The new Ex Mark (above) will be granted by approved IECEx certifiers (known as ExCBs) located in participating countries, for equipment that is covered by the IECEx Certificate of Conformity.

The IEC says that the new mark will give industry, safety regulators, and governments greater assurance that equipment being operated or supplied for use in areas where flammable gases, vapours and combustible dusts may be present, meets "the world’s most respected and vigorous safety standards".

The IEC also suggests that the mark will "enable a very specialised market to help differentiate itself and to facilitate commerce in a heavily regulated marketplace".