What Is an ATEX Notified Body?
Technical documentation and explosion-protected equipment associated with the ATEX conformity assessment and certification process performed by Notified Bodies.An ATEX Notified Body is a conformity assessment body that has been notified by an EU Member State to perform specific third-party conformity assessment activities under ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU.
Notified Bodies are involved in specific conformity assessment procedures defined by the Directive. Depending on the procedure, their work may include EU-type examination, assessment of quality systems, product verification, or other conformity assessment activities within their notified scope.
For engineers and procurement teams, the important point is that a Notified Body is not simply a certification company name on a certificate. Its notification has a defined scope, including the applicable ATEX legislation, conformity assessment activities, and product categories for which the body is authorized to operate.
What Does "Notified Body" Mean?
A Notified Body is an independent third-party conformity assessment organization designated by an EU Member State and notified to the European Commission for specified conformity assessment activities.
Under ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU, Member States notify bodies that are authorized to carry out third-party conformity assessment tasks under the Directive. The European Commission assigns each notified body an identification number and publishes the body, its identification number, and its notified activities.
This means that a company cannot simply describe itself as an "ATEX Notified Body." It must be formally notified for the relevant ATEX activities.
Who Designates an ATEX Notified Body?
The notification process is managed at Member State level.
Each Member State designates a notifying authority responsible for assessing, notifying, and monitoring conformity assessment bodies. The notifying authority must ensure that the body meets the requirements established by ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU.
The Directive requires a notified body to be an independent third-party body with appropriate technical competence, personnel, procedures, facilities, and resources for the conformity assessment activities within its notification.
What Does an ATEX Notified Body Actually Do?
The activities of a Notified Body depend on the conformity assessment procedure being used. The Directive does not give every Notified Body unlimited authority over every ATEX product or every conformity assessment module.
Depending on its notification and the applicable procedure, a Notified Body may perform activities such as:
- EU-type examination of product designs
- Assessment of technical documentation within the applicable conformity assessment procedure
- Assessment of production quality assurance systems
- Assessment of product quality assurance systems
- Product examinations and verification
- Surveillance audits of approved quality systems
- Issuing EU-type examination certificates or other conformity assessment documents where required
- Monitoring conformity after certification where the applicable procedure requires it
For example, under Module B, the Notified Body performs EU-type examination and may issue an EU-type examination certificate when the examined type meets the applicable requirements. Under Modules D and E, the Notified Body assesses the manufacturer's quality system and carries out the required surveillance.
When Is a Notified Body Involved?
Not every ATEX product follows the same conformity assessment route.
ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU provides several conformity assessment modules. The applicable route determines whether and how a Notified Body participates in the process.
| Module | Conformity Assessment | Notified Body Role |
|---|---|---|
| A | Internal production control | Manufacturer performs the assessment under its own responsibility. |
| B | EU-type examination | Notified Body examines the technical design and, when compliant, issues the EU-type examination certificate. |
| C | Conformity to type | Manufacturer ensures production remains conforming to the approved type. |
| D | Quality assurance of production | Notified Body assesses and surveils the production quality system. |
| E | Product quality assurance | Notified Body assesses and surveils the product quality system. |
| F | Product verification | Notified Body performs the required examinations and tests to verify conformity. |
| G | Unit verification | Notified Body performs the required assessment and verification of the individual product or unit. |
| H | Full quality assurance | Notified Body assesses and monitors the manufacturer's full quality assurance system. |
The exact combination of modules applicable to a product depends on the equipment, category, and conformity assessment route permitted by the Directive. Therefore, the presence or absence of a Notified Body should not be determined from the product category alone.
What Is the Notified Body Identification Number?
A Notified Body receives a unique identification number assigned by the European Commission.
The number identifies the notified body and can appear alongside the CE marking where the applicable conformity assessment procedure requires the involvement of that body. The Directive also requires the Commission to publish the identification number and the activities for which each body has been notified.
For procurement purposes, the number should not be treated as proof of certification by itself. The relevant certificate, product scope, conformity assessment module, and notification status must also be checked.
How to Verify an ATEX Notified Body
One of the most useful checks for engineers and procurement teams is to verify the certification organization independently rather than relying only on the certificate supplied by the vendor.
Step 1 — Identify the Notified Body
Check the certificate or conformity assessment documentation for the name and identification number of the Notified Body.
Step 2 — Check the NANDO Database
Search the European Commission's NANDO information system for the organization.
The Commission's notified-body database provides the identification number and the activities for which the body has been notified.
Step 3 — Check the ATEX Directive
Confirm that the body is notified under Directive 2014/34/EU, rather than only under another EU directive or regulation.
