Introduction to IECEx Certificate of Personnel Competence

Installations in potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX) carry high risks. It is critical that personnel working in these areas are trained to protect the safety of life and property.

Though many regulations for these explosive (Ex) locations state the need for competent personnel, the requirements for obtaining, assessing and maintaining competence are often not clearly defined.

To help, the International Electrotechnical Commission System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres (IECEx System), an international certification program for equipment and services related to hazardous locations, developed its Certificate of Personnel Competence (CoPC) program. CoPC candidates can obtain a third-party certification of their competence from IECEx that can be used as objective evidence of their qualifications in the field.