In most cases, to enable the issue of an ATEX product certificate, the manufacturer must also hold a valid Quality Assurance Notification (QAN).

Typically we only test a small sample of products as part of any approval. The Quality Assurance Notification is therefore involved with the continued monitoring of systems and processes in relation to those Ex products. It involves periodic audit of the manufacturing process by a qualified auditor. For ATEX certification, this is called a Quality Assurance Notification (QAN)

Certain exclusions apply as not all conformity routes mandate a quality assurance requirement. For more information, please contact us.

The Process for QAN

The manufacturer must comply with the appropriate Annex(es) of the Directive (IV, V, VI, VII or IX) applicable dependant upon designation of your equipment (zone), whether you plan mass production or build a fixed number of units, and whether you maintain an ISO 9001 compliant Quality Management System.

This will involve an audit of your site (and possibly any other sites that are involved with the manufacture of the product) and typically covers a review of records and a check of the design specification of the equipment.

The ATEX Quality Assurance is a mandatory requirement. A surveillance audit (typically one day) will take place approximately every 18 months, (12 months if ISO 9001 certification is not held) with a new ATEX QAN certificate issued every 3 years.

CSA Group can offer this service at the outset of an ATEX project by offering a fixed price quotation. We can arrange for the QAN to be completed when the product is certified compliant to ATEX, ensuring you can declare full compliance to the directive and bring your product to market in as short a lead-time as possible.