and electronics components to drive and controls the hydraulic plant (power electric motors, control valves, commands). The hazardous area design consists in the choice of the components suitable for the installation according to the client’s specifications and area classification. The choice of the components often follows the clients APPROVED VENDOR LIST.

The product of the design is the electric diagram and the components list:

Then the production, electrical installation and test is made in MEP plants before delivery.

Final installation and test is made by MEP engineers offshore.

ION Science Ltd., a global leader in occupational gas detection solutions, presents the
ARA-X4 multi gas detector, a rugged and flexible addition to its wearable gas detection portfolio designed to support safer working environments across many industries.
Developed with both reliability and ease of use in mind, ARA-X4 offers a practical solution for organisations requiring dependable multi gas monitoring in hazardous conditions. The detector supports both leaded and lead-free O₂ sensor options, features a quick-access filter for simplified maintenance, and can be configured to suit a wide range of workplace applications.

ARA-X4 is capable of monitoring up to four gases simultaneously, including oxygen (O₂), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), and combustible gases (LEL). By delivering continuous, real-time monitoring, the detector helps businesses support compliance requirements while improving worker protection in potentially dangerous environments.
A strong focus has also been placed on user experience. The instrument features a clear ‘SAFE’ indicator, giving workers immediate visual reassurance when no gas hazards are detected. Additionally, its flip-screen functionality adjusts the display orientation depending on how the detector is worn, making readings easier to view throughout the working day.

ARA-X4 has also been designed to provide greater operational flexibility through its user-configurable and replaceable sensor options. Users can tailor the instrument to suit specific applications and workplace hazards by selecting the most appropriate sensor configuration, helping businesses adapt quickly to changing site requirements without needing multiple devices.

The detector also features easily accessible and replaceable filters, allowing routine maintenance to be carried out quickly and efficiently. This helps minimise downtime, extend instrument lifespan and reduce disruption to daily operations. By simplifying both sensor management and maintenance, ARA-X4 offers a more practical and cost-effective approach to personal gas detection for busy industrial environments.
Additional features include a bright backlit LCD display with clear status indication, long battery life for extended operation, automatic data logging, and PC connectivity for simplified data management and compliance reporting. The detector is also backed by an industry-leading five-year warranty.

To further support day-to-day maintenance and operational efficiency, ARA-X4 is fully compatible with the ARA-X Docking Station. The docking station provides automated bump testing, calibration, and alarm verification, helping businesses reduce downtime and maintain reliable instrument performance across industries such as oil and gas, wastewater, manufacturing, petrochemical and confined space operations.
With more than 35 years of expertise in gas detection technology, ION Science continues to develop solutions focused on worker safety, reliability and ease of use. The ARA-X4 reflects this ongoing commitment, providing businesses with a dependable and user-friendly approach to wearable multi gas detection.
For more information or to talk to an expert, visit: https://bit.ly/4dhqYz3

When work takes people into areas where a single spark can be catastrophic, the tools they carry must do more than function reliably. They must keep workers safe, connected and informed, at all times. A well-considered selection of ATEX-certified mobile devices can form exactly that kind of ecosystem — one that addresses worker safety comprehensively, without requiring a proprietary end-to-end system.

The combination of the IS440.1 5G radio, the IS540.1 5G smartphone, the IS940.1 5G tablet and the IS-SW1.1 smartwatch from i.safe MOBILE is one such approach. Each device is certified for use in Zone 1/21 and together they cover the full range of communication, data capture, monitoring and alerting that modern hazardous-area operations require.

Vital data, where it matters most

The IS-SW1.1 smartwatch, certified for Zone 1/21, is worn on the wrist and continuously monitors physiological parameters, providing real-time vital data that supervisors can track remotely. Heart rate, movement patterns and alarm triggers give safety teams the situational awareness they need, without relying on workers to actively report incidents. In high-noise or high-risk situations, that difference can be decisive.

The smartwatch also serves as a discreet alert channel. Workers can trigger man-down alarms or no-movement alerts automatically, without reaching for a handheld device. The wearable form factor means it integrates naturally into existing workflows, without adding complexity or distraction.

Three devices, one coherent approach

The IS440.1 is a 5G radio certified for Zone 1/21, running on ISM-OS 14, i.safe MOBILE's own Android-based platform specifically tailored for hazardous environments. It ensures secure and failure-free PoC communication via public or campus networks, whether over 4G, 5G or Wi-Fi®. A gateway makes the IS440.1 interoperable with previous radio technologies, enabling seamless integration into existing communication infrastructures without replacing what is already in place.

The IS540.1 is a ATEX-certified 5G smartphone for Zone 1/21, designed for communication, documentation and system access in demanding field environments. The 5G IS940.1 adds a full 10.1-inch tablet form factor, suited for scanning-intensive workflows and more demanding field operations. Both integrate seamlessly with enterprise mobility management systems and existing backend infrastructure, making them a practical choice for organisations that need to build on what they already have.

What makes this combination compelling as a worker safety ecosystem is not a fixed system architecture, but the way these independently certified devices complement each other in practice. Real-time data flows between the smartwatch, the tablet, smartphone, 5G radio and backend monitoring platforms, giving organisations a coherent picture of their workforce in hazardous areas.

