Certifying Explosion-Proof Equipment for Brazil
Brazil's oil, gas and mining sectors run on explosion-protected equipment, and INMETRO governs its certification through documents called Portarias. IECEx certification gives presumption of conformity; EN (ATEX) standards and older IEC editions require a gap assessment first. Expect 3 to 6 months.
Why Brazil
Brazil is one of the largest economies in Latin America and has been industrialising rapidly. Several of its biggest sectors, oil, gas and mining, depend heavily on explosion-protected equipment.
Meeting the Brazilian standards gives access to that market, and the requirements are aligned with internationally recognised safety standards.
Who regulates Ex equipment in Brazil?
INMETRO, the Brazilian National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology, is the government body responsible for standardisation and for authorising certification bodies. The regulatory documents within Brazilian legislation are called Portarias. In practice the whole regime is referred to as “INMETRO certification”.
What can be certified?
| Category | Status |
|---|---|
| Electrical devices or components for explosion-protected zones | Mandatory |
| Manufacturing facilities for those products | Mandatory |
| Repair facilities for those products | Voluntary |
Documents required
- Technical documentation and product schematics.
- Proof of prior international certifications, where available.
- Test reports, preferably from ILAC-accredited institutions.
- Business licences and manufacturing facility details.
- Proof of adherence to Brazilian national requirements.
Point 3 carries more weight than its position suggests. Reports from ILAC-accredited facilities are accepted more readily, and choosing a non-accredited testing institution is one of the recurring reasons a file has to be re-tested rather than merely corrected.
The steps
- Preliminary application submission.
- Product testing and evaluation against INMETRO and IEC standards.
- Detailed documentation review.
- Approval from an accredited INMETRO certification body.
- Continuous surveillance to maintain the certification status.
Step 5 is a standing obligation that continues after the certificate is issued.
Where an existing certificate helps, and where it does not
| Existing certification | Effect in Brazil |
|---|---|
| IECEx | Presumption of conformity |
| EN (ATEX) standards | Gap assessment required |
| Older IEC editions | Gap assessment required |
This is the single most useful fact for a European manufacturer to know before quoting. An IECEx certificate materially shortens the route. An ATEX certificate does not do the same job, however equivalent the underlying engineering may be.
How long does INMETRO certification take?
Three to six months on average. The duration depends on the complexity of the equipment, the adequacy of the submitted documents, and the response time of the certification body.
Three mistakes to avoid
- Incomplete or inaccurate documentation. The most common cause of delay, and entirely within the applicant’s control.
- Underestimating the Brazilian requirements. Familiarity with the international IEC standards is not the same as familiarity with the specific Brazilian ones.
- Choosing non-accredited test facilities. Use ILAC-accredited laboratories, so the results are accepted at once.
Sources
- INMETRO, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia, Portarias on explosion-protected equipment
- IECEx scheme, International Electrotechnical Commission
- ILAC, International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation
Frequently asked questions
Does IECEx certification help in Brazil?
Yes, presumption of conformity can be based on IECEx certification. Certification to EN (ATEX) standards, or to older editions of IEC standards, requires a gap assessment first. Check that distinction before assuming an existing certificate shortens the project.
What can be certified?
Three categories: electrical devices or components intended for explosion-protected zones; the manufacturing facilities producing them; and repair facilities for such products, where certification is voluntary.
How long does it take?
Three to six months on average. The variables are the complexity of the equipment, how complete and accurate the submitted documents are, and how quickly the certification body responds. Only the first of those is outside the applicant's control.
Not sure which of these applies to your product? Send it and we will tell you
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