Does an ATEX certificate expire or need renewing?
Abstract
An EU-type examination certificate has no validity period set by the directive: it stays valid unless an expiry date is shown, the type changes or the state of the art moves on. The QAN depends on periodic surveillance audits. Installed equipment is not affected.
Not automatically. Directive 2014/34/EU does not require a period of validity for EU-type examination certificates: according to the Commission's ATEX Guidelines they remain valid indefinitely, or until the expiry date where the notified body has indicated one. A certificate can still lose its validity when the approved type is modified without an addition, when the generally acknowledged state of the art has moved on, or when the notified body suspends or withdraws it. The quality assurance notification (QAN) for production is a different document and is kept alive by periodic audits.
Short answer
- EU-type examination certificate (Annex III): no mandatory validity period; check whether the notified body has printed an expiry date.
- It becomes invalid if the manufacturer changes the type in a way that affects safety without obtaining an addition, if a revised harmonised standard shows that the original specifications no longer meet the essential requirements, or if it is suspended or withdrawn.
- Certificates issued under the old Directive 94/9/EC remain valid under 2014/34/EU (Article 41(2)), subject to the same conditions.
- No retroactive effect: a later invalidation does not affect products placed on the market while the certificate was valid. Installed equipment can stay in service.
- QAN: production surveillance with periodic audits; it can be suspended or withdrawn (Article 29). The directive sets no validity period for it, but a notified body may print one, so check the date on the document.
- IECEx certificates of conformity have no expiry date either; their status online (Current, Suspended or Cancelled) decides.
When does a certificate lose its validity?
The ATEX Guidelines explain the link to the state of the art. A certificate attests that the examined type meets the essential health and safety requirements. As long as the original specifications still show this, it remains valid. When the state of the art develops substantially, for example through a revised harmonised standard where the European standardisation organisation states in the foreword that the state of the art has changed, a certificate based on the old specifications may no longer be valid, and the manufacturer needs a re-evaluation by a notified body. Notified bodies are expected to alert their certificate holders to such revisions.
Annex III of the directive also requires the manufacturer to inform the notified body of every modification to the approved type that may affect conformity or the conditions of validity; such changes need an addition to the original certificate. The overall responsibility stays with the manufacturer, who must hold a valid certificate where one is required and keep all conformity documents in line with the current state of the art.
What to check in a tender file
| Document | Does it expire? | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| EU-type examination certificate | No legal period; possible printed expiry date | Latest issue or supplement, standards and editions listed, no withdrawal, special conditions (X) |
| QAN (Annex IV or VII) | Kept valid by surveillance; may carry a validity date | Valid on the date of manufacture, covers the product's certificate and the factory |
| EU declaration of conformity | No | Names the product, the standards applied and the notified body that issued the type certificate (the QAN body is recommended where different); consistent with the certificate |
| IECEx CoC | No | Status "Current" on the IECEx website; latest issue number |
Example: A tender file for a 2026 project contains a 2009 EC-type examination certificate for a flameproof motor, issued under Directive 94/9/EC against the EN 60079-0:2006 and EN 60079-1:2007 editions. The certificate is not void because of its age, but the buyer should ask the manufacturer whether it has since been updated against the current harmonised standards, for example through a supplement or a new EU-type examination certificate, and should check that the QAN of the factory is valid for the delivery date.
What it means for equipment already installed
ATEX product certificates concern placing on the market. Equipment that was legally placed on the market when its certificate was valid does not need a new certificate because the certificate was later updated or withdrawn for non-safety reasons. What matters on site is that the equipment still suits the zone, the gas or dust group and the temperature class, and that it is inspected and maintained under IEC 60079-17 or national rules. If a certificate is withdrawn because of a safety defect, follow the manufacturer's or the authority's instructions.
The manufacturer must keep the certificate and the technical documentation for 10 years after the last product of the model has been placed on the market, so the documents should be obtainable even for discontinued products.
Common mistakes
- Rejecting an old certificate only because of its date. Age alone is not invalidity; check updates and the standards it lists.
- Accepting a valid certificate with an expired QAN for new deliveries of category 1 or category 2 electrical equipment.
- Looking only at the first issue of an IECEx CoC. Later issues can change ratings or conditions.
Related on excodex
- EU-Type Examination Certificates and Notified Bodies explained
- Quality assurance for Ex manufacturers: QAN, QAR and ISO/IEC 80079-34
- How to verify that an Ex certificate is genuine
- Why does an IECEx certificate show issue numbers, and which one is valid?
- Can equipment certified to an old edition of an Ex standard still be sold or installed?
Standards and further reading
- European Commission, ATEX 2014/34/EU Guidelines, 6th edition, January 2026 (EU-type examination certificate and state of the art, validity of certificates, Article 41 transitional provisions): ec.europa.eu
- Directive 2014/34/EU, Article 13 and Annexes III, IV and VII: legislation.gov.uk; Article 29 (suspension and withdrawal of certificates): Article 29; Article 41 (transitional provisions): Article 41
- IECEx, FAQ on the certified equipment scheme (certificate status and expiry): iecex.com
- IEC 60079-17, Explosive atmospheres, Part 17: Electrical installations inspection and maintenance
This article is general technical information prepared by the excodex editorial team. It does not replace the applicable standards, the equipment certificates and instructions, national regulations or the assessment of a competent person.