Explosion Protection
Explosion protection (Ex protection) includes all technical and organizational measures intended to prevent explosions in hazardous environments containing flammable gases, vapors, mists or combustible dusts. The objective is to eliminate ignition sources and ensure the safe operation of equipment and industrial systems in explosive atmospheres. Within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), explosion-protected products are classified as highly safety-critical and are therefore subject to strict regulatory requirements.
The legal basis within the EAEU is Technical Regulation TR CU 012/2011 – Safety of Equipment Intended for Use in Explosive Atmospheres. This regulation defines requirements for the design, testing, marking and conformity assessment of explosion-protected equipment and protective systems. Products may only be placed on the EAEU market if their safety has been confirmed through an appropriate EAC Ex certificate.
Products affected by explosion protection requirements include electrical equipment for hazardous zones, sensors, control systems, motors, switch cabinets, industrial machinery, pumps, valves and numerous components used in the oil, gas, chemical and process industries. Equipment is classified according to hazardous area, equipment group and temperature class and must be marked accordingly.
As part of the EAC Ex certification procedure, extensive technical testing is carried out by accredited laboratories. The tests verify whether the applied explosion protection methods comply with the Technical Regulations and relevant GOST standards. Typical protection methods include flameproof enclosure, increased safety and intrinsic safety designs. In addition, comprehensive safety documentation and explosion protection files are required.
For serial production, regular inspection controls and factory audits are often mandatory to ensure continuous manufacturing quality and safety compliance. Incorrect product classification, incomplete Ex documentation or false assumptions regarding the transferability of European ATEX certificates are among the most common problems encountered during certification procedures.
Although the European ATEX directives and the EAC Ex system pursue similar safety objectives, they are legally independent systems. Existing ATEX certification therefore does not replace EAC Ex certification requirements for the EAEU market.
We support manufacturers and exporters throughout the entire EAC Ex conformity assessment process — from product classification and hazard analysis to coordination of accredited testing, preparation of technical documentation and completion of EAC Ex certification procedures. This ensures legally compliant and reliable market access for explosion-protected products within the Eurasian Economic Union.