03 May 2016

Chicago – Intertek, a leading provider of quality solutions to industries worldwide, announces that it has extended its notified body status under the ATEX directive to reviewers in two laboratories in the U.S., enabling localized certification services for clients manufacturing equipment for explosive atmospheres in the European Union. Under the notified body status of Intertek’s laboratory in Leatherhead, UK, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and UK Government Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) have granted local notified body initiative authority to Intertek experts in Cortland, New York and Plano, Texas, who will join Intertek’s UK team in making certification decisions and issuing EU type certification under the directive.

“Offering the full scope of ATEX services in the U.S. allows reviewers to work more closely with engineers, reducing the certification cycle timeline and helping customers get their products to market more quickly and efficiently,” said Tom Connaughton, Global Director of Business Development for Intertek. “We are thrilled to expand our service footprint and provide clients with the expertise that has made this accomplishment possible.”

ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU, which replaced Directive 94/9/EC and went into effect on April 20, 2016, addresses the laws of members states concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Any manufacturer producing electrical equipment for use in hazardous locations in the EU must comply with the ATEX Directive.

As a notified body, Intertek is a recognized conformity assessment body, accredited under ISO 17065 and notified by a national government authority (BIS) to be deemed competent to conduct product verification and certification to a determined set of standards. The prime function of a notified body under the ATEX directive is to ascertain and confirm that equipment and protective systems for placement in the EU market are representative of the production and meet the relevant applicable provisions of the directive. In addition to these ATEX authorizations, Intertek has multiple notified bodies under EU Directives in Europe, which extend into North America and Asia, as well as notified body status under the Gulf Standards Organization’s G mark.  Intertek also has co-licensed and own-branded certification schemes such as CE marking in the EU and ETL mark in North America.

Intertek provides global solutions to the hazardous locations industry with a proven track record of success supporting clients. From the widely recognized ETL mark for North America to ATEX and IECEx certification, Intertek’s team of engineers and technicians have the experience and know-how to help with the certification process and provide training and technical service solutions designed with the industry in mind. For more information, visit www.intertek.com/hazardous-locations

 

About Intertek
Intertek is a leading total quality assurance provider to industries worldwide. Our network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 40,000 people in more than 100 countries, delivers innovative and bespoke assurance, testing, inspection and certification solutions for our customers’ operations and supply chains.

www.intertek.com

Bringing quality and safety to life.

 

Contacts:

Nicole Stavish
Global Marketing Manager
847-431-3072
nicole.stavish@intertek.com  

Cheryl Prejsnar
Public Relations Manager
630-481-3185
cheryl.prejsnar@intertek.com