Who it is for
- Operators in the EU, Switzerland or the UK who imported a machine directly and must put it into service safely: filling, mixing, coating, impregnating with alcohol-based solutions, printing, drying, dust collection.
- Importers and distributors who must check the manufacturer's ATEX file before placing the machine on the market.
- Plant teams preparing for an inspection by the labour inspectorate, an insurer or, in Switzerland, Suva.
What we check
- Documents: declaration of conformity, risk assessment, instructions, the manufacturer's zone concept and any machinery assessment report; what is missing or in the wrong language.
- Ex components: every certificate in one table, with category or EPL, gas or dust group and temperature class compared with the substance and the zone, and whether each certificate is valid and can be verified with its issuer.
- Zones inside and around the machine: sources of release, extraction and ventilation, recalculated to IEC 60079-10-1 where the documents allow.
- Ignition sources to EN 1127-1 and EN ISO 80079-36, with particular attention to electrostatic charging of webs, rollers and operators (IEC TS 60079-32-1), hot surfaces such as sealing units, and mechanical sparks.
- Safety functions: extraction interlocks, gas detection, earthing and bonding, emergency stop.
- The machine as delivered: photos of every Ex label and of the earthing, measurements and a short video, collected by your team with our checklist and compared with the documents.
Certificates from outside Europe
CCC-Ex and NEPSI certificates issued in China are not ATEX certificates. An IECEx certificate is good evidence of the design, but in the EU and Switzerland an ATEX conformity assessment is still needed, with a notified body where the category requires one; in Great Britain the UK rules apply. We tell you which components are covered, which are not, and what the gap means in practice.
How it works
Free first look
Send the documents you have. Within one working day of receiving them we send our first observations and a fixed-price offer for the document review.
Step 1: Document review
Document inventory, certificate table, recalculation of the key figures and a list of open points ranked by importance. Usually two to three working days.
Step 2: Verification on the machine
Your team collects measurements, label photos and a short video with our checklist. We compare them with the documents and ask the remaining questions in writing.
Step 3: Assessment and report
Zones, ignition hazard assessment, suitability of the components, required measures and the regulatory points, such as who counts as the manufacturer and what the declaration and the instructions must contain. The report can serve as the basis of your explosion protection document.
What we do not do
- We are not a notified body and do not issue certificates; CE marking remains the manufacturer's responsibility. If the review shows that the machine, as an assembly, needs a new conformity assessment, we say exactly which part and help you prepare the file.
- We do not visit sites abroad. If something can only be checked on site, we describe the check and, if you wish, help you brief a local expert.
Scope, fees and timeline
| Item | Typical time |
|---|---|
| First look at your documents | 1 working day |
| Step 1: Document review | 2–3 working days |
| Steps 2 and 3: Verification and report | 2–3 weeks in total |
Step 1, the document review, from EUR 800; the Step 1 fee is deducted if you order the full work.
We quote a fixed price in writing within one working day of seeing your documents. The price depends on the number of sources of release, the documents and drawings available, and the scope you choose; there are no hourly rates. Quotations exclude taxes.
Basis of our work. Our assessments are based on the documents, drawings and data you provide. On-site verification remains the client's responsibility unless the proposal says otherwise. Every report lists the documents it relies on and the assumptions made where information was missing.
Frequently asked questions
Can you assess a machine that is not running yet?
Yes, and that is the best moment. Most findings, such as an unsuitable temperature class, a missing extraction interlock or an ungrounded roller, are cheaper to correct before start-up.
Do you need to come to our site?
No. Your team collects photos, measurements and a short video with our checklist. If something can only be checked on site, we say so and describe the check.
Which regulations do you check against?
The ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU, the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC (Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 applies from 20 January 2027) and the national rules implementing Directive 1999/92/EC where the machine is used. In Switzerland we check against the corresponding federal ordinances. The proposal names the rules that apply to your case.
In which language is the report?
English. On request, the executive summary and the list of measures are also provided in German, marked as a technical translation.
Who prepares and signs the report?
Axosfer prepares the report. It is checked and signed by the responsible engineer, a chemical engineer specialised in explosion protection.