MCC Panels

Soft Starter Panel — ATEX / IECEx Certification

ATEX / IECEx Certification compliance requirements, testing procedures, and design considerations for Soft Starter Panel assemblies.

Soft Starter Panel — ATEX / IECEx Certification

Overview

ATEX / IECEx certification compliance for a Soft Starter Panel is not a generic enclosure approval; it is a design-controlled process that ensures the complete assembly can be safely installed in potentially explosive atmospheres when correctly specified, installed, and maintained. For MCC and process applications, soft starter panels may include power semiconductors, bypass contactors, motor protection devices, control transformers, PLC interfaces, and communication gateways, all of which must be assessed for ignition risk, temperature rise, enclosure integrity, and segregation of circuits. In practice, compliance may involve Ex e, Ex d, or Ex p protection concepts depending on the installation philosophy, with most soft starter panels intended for safe-area mounting while serving Ex-rated field equipment via suitable barrier and interface arrangements. Design verification for an ATEX / IECEx compliant soft starter panel begins with hazard classification and equipment category selection in accordance with Directive 2014/34/EU, IEC 60079 series, and the applicable IECEx scheme requirements. The engineer must confirm gas group, dust group, temperature class, ambient range, ingress protection, and maximum surface temperature under worst-case duty. This is especially important where soft starters control high-inertia loads such as compressors, pumps, crushers, conveyors, or fans, because extended acceleration ramps can increase semiconductor dissipation and internal panel temperature. Typical assemblies may use soft starters rated from 18 A to 1000 A or more, integrated with MCCBs, fuses, bypass contactors, motor overload relays, and protection relays; each component must be selected with documented suitability for the declared environment and coordination requirements. Testing and validation commonly reference IEC 61439-1 and IEC 61439-2 for low-voltage assembly design, including temperature-rise verification, dielectric withstand, short-circuit withstand, clearances and creepage distances, and form of separation. Where the panel interfaces with hazardous-area circuits, additional compliance checks under IEC 60079-0, IEC 60079-7, IEC 60079-11, IEC 60079-14, and IEC 60079-17 may be necessary depending on the protection concept and installation regime. For installations in dusty environments such as grain handling, cement, or bulk solids, IEC 60079-31 becomes relevant for dust ignition protection. If the panel is intended for use in areas with explosive gas atmospheres, certification documentation must also address markings, technical file content, routine inspection obligations, and maintenance provisions. In some projects, flameproof containment or purged enclosures may be used for associated control compartments, while the power section remains segregated and monitored. A compliant soft starter panel should be engineered with clear internal segregation between power, control, and instrumentation circuits, often using Forms 2, 3, or 4 separation to limit fault propagation and improve serviceability. Proper cable entry, gland selection, earthing and bonding, terminal marking, and touch-safe barriers are essential. Component derating must account for ambient temperature, altitude, and ventilation limits, especially where VFD-style control logic or communication modules are co-located with soft starters. For certification, the manufacturer or panel builder must maintain a traceable design dossier, bill of materials, routine test records, risk assessment, and evidence of conformity for all installed devices. Patrion supplies IEC 61439-engineered switchgear and MCC panels from Turkey, supporting project-specific ATEX / IECEx documentation packages, third-party witnessing, and certification readiness reviews. For EPC contractors and plant operators, the practical objective is simple: a soft starter panel that delivers reliable motor control while meeting the hazardous-area compliance, testing, and lifecycle documentation demanded by modern process industries.

Key Features

  • ATEX / IECEx Certification compliance pathway for Soft Starter Panel
  • Design verification and testing requirements
  • Documentation and certification procedures
  • Component selection for standard compliance
  • Ongoing compliance maintenance and re-certification

Specifications

PropertyValue
Panel TypeSoft Starter Panel
StandardATEX / IECEx Certification
ComplianceDesign verified
CertificationAvailable on request

Other Standards for Soft Starter Panel

IEC 61439-2 (PSC)

Power switchgear and controlgear assemblies — main compliance standard

EMC Compliance (IEC 61000)

Electromagnetic compatibility for sensitive environments

IP Protection Ratings

Ingress protection classification (IP30–IP65+)

Other Panels Certified to ATEX / IECEx Certification

Motor Control Center (MCC)

Centralized motor control with starters, contactors, overloads, and VFDs in standardized withdrawable/fixed functional units.

Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) Panel

Enclosed VFD assemblies with input protection, line reactors, EMC filters, output reactors, and bypass options.

PLC & Automation Control Panel

Process and machine control panels housing PLCs, I/O modules, relays, HMIs, and communication infrastructure.

