KEMA certifies Ex service facilities.

KEMA expects to become a Certification Body under IECEx 03 (ExCB) in August 2007. After that it will provide assessment and on-site audits to repair shops that are already KEMA certified and to any other service facility seeking international certification.

The IECEx Scheme is intended for the certification of products in potentially explosive atmospheres. In September 2006, the IECEx Scheme was extended with the certification of 'Service Facilities' (known as IECEx 03). This certification answers a serious demand expressed by end users who are currently not certain that repairs and maintenance are being carried out in a responsible manner. IECEx 03 provides the industry with the assurance that repairs and overhaul to Ex equipment will be undertaken according to the strict requirements of the International Standard IEC 60079-19 and the applicable Operational Documents under the IECEx Scheme.

Repair safety
Next to product certification, the certification of service facilities is a hot topic. It is often more cost effective to repair an Ex product than it is to replace it. The question arises as to whether a repair shop knows what it is doing, and is not making the product unsafe while attempting a repair. The quality of work and the corresponding regulation differ widely. For example, in the Netherlands, repair shops are certified by KEMA using a national directive. That is why the new IECEx 03 service was developed: Certification of Service Facilities conducting Repair, Overhaul or Modification of Ex equipment. It guarantees that all certified service facilities meet the same set of criteria. 

Assess conformity 
Marco Erdhuizen, lead auditor says, 'KEMA has the expertise to help you become certified. During the assessment and on-site audit, we assess conformity of the Service Facility’s documented quality system with the requirements of the IECEx Certified Service Facility Program. We assess the implementation of the quality system by the Service Facility, the system for verifying competency of Ex repair staff and the traceability of an organization’s procedures. To qualify, an organization must have a quality control system in place based on ISO 9001 standards.'