Repair workshop certification is a first

A Sira product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 4, 2008

Sira was the first organisation to be officially recognised as an Approved IECEx Certification Body, and has now issues its first Certificate of Conformity to Detectronic.

Sira has become the first certification body to issue an IECEx Certificate of Conformity for the repair and overhaul of hazardous area equipment to a UK-based repair workshop.

The certificate, awarded to Detectronic, is the first of its kind to be issued in the UK under the IECEx Service Facilities Programme, for which Sira was also the first organisation to be officially recognised as an Approved IECEx Certification Body.

The awarding of this certificate confirms Sira's position as a leading supplier of safety compliance solutions and follows on from Sira's issue of the world's first service facility certificate issued to MARC Thailand in November 2007.

Speaking about the issue of the certificate, Sira's Managing Director, Mike Shearman commented: "This is a great achievement for Detectronic, Sira and the IECEx Scheme in general".

"It clearly demonstrates the competence and commitment to high standards of Detectronic's employees".

"The IECEx Service Facilities Program, which Sira helped to develop, is rapidly gaining momentum and I am pleased that Sira continues to be at the forefront of this drive, offering premium compliance services to repair workshops around the world".

Detectronic manufactures, services and repairs a wide range of area velocity flow meters at its facility in Nelson, Lancashire.

Most of the instrumentation produced or repaired by the company is destined for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

The company employs a skilled workforce with 50-plus years' accumulated experience in the design, manufacture, service and repair of intrinsically safe flow meters.

Detectronic's board of directors has welcomed the introduction of the IECEx Service Facilities scheme, as it supports the company's ongoing commitment to delivering world class service and repair standards for its valued customers.

Gerry Burby, Technical Director of Detectronic stated: "Our customers will continue to receive the same high levels of service they have come to expect from our team of engineers, but we now offer them the added security of knowing that all work is carried out to IECEx standards with worldwide recognition and full traceability".

The scheme covers the repair and overhaul of equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres, providing both OEMs and end-users with the confidence that repair workshops work in accordance with strict technical and quality system requirements laid down within an international (IEC) framework.

Working to IEC60079-19 (and IECEx scheme documents OD/014 and 015), the service facility is assessed to ensure that the essential aspects of the quality management system procedures, the working environment, staff competence, repair methodologies and calibration of test and measurement equipment are satisfactorily operated and maintained.

The end result is the issue of an IECEx Certificate of Conformity, demonstrating that the service facility can carry out repair and overhaul of equipment in accordance with the requirements of the published standards.

The scheme independently endorses the repair facility's capability and imparts an international status that gives confidence to its customers and a competitive edge to its services.

It offers a credible alternative to other, nonaccredited schemes and addresses concerns within industry over poor standards of overhaul work.

Many companies are now insisting that they work only with repair and overhaul organisations that are certified by accredited organisations such as Sira.

Successful applicants will also see their certificate posted on the publicly accessible IECEx website.