UKCA Legislation
What you need to know about the UKCA legislation
Understanding the new UKCA markings for tablets, smartphones and explosion proof equipment designed for use within hazardous areas in the UK.
The UKCA marking is a new conformity assessment marking used in Great Britain (GB) from 1 January 2023. It will replace the CE marking for goods placed on the GB market. The UKCA marking is a mandatory mark on a product to indicate that it conforms to GB legislation. The manufacturer or, if mandated, their authorised representative will be responsible for affixing the UKCA mark to the product.d
UKCA Certification Scheme
Understanding the new UKCA legislation for equipment in hazardous areas
The UKCA legislation is a new conformity assessment marking scheme introduced in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) on January 1, 2021. The UKCA marking replaces the CE marking for products placed on the market in Great Britain. The UKCA legislation was introduced due to the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. The CE marking is still valid for products placed on the European Economic Area (EEA) market. The UKCA marking is required for a wide range of products, including machinery, medical devices, and construction products and intrinsically safe smartphones and explosion proof tablets. Manufacturers must ensure that their products comply with the relevant UK regulations before they can be placed on the market.
There are a number of ways manufacturers can demonstrate compliance with UK regulations. One way is to have the product certified by a UK Approved Body (UKAB). UKABs are independent bodies accredited by the UK government to assess and certify products against UK regulations. Another way to demonstrate compliance with UK regulations is to self-declare compliance. Self-declaration is the process of making a written declaration that a product meets the relevant UK regulations. The UKCA legislation is a complex area of law. If unsure whether a product requires a UKCA marking, you can seek professional advice from the UK Market Conformity Assessment Bodies.
What goods require UKCA marking?
There are some exemptions to the UKCA marking requirements, such as for goods that are used for military or national security purposes, however, the UKCA marking will be required for a wide range of goods, including:
Machinery
Electrical equipment
Medical devices
Personal protective equipment
Construction products
Measuring instruments
Hazardous area CCTV systems
Industrial IoT and sensor equipment
How does a company comply with the UKCA marking requirements?
Businesses placing goods on the GB market must comply with the UKCA marking requirements. This includes ensuring their products meet the relevant safety and performance requirements and have the necessary documentation. There are a number of resources available to help businesses comply with the UKCA marking requirements, including:
The UKCA marking guidance on the GOV.UK website
The UKCA marking portal
The UKCA marking helpline
What are the benefits of UKCA marking?
The UKCA marking provides a number of benefits for businesses, including:
Increased confidence in the safety of products
Reduced risk of non-compliance
Improved market access
Enhanced brand reputation
UKEX certification scheme
The UKEX certification scheme, which replaces the ATEX certification, was implemented on January 1, 2022. This new scheme applies to intrinsically safe equipment for use in hazardous areas in the UK after the country’s withdrawal from the European Union. The UKEX certification ensures that intrinsically safe equipment used in hazardous areas complies with the appropriate safety standards and requirements for use in the UK. This certification scheme helps to ensure that all such equipment is fit for purpose and safe to use in hazardous environments. UKEX is a certification scheme for intrinsically safe equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres in the UK. The scheme is managed by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), ensuring that electrical and electronic equipment meets the required safety standards in hazardous areas.
The UKEX scheme ensures that intrinsically safe equipment meets the required safety standards in hazardous areas. The scheme defines the standards that equipment must meet to be certified as intrinsically safe, and it sets out the testing and certification procedures that must be followed. The UKEX certification is required in the UK for intrinsically safe equipment to be used in hazardous areas. The certification demonstrates that the equipment has been tested and approved for use in hazardous areas with a risk of explosion. Intrinsically safe equipment is designed to prevent the ignition of flammable gases and dust, often in hazardous areas. This equipment is designed to ensure that it will not create a spark or generate heat that could ignite flammable gases or dust. It is used in many industries, including oil and gas, chemical, pharmaceutical, and mining. The UKEX certification assures that intrinsically safe equipment is suitable for use in hazardous areas in the UK. It is important for companies operating in these industries to ensure that their equipment is certified to this standard.
What are the benefits of UKEX certification?
The UKEX certification provides a number of benefits for businesses, including:
Increased confidence in the safety of products
Reduced risk of non-compliance
Improved market access
Enhanced brand reputation
What are the differences between UKEX and atex certified?
To get UKEX certified, you must contact a UKEX-accredited certification body. The certification body will assess your equipment to ensure it meets the required safety standards. The certification body will issue you a UKEX certificate if your equipment meets the standards. UKEX and ATEX are certification schemes that ensure equipment safety in hazardous areas. However, the two schemes have key differences, including the governing body, scope, standards, certification bodies, and costs.
Governing body: UKEX is governed by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), while ATEX is governed by the European Union (EU).
Scope: UKEX applies to intrinsically safe equipment for use in hazardous areas in the UK, while ATEX applies to all equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres in the EU.
Standards: UKEX is based on the UKEX scheme, while ATEX is based on the ATEX Directive.
Certification bodies: UKEX certification can be obtained from UKEX-accredited certification bodies, while ATEX certification can be obtained from ATEX-notified bodies.
Cost: The costs of UKEX certification vary depending on the type of equipment and the size of your business, while the costs of ATEX certification vary depending on the type of equipment and the size of your business.
Intrinsically safe UKEX devices
Android 13
ZONE 1 – DIV1
Smart-Ex 03 DZ1
5G LTE Zone 1 Smartphone
Monthly from
£75.00
/month 36 month Phone Plan
£0.00
/upfront (exc. VAT)
All prices ex VAT, unless stated otherwise. Finance subject to status and credit checks, 18+, Direct Debit. You can upgrade at any time, subject to paying off the outstanding balance of your credit agreement.
Android 12
ZONE 1 – DIV1
IS540.1
5G LTE Zone 1 Smartphone
Monthly from
£65.00
/month 36 month Phone Plan
£0.00
/upfront (exc. VAT)
All prices ex VAT, unless stated otherwise. Finance subject to status and credit checks, 18+, Direct Debit. You can upgrade at any time, subject to paying off the outstanding balance of your credit agreement.
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