To meet the world’s ever-increasing energy demand, the Oil and Gas industry has built larger and more complex installations for extraction, processing and distribution, and made higher and higher capital investment. To protect this investment and the persons working in and around these installations, compliance with international safety standards is paramount. 
The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) has long been involved in developing International Standards for equipment used in hazardous areas. Set up in 1946, IEC TC (Technical Committee) 31: Equipment for explosive atmospheres, has a complete series of International Standards that cover all specific requirements for Ex equipment and systems, from general requirements to protection levels for apparatus used by all sectors that operate in hazardous environments, such as oil refineries, offshore oil rigs, gas plants, mines, sugar refineries, flour mills, grain silos and the paper and textile sectors. 
All sectors of the Ex industry have embraced IEC International Standards but producing equipment based on Ex standards is not enough.  
Most manufacturers, suppliers and end-users trade on the global scene and have to meet the very strict requirements put in place by national regulations and legislation - proving their adherence to those requirements can be both costly and time-intensive. 
To provide a global and credible means of ensuring compliance with its International Standards, the IEC established the IECEx System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres. 
Since its inception in 1996, IECEx has established a number of Schemes that provide assurance that equipment and systems are manufactured and operated according to the highest international standards of safety in the areas of: 

• Equipment  by the IECEx Certified Equipment Scheme 

• Services by  the IECEx Certified Service Facilities Scheme (e.g. repair and overhaul) 

• Personnel competence by the IECEx Certification of Personnel Competence Scheme (CoPC)