Safety as a system, not a feature

Lone worker protection, emergency communication and compliance documentation are often managed as separate solutions in industrial environments. A thoughtfully assembled 

combination of Zone 1/21-certified devices, such as the ones described here, can bring these functions together without requiring a proprietary closed system. That flexibility reduces integration effort, lowers total cost of ownership and, crucially, removes the gaps between solutions where incidents can go undetected.

For safety managers, such an ecosystem provides the oversight and traceability that modern hazardous-area operations demand. For workers, it means carrying devices that are reliable, intuitive and built for where they actually work. The right devices, chosen with care, can make the difference.

www.isafe-mobile.com

TER Tecno Elettrica Ravasi’s FOX, TOP and 7551-7552 limit switch series are now available with ATEX certification, ensuring maximum reliability and safety even in potentially explosive atmospheres.

In the industrial automation sector, control and safety devices play a crucial role, especially in environments classified as explosion-risk areas. Among these, TER Tecno Elettrica Ravasi limit switches represent a reliable and versatile solution for monitoring the position and movement of machinery with rotating parts, lifting systems and other industrial equipment.
When used in hazardous environments, these devices must comply with strict regulations such as the ATEX Directive 2004/34/EU.

What is a limit switch?

A limit switch is an electromechanical device designed to detect the position of moving components by activating or deactivating electrical contacts when predefined positions are reached. This makes it ideal for applications such as:

• slowing-down, stopping and end-of-travel control functions,
• position and speed monitoring,
• automatic management of industrial cycles.

ATEX Certification: Safety in Hazardous Areas

The ATEX certification obtained by TER for the FOX, TOP and 7551-7552 products confirms their suitability for operation in potentially explosive atmospheres caused by the presence of combustible gases or dusts.

ATEX Zones for Gas, Dust and Mining Applications

• Zone 2 (Gas): area where the presence of an explosive atmosphere is unlikely and, if it occurs, persists only for a short period.
• Zone 22 (Dust): area where the presence of combustible dust in hazardous concentrations is rare and temporary.
• Mining applications: IM2 category equipment intended for underground mines where firedamp (methane) and combustible dust may be present.

In addition to standard industrial environments, ATEX limit switches are also used in the mining sector, where operating conditions are even more critical.

The IM2 classification identifies equipment intended for underground mining applications with the presence of firedamp (methane) and combustible dust.

Main Features of FOX, TOP and 7551-7552 ATEX limit switches

The ATEX-certified limit switch series for Zone 2, Zone 22 and IM2 applications generally includes the following features:

• robust housing made of metal alloy or reinforced technopolymer,
• high degree of protection,
• highly reliable electrical contacts,
• corrosion-resistant components,
• multiple certifications for gas, dust and mining applications.

Operational Advantages

The adoption of the ATEX-certified FOX, TOP and 7551-7552 series provides several benefits:

• Safety: prevention of explosion risks.
• Reliability: continuous operation even in harsh conditions.
• Versatility: suitability for different sectors including chemical, food processing, energy and mining.
• Reduced maintenance: thanks to robust and durable construction.

Fields of Application

These devices are used in:

• oil & gas plants,
• chemical and petrochemical plants,
• silos and grain processing facilities,
• cement plants,
• power generation plants,
• underground mines,
• material handling systems,
• lifting equipment,
• mobile power supply systems.

Conclusion

The ATEX certification issued to TER by ConformEX represents an important recognition of the quality, reliability and safety of its products intended for hazardous environments.

This achievement confirms the company’s continuous commitment to compliance with international standards (IEC EN) and to the development of technologically advanced solutions capable of ensuring high safety standards for operators and industrial plants.

Thanks to these certifications, the company further strengthens its market position as a competent and reliable partner for all industries where safety is an essential requirement.

A cable glands ability to offer Ingress Protection against water and dust is only as good as its sealing washer. Most cable glands, if fitted without a washer or if the washer is damaged, offer only IP54 protection at best. In Hazardous Areas, where IP66/7 is often the required protection level, missing or damaged washers can cause serious issues.

The RetroSeal® split Ingress Protection (IP) washer enables fast, effective retrofitting of missing, damaged, or degraded seals on existing cable gland installations—without the need to dismantle the gland or disconnect the cable.

Its innovative 2-part design allows installation in situ, significantly simplifying maintenance in live or critical systems. Independently tested to IP66/7, RetroSeal® delivers a reliable, long-term seal at the equipment-to-gland interface, ensuring continued protection in demanding industrial and hazardous environments. By eliminating full gland removal, RetroSeal® dramatically reduces labour time, material usage, and manpower requirements. The result is a highly cost-effective maintenance solution that minimises downtime and operational disruption. In live or critical systems disconnecting and re-terminating cables can introduce unnecessary hazards and extended outages. The RetroSeal® split washer eliminates this requirement, allowing technicians to restore or upgrade the IP seal quickly and safely, even on fully installed glands.

Manufactured from UV- and ozone resistant materials and available in a range of sizes from M20 to M63, RetroSeal® provides a robust, rapid sealing solution for both planned maintenance and urgent repairs.

• Reduced Labor: Repairs are completed faster without the need to remove or re-terminate and test cables.
• Lower Downtime: Quick installation minimizes process interruptions & downtime.
• No Material Waste: The design allows for the reuse of existing cable glands.
• Efficiency: The 2-part split design features a simple, fast, and secure installation method, rated to IP66/7.

To learn more, visit our website at www.blayds.com or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request a free sample.