Custom Engineered Panel

Bespoke panel assemblies for non-standard requirements — special ratings, unusual form factors, multi-function combinations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but only if the complete installation concept is compatible with the hazardous-area classification and the selected protection method. In many projects, the soft starter panel is mounted in a safe area, while field equipment in Zone 1 or Zone 2 is interfaced through appropriately certified barriers, glands, or Ex-rated accessories. If the panel itself is intended for installation in the hazardous area, the enclosure and all internal components must satisfy the relevant ATEX/IECEx requirements, typically under IEC 60079-0 and the applicable protection standard such as IEC 60079-7, IEC 60079-11, or IEC 60079-2. Final suitability depends on gas group, temperature class, ambient conditions, and the certification scope of the panel assembly.
Certification usually involves a combination of product and assembly standards. For the low-voltage assembly itself, IEC 61439-1 and IEC 61439-2 are central for design verification, temperature rise, dielectric properties, and short-circuit withstand. For explosive atmospheres, the IEC 60079 series is used, especially IEC 60079-0 for general requirements and then the relevant protection standard depending on the enclosure concept and installation area. The EU ATEX directive 2014/34/EU applies for equipment placed on the European market, while IECEx follows the international certification scheme. Panel builders also need routine test records, technical documentation, and traceability for all certified components such as soft starters, MCCBs, contactors, and terminals.
The required test program depends on the final protection concept and whether the panel is part of a certified assembly. At a minimum, the assembly must undergo IEC 61439 verification activities such as temperature-rise assessment, dielectric withstand, clearances and creepage review, protective bonding checks, and short-circuit withstand evaluation. For hazardous-area compliance, additional checks may include enclosure integrity, surface temperature limits, ingress protection, marking verification, and confirmation that internal components cannot create ignition sources under normal operation or expected faults. If the panel includes Ex components or interfaces with intrinsic safety circuits, the documentation must also cover entity parameters, segregation, and installation constraints. Routine production tests are typically documented before release.
Component selection starts with the declared hazardous-area classification, ambient conditions, and load profile. The soft starter must be properly rated for motor current, starting duty, and thermal losses, while the enclosure must be suitable for the expected temperature rise and ingress exposure. Common associated devices include MCCBs, fused switches, bypass contactors, overload relays, protection relays, terminal blocks, and control power supplies. Each item must be chosen for its certification status, thermal performance, and compatibility with the assembly design. In practice, panel builders also verify derating, pollution degree, separation distances, and whether any communication modules, HMI devices, or PLC interfaces introduce additional compliance obligations under IEC 60079 or IEC 61439.
A complete certification dossier typically includes the panel drawings, single-line diagram, wiring schematic, bill of materials, component certificates, risk assessment, design verification evidence, routine test reports, and installation/maintenance instructions. For ATEX or IECEx projects, the dossier should also identify the hazardous-area classification, intended protection concept, temperature class, gas or dust group, and any restrictions on installation or maintenance. If the panel uses segregation forms or special thermal management, this must be clearly documented. Certification bodies and notified bodies may also request nameplate data, marking details, and traceability for critical components such as soft starters, protective devices, and terminal systems.
Temperature rise is one of the most critical design checks because hazardous-area equipment must remain below its declared surface temperature class under worst-case operating conditions. Soft starters generate heat during acceleration and, depending on the duty cycle, during bypass transition or reduced-voltage operation. Engineers must consider ambient temperature, enclosure size, ventilation strategy, cable losses, component derating, and heat contribution from MCCBs, control transformers, power supplies, and communication modules. IEC 61439 temperature-rise verification is essential, and for ATEX/IECEx applications the resulting temperature must also remain within the limits of the selected gas or dust category. Thermal imaging and load tests are commonly used during validation.
The panel itself is not typically re-certified on a fixed calendar basis, but hazardous-area installations do require ongoing inspection, maintenance, and change control. Under IEC 60079-17, periodic inspection is required for electrical installations in explosive atmospheres, and any repair or modification must preserve the original certification basis. If the panel is altered by replacing certified components, changing the enclosure, adding devices, or modifying wiring, the compliance status may need to be reassessed. For the assembly manufacturer, routine production tests and configuration control are necessary to ensure continued conformity of delivered units. EPCs and operators should maintain inspection records and verify that labels, glands, bonding, and protection settings remain intact.
Yes, provided those devices are included in the certified design and do not compromise the hazardous-area compliance or the IEC 61439 assembly verification. PLCs, HMIs, Ethernet switches, and communication gateways are often used for motor control, diagnostics, and remote monitoring. However, they introduce additional heat dissipation, power supply requirements, EMC considerations, and sometimes segregation constraints if intrinsic safety circuits are present. The panel builder must ensure the devices are suitable for the intended environment, properly installed, and covered by the technical file. If any external signals enter hazardous zones, suitable interfaces such as isolators or barriers may be required, and the final configuration must match the documented certification scope.

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