Ex Equipment Inspection Checklist Template
A checklist for inspecting electrical and instrument equipment in hazardous areas, following the structure of IEC 60079-17: equipment details, the inspection grade and type, and general, Ex d, Ex e and Ex i checks with an automatic result.
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- How to Use sheet with steps
- Template sheet, blank and ready
- Example sheet, filled in
- 6 built in formulas
- A4 portrait print setup
- Works in Excel, Google Sheets and LibreOffice
Preview of the Filled Example
This is the Example sheet from the download, so you can see exactly how the completed ex equipment inspection checklist looks.
Inspection items
| No | Check item | Status | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Equipment protection level (EPL) suitable for the zone | OK | |
| 2 | Equipment group (IIA, IIB, IIC or IIIA, IIIB, IIIC) suitable for the area | OK | |
| 3 | Temperature class or maximum surface temperature suitable for the gas or dust | OK | |
| 4 | Ex marking and certificate number legible and match the register | OK | |
| 5 | Circuit identification and tag plate correct | OK | |
| 6 | Enclosure, windows and seals free of damage, corrosion and cracks | OK | |
| 7 | No unauthorised modifications or visible changes | OK | |
| 8 | All bolts, screws and covers present and tight | OK | |
| 9 | Cable entries: glands of the correct Ex type, size and tight | Not OK | Gland loose, retighten and check seal |
| 10 | Unused entries closed with certified stopping plugs | OK | |
| 11 | Cables free of damage; armour and screens terminated correctly | OK | |
| 12 | Earthing and equipotential bonding connections secure | OK |
… and 6 more rows in the download.
About the Ex Equipment Inspection Checklist
Explosion protected equipment only stays safe if its protection is kept intact: a loose gland, a missing bolt or a damaged flame path can turn certified equipment into an ignition source. IEC 60079-17 requires initial and periodic inspections by competent persons, recorded for every item. This checklist follows that structure so records are consistent across the site.
How to fill in this template
- Enter the equipment details from the Ex register, including the area classification and certificate number.
- Select the inspection grade (visual, close or detailed) and type (initial, periodic or sample).
- Check each item and select OK, Not OK or NA. Items that do not apply to the protection type are NA.
- Write a remark and raise a work order for every Not OK item.
- The equipment result shows FAIL while any item is Not OK.
What the formulas do
- Items not OK = count of "Not OK".
- Equipment result = FAIL if any item is Not OK, otherwise PASS.
- Next inspection due = inspection date + 36 months (edit to suit your interval).
Related tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the inspection grades in IEC 60079-17?
Visual (from outside, no tools), close (adds checks with access equipment and tools, without opening) and detailed (may need the enclosure opened and the equipment isolated).
How often should Ex equipment be inspected?
Periodic inspection intervals are set by the site inspection strategy; IEC 60079-17 suggests not exceeding three years without expert justification.
Who can carry out Ex inspections?
Competent persons trained in the types of protection and installation practices, such as those holding CompEx or equivalent qualifications.
Learn more on the blog
Hazardous area classification zones
A practical guide on instrumentationblog.in that explains the procedure behind this template and how engineers apply it on real plants.
Read Full Article