Certificates and approvals:
The evidence behind the specification

The EU directive (2014/34/EU) for equipment used where flammable gas, vapour or dust may be present. An ATEX-certified instrument can be installed in a classified zone on a platform, tank farm or refinery. Gill holds Production Quality Assurance Notification SIRA 09 ATEX M453, with product certificates by model.

The international scheme for equipment in explosive atmospheres, recognised outside the EU and Great Britain and often asked for on Middle East, Asia-Pacific and offshore projects. It tests to the same IEC 60079 standards as ATEX. Certificates by model, IECEx SIR series.

The Great Britain equivalent of ATEX since the UK left the EU, marked UKCA rather than CE. A hazardous-area installation in England, Scotland or Wales needs it; an EU installation needs ATEX. Gill holds both. Certificate CSAE 21UKEX2364, covering the intrinsically safe WindObserver.

Lloyd’s Register type approval confirms an instrument has been assessed for shipboard use: vibration, salt, humidity, temperature and electromagnetic compatibility to the marine standards. It is what a shipyard or classification surveyor asks for before a sensor goes on a vessel. Held for applicable marine products.

ABS Design Assessed confirms a product design has been reviewed by the American Bureau of Shipping against its marine and offshore rules. Asked for on vessels and offshore installations classed by ABS, which is common in the US, Gulf and offshore energy markets. Held for applicable marine products.

Type approval from the China Classification Society, required for equipment fitted to vessels built or classed in China. The marine equivalent of Lloyd’s Register for that market. Held for applicable marine products.

The international standard for a quality management system: how design, production, test and after-sales are controlled and audited. Held at Gill Group level and audited annually by NQA under UKAS accreditation. It is what a buyer’s procurement team means when they ask whether a supplier is “ISO certified”.

The international standard for an environmental management system: how the business measures and reduces its environmental impact, from materials and energy to waste. Held at Gill Group level. Increasingly a tender requirement in the public sector and for large operators.

REACH is the EU chemicals regulation. Article 33 obliges a supplier to tell customers when an article contains a substance of very high concern above 0.1 per cent by weight, and what it is. Gill publishes that disclosure for the products it applies to, so a buyer’s compliance team can complete their own declarations. REACH is a legal duty rather than a certification scheme, which is why it has no mark.