Full Scope-Extension Granted for the IECEx Certification of Personnel Competence Scheme

Sira Certification Service (UK), a specialist ATEX and IECEx Certification Body, has been granted a full scope extension to certify competence of persons working in or associated with hazardous areas.

Sira, who issued the world’s first IECEx Certificate of Personnel Competence in 2010, has since become the world’s leading certification body issuing over 70 IECEx certificates to competent persons working in or associated with hazardous areas.

Sira is pleased to announce that its scope of accreditation has been extended by IECEx to offer certification of persons in all 10 units of competence under the scheme.

It is a requirement of the European Union and the IEC that personnel working in potentially explosive atmospheres are competent. One of the most rigorous ways to demonstrate this is through a thorough training and assessment programme.

Developed by the IEC to meet demand from the oil and gas industries for a global competence standard, IECEx Certificate of Personnel Competence (CoPC) provides companies with globally recognised certification that a person has the knowledge and skills necessary to implement international standards relating to equipment, services and personnel operating in potentially explosive atmospheres.

The IECEx CoPC initiative introduces an internationally-accepted scheme to certify competence of personnel working in potentially explosive atmospheres. Candidates are required to complete a rigorous application process, where work experience is assessed to demonstrate practical application of IEC standards in Hazardous Area applications, as well as complete knowledge examinations and practical demonstration of skills. The scheme comprises 10 units of competence to meet the varied needs of different functions in this highly specialised area.