Intertek’s Plano, TX Laboratory Gains IECEx Test Laboratory approval for Hazardous Locations Equipment Certification
19 Sep 2013
New approval expands local capabilities and enhances global certification services and turnaround time for Hazardous Location equipment clients
Chicago, IL - Intertek, a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world, today announced that its Plano, TX laboratory has gained IECEx Testing Laboratory approval for Hazardous Locations equipment certification. Equipment covered by an IECEx certificate of conformity is globally accepted for national certification in any of the 30 IECEx member countries with little or no in-country retesting.
This approval enables Intertek’s Plano lab to locally test and certify electrical products that are destined for potentially explosive (Ex) environments to applicable International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards through our IECEx Certification Bodies.
Innovations in industrial automation are driving the market for new electrical/electronic equipment, especially in areas such as gas and oil production, chemical processing, industrial manufacturing, and hospital/healthcare environments. Manufacturers are competing to get new products onto market quickly in order to be successful. In gaining this accreditation at its Plano facility, Intertek is able to cut down its testing and certification turnaround time, allowing its clients to reach market faster and be more competitive.
“Hazardous Locations testing and certification is one of the fastest-growing areas of our business,” said Ramzi Amawi, Operations Manager at Intertek’s Plano, TX laboratory. “Our customers are developing new products in areas such as industrial equipment, lighting, meters and detectors, laboratory equipment and medical devices. Having this IECEx accreditation for Plano reinforces the capabilities and expertise we have here, and greatly streamlines the process to get our clients’ projects completed.”
According to the IEC, which governs the IECEx System overall, “testing laboratories are accepted into the IECEx System after satisfactory assessment of their competence. Assessors are selected who will provide confidence to regulatory authorities, users, manufacturers and certification bodies. ISO/IEC Standards and Guides 17025, 65 and IECEx Technical Guidance Documents are used as part of the IECEx assessment process.” (source: http://www.iecex.com/about.htm.)
In addition to our facility in Plano, TX, Intertek also maintains IECEx Testing Laboratory approval at our Cortland, NY facility and in Leatherhead, Surrey, United Kingdom. Intertek works with manufacturers around the world to test and certify Hazardous Location products for global distribution. For more information, visit www.intertek.com/hazardous-locations.
Contact:
Nicole Stavish
(312) 906-7730
nicole.stavish@intertek.com
About Intertek
Intertek is the leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide. From auditing and inspection, to testing, training, advisory, quality assurance and certification, Intertek adds value to customers’ products, processes and assets. With a network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 36,000 people in more than 100 countries, Intertek supports companies’ success in a global marketplace. Intertek helps its customers to meet end users’ expectations for safety, sustainability, performance, integrity and desirability in virtually any market worldwide. Visit www.intertek.com.