Occupational safety International framework and country guides
How are explosive atmospheres and Ex equipment regulated in Uzbekistan?
Part of: Occupational safety and health in Uzbekistan: law, authorities and employer duties
Short answer
Ex equipment needs an Uzbek certificate of conformity under the technical regulation of CM Resolution No. 2 of 6 January 2025 and Ex marking in the state language. The plant using it also falls under the industrial safety law and the operating rules of the safety committee.
Through a national product regulation and the industrial safety rules. Equipment for explosive gas and dust atmospheres must meet the technical regulation approved by Cabinet of Ministers (CM) Resolution No. 2 of 6 January 2025, be certified in Uzbekistan before it is placed on the market and carry the Ex mark. The plant that uses it is usually a hazardous production facility under Law No. ZRU-57 of 2006, and the rules for operating Ex equipment are set by the Committee for Industrial, Radiation and Nuclear Safety.
Short answer
- Product rules: technical regulation on the safety of equipment used in explosive atmospheres (Portlash xavfi bo'lgan muhitlarda ishlatiladigan asbob-uskunalar xavfsizligi to'g'risidagi texnik reglament), CM Resolution No. 2 of 2025; it replaced the 2017 general technical regulation on Ex equipment (CM Resolution No. 941) and applies six months after its official publication on 7 January 2025.
- Conformity: certificate of conformity before free circulation, under scheme 1C (serial production, certificate valid three years), 3C (batch, valid for the shelf life or warranty period) or 4C (single item); the importer may apply under 3C and 4C. Certificates issued before the regulation took effect stay valid for their stated term.
- Marking: Ex special mark, manufacturer, type, date, serial number and country, in the state language (other languages may be added).
- Not EAEU: Uzbekistan is not a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, so an EAC certificate under TR CU 012/2011, an ATEX certificate or an IECEx certificate does not by itself prove conformity; ask the certification body what test reports it accepts.
- Use on site: hazardous production facilities need registration, industrial safety expertise and certified technical devices (Law ZRU-57, Arts. 5, 13 and 15).
- Enforcement: the mining and geology inspectorate, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the industrial safety committee and the Uzbek Agency for Technical Regulation, each within its powers.
What the technical regulation contains
The regulation's annexes use terms close to the international IEC 60079 family and to the EAEU regulation:
| Element | Content in the Uzbek regulation |
|---|---|
| Hazardous area classes | 0, 1, 2 for gases and vapours; 20, 21, 22 for combustible dust |
| Equipment groups | I mines, II explosive gas atmospheres, III explosive dust atmospheres |
| Protection levels | "very high", "high" and "enhanced reliability" against explosion |
| Electrical protection types | d, e, i (ia, ib, ic), m, nA, nC, nR, nL, nZ, o, p, q, s for gas; t, i, m, p, s for dust |
| Non-electrical types | c, b, k, d, fr, p |
| Temperature classes | T1 450 °C, T2 300 °C, T3 200 °C, T4 135 °C, T5 100 °C, T6 85 °C |
The regulation's own definition of class 0 refers to an explosive mixture present continuously or for at least one hour, which is worded differently from the IEC area classification standard. When a plant was classified under IEC 60079-10-1 or a European code, keep the classification report and agree with the supervising authority how it maps to the Uzbek classes.
Equipment covered by the regulation excludes medical devices, personal protective equipment, gas appliances for household use and equipment on public transport, among others. Ex components (parts not used on their own) are marked with the Ex sign as well.
Explosion safety at the plant
The equipment regulation covers products; the duty to manage explosion risk at work comes from OSH and industrial safety law. A site that handles substances able to form an explosive atmosphere is a hazardous production facility (Law ZRU-57, Art. 4). Its operator must enter it in the state register, keep production control, train and certify workers, use certified technical devices and plan emergency response. The 2026 rules on handling highly flammable and explosive chemicals (CM Resolution No. 326 of 25 June 2026, in force since 27 September 2026) add requirements for storage, ventilation, safety data sheets and electrical equipment in such areas. Hazards from explosive atmospheres also belong in the employer's hazard matrix under the OSH management system.
Example: A European supplier ships ATEX-certified gas detectors and junction boxes to a gas processing plant near Karshi. Before the batch is put into circulation, the importer applies for an Uzbek certificate under scheme 3C for the batch, supplying the test reports and technical file; the boxes are marked with the Ex sign and the required data in Uzbek. On site, the plant's industrial safety service checks that the equipment group, protection level and temperature class suit the area classification before installation.
Common mistakes
- Shipping with only an ATEX or EAC certificate. Uzbekistan applies its own certification; plan time for it in the project schedule.
- Assuming area classification stops at the drawing. The operator must keep it current and use it for equipment selection and maintenance.
- Forgetting state-language marking. The mandatory marking must be in Uzbek; other languages may be added.
Related on excodex
- Occupational safety and health in Uzbekistan: law, authorities and employer duties
- Which rules apply to major-hazard chemical sites in Uzbekistan?
- Ex certification in other markets: UKEX, EAC, INMETRO, CCC, PESO
- Hazardous area zones explained: Zone 0, Zone 1 and Zone 2
- Ex equipment selection tool
Standards and further reading
- CM Resolution No. 2 of 6 January 2025, technical regulation on the safety of equipment used in explosive atmospheres (Annexes 1 to 3): https://lex.uz/docs/7300333
- Law No. ZRU-57 of 28 September 2006 "On industrial safety of hazardous production facilities": https://lex.uz/ru/docs/1061184
- CM Resolution No. 326 of 25 June 2026 (in force 27 September 2026), rules on handling highly flammable and explosive chemicals: https://lex.uz/docs/8288643
- IEC 60079 series, Explosive atmospheres (equipment, protection types, area classification)
This article is general occupational safety and health information prepared by the excodex editorial team. It does not replace the applicable legislation, standards, manufacturers' instructions or the assessment of a competent OSH professional or occupational physician.
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Part of: Occupational safety and health in Uzbekistan: law, authorities and employer duties