Step 4 — Check the Notification Scope
This is one of the most important checks.
A Notified Body is notified for specific conformity assessment activities and product scope. Being a Notified Body under ATEX does not automatically mean that the organization is authorized for every ATEX module or every type of equipment.
Step 5 — Compare the Scope With the Certificate
Check that the conformity assessment activity stated on the certificate corresponds with the activities included in the body's notification.
For example, if a certificate involves EU-type examination, the body should have the appropriate notification for the relevant ATEX conformity assessment activity.
Step 6 — Check the Product Documentation
Finally, compare the Notified Body information against the certificate, EU Declaration of Conformity, product marking, and applicable technical documentation.
A valid-looking certificate is not sufficient if the certificate scope does not cover the actual product or conformity assessment route.
Notified Body vs Manufacturer
The manufacturer remains responsible for ensuring that the product complies with the applicable requirements of ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU.
The Notified Body performs the third-party conformity assessment activities assigned to it by the applicable conformity assessment procedure. It does not become the manufacturer and does not take over the manufacturer's general responsibility for the product.
Notified Body vs Testing Laboratory
A testing laboratory may perform specific tests on a product, while a Notified Body has a broader conformity assessment role within the scope for which it has been notified.
In some cases, testing may form part of a Notified Body's conformity assessment activities. The distinction is therefore important when reviewing certification documentation: a test report alone is not necessarily evidence of an ATEX conformity assessment performed by a Notified Body.
Notified Body vs IECEx ExCB
An ATEX Notified Body operates within the European Union's legislative conformity assessment framework for Directive 2014/34/EU.
An IECEx Certification Body (ExCB), by contrast, operates within the IECEx certification system. The two systems have different legal and certification frameworks, even though some organizations may participate in both.
Therefore, an organization being an IECEx ExCB does not automatically establish that it is an ATEX Notified Body for Directive 2014/34/EU.
Common Mistakes When Reviewing an ATEX Notified Body
Assuming Any Certification Company Is a Notified Body
A certification organization must have the appropriate formal notification and scope under Directive 2014/34/EU.
Checking Only the Notified Body Number
The identification number is useful, but it should be checked against the Commission's current notified-body information and the body's notified activities.
Assuming One Notification Covers Everything
Notification is activity-specific. The relevant conformity assessment module and product scope need to be considered.
Confusing an IECEx Certificate With ATEX Certification
IECEx and ATEX are related to explosion-protected equipment but operate under different certification and regulatory frameworks.
Treating a Test Report as an ATEX Certificate
A laboratory test report may provide technical evidence, but it does not by itself establish that the applicable ATEX conformity assessment procedure has been completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an ATEX Notified Body?
An ATEX Notified Body is a conformity assessment body notified by an EU Member State to perform specified third-party conformity assessment activities under Directive 2014/34/EU.
Does every ATEX product require a Notified Body?
No. The involvement of a Notified Body depends on the conformity assessment procedure applicable to the product.
What is the Notified Body number?
It is the identification number assigned by the European Commission to a notified body. The number identifies the body but does not by itself establish that a particular certificate or product is compliant.
Where can I verify an ATEX Notified Body?
The European Commission's NANDO information system provides the list of notified bodies and their notified activities.
Can a manufacturer choose its Notified Body?
Manufacturers may choose a Notified Body that has been legally designated for the conformity assessment procedure applicable to their product.
Is an ATEX Notified Body the same as an IECEx ExCB?
No. An ATEX Notified Body operates under Directive 2014/34/EU, while an IECEx ExCB operates within the IECEx certification system.
Practical Procurement Check
When reviewing an ATEX-certified product, the following sequence is useful:
- Identify the manufacturer and exact product model.
- Identify the ATEX certificate and issuing Notified Body.
- Record the Notified Body identification number.
- Verify the organization in the European Commission's NANDO database.
- Confirm that the notification covers ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU.
- Check that the notified activities correspond to the conformity assessment procedure used.
- Compare the certificate scope with the actual product, model, category, and marking.
- Check the EU Declaration of Conformity and other supporting documentation.
This approach helps distinguish a genuine ATEX conformity assessment package from documentation that only contains laboratory test reports, generic certificates, or references to another certification scheme.
Conclusion
An ATEX Notified Body is an independent conformity assessment body formally notified for specific activities under Directive 2014/34/EU.
Its role can include EU-type examination, quality-system assessment, product verification, surveillance, and other conformity assessment activities depending on the applicable module and its notification scope.
For engineers and procurement teams, the key point is not simply to identify the organization named on an ATEX certificate. The organization's notification, identification number, scope, applicable conformity assessment procedure, and relationship to the product documentation should all be verified.
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