What the ATEX EN IEC 60079-28:2026 update changed
Decision (EU) 2026/1967 was adopted on September 3 and published on September 4, 2026. It entered into force on publication. Its annex inserts a new row for EN IEC 60079-28:2026, titled for protection of equipment and transmission systems using optical radiation.
The same annex deletes the row for EN 60079-28:2015, but Article 2 delays application of that deletion until March 4, 2028. That date distinction matters. It means buyers should not report that the old reference disappeared on September 4, 2026.
| Date | Official action | Practical reading |
|---|---|---|
| September 3, 2026 | The Commission adopted Decision (EU) 2026/1967 | The legal text was finalised |
| September 4, 2026 | The decision was published and entered into force | EN IEC 60079-28:2026 was added to Annex I |
| March 4, 2028 | Deletion of the older row begins to apply | The transition for the cited EN 60079-28:2015 reference ends |
This timeline is about references in the EU harmonised-standards decision. It is not a certificate-expiry timetable for an unidentified product. Product and certificate status must be checked separately.
Do not confuse IEC 60079-28:2025 with EN IEC 60079-28:2026
The international and European references have different year labels. IEC 60079-28:2025 is the IEC international standard, Edition 3.0, published on November 21, 2025. EN IEC 60079-28:2026 is the European adoption named in the EU decision.
| Reference | Role | Verified date information |
|---|---|---|
| IEC 60079-28:2025 | International IEC publication | Edition 3.0, published November 21, 2025 |
| EN IEC 60079-28:2026 | European standard cited under ATEX | Added to the EU list from September 4, 2026 |
| EN 60079-28:2015 | Older cited European reference | Its deletion applies from March 4, 2028 |
A purchase specification should reproduce the exact reference used in the applicable declaration, certificate, assessment record or project requirement. Changing 2025 to 2026 because the numbers look similar can create an edition mismatch during document review.
What Part 28 covers
The public IEC summary says Part 28 adds requirements for Ex Equipment, associated equipment or Ex Components containing optical systems that emit optical radiation exposed to explosive atmospheres. It supplements the general Ex Equipment requirements rather than replacing them.
The same IEC page states important exclusions. The document does not cover ignition by ultraviolet radiation or ignition caused by absorption of radiation in the explosive mixture itself. It also excludes specified absorber hazards. A buyer should therefore begin with the exact optical function, emitted radiation path, atmosphere and equipment construction instead of assuming every illuminated or connected device falls into the same scope.
An ordinary indicator, selector, fibre connection or optical component is not proven compliant merely because Part 28 appears in a supplier document. The responsible party must establish whether the standard applies to the exact configuration and which clauses support the claimed essential requirements.
What presumption of conformity means
Directive 2014/34/EU Article 12 says conformity with a harmonised standard whose reference is published in the Official Journal creates a presumption of conformity with the corresponding Annex II requirements covered by that standard or its relevant parts.
The key word is corresponding. The presumption is not a blanket finding that every ATEX obligation has been met. It does not replace the applicable conformity-assessment procedure, technical file, declaration, marking, production controls or legal responsibilities of the economic operator.
Article 12 describes a presumption-of-conformity route based on cited harmonised standards. A manufacturer using another technical solution remains responsible for showing how the applicable essential health and safety requirements are satisfied. Buyers should review the declared route and evidence instead of treating an OJ citation as a universal approval mark.
Buyer checks during the transition
Use a controlled document check for each exact model and configuration:
- Identify the legal manufacturer, model, suffix and optical function.
- Record the destination market and applicable ATEX conformity route.
- Confirm whether the technical file uses EN 60079-28:2015, EN IEC 60079-28:2026 or another justified solution.
- Match the declaration, certificate where applicable, schedule, drawings and instructions to the same product identity.
- Check which essential requirements the cited clauses support.
- Review product changes, options and special conditions before accepting an older assessment basis.
- Record the transition decision and responsible approver in the procurement dossier.
The MMAIATEX certificate-verification guide provides a model and issue-number workflow. The Ex marking guide explains why a visible standard number is only one field in the evidence set. For installation inputs, use the IEC 60079-14:2024 buyer checklist.
Common interpretation errors
- Calling IEC 60079-28:2025 an IEC 2026 edition
- Saying the old European reference was withdrawn on September 4, 2026
- Treating March 4, 2028 as an automatic product-certificate expiry date
- Assuming the new citation covers every ATEX essential requirement
- Using a standard reference as proof of exact-model certification
- Ignoring the product identity, optical path, options or special conditions
The European Commission ATEX standards page is useful for navigation, but the Commission warns that its summary is informational and has no legal effect. Use the Official Journal decision as the controlling public reference.
Current MMAIATEX certification status
The public MMAIATEX About page states that ATEX, IECEx and CCC certification work is in progress. MMAIATEX Explosion-proof Technology (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd. does not present this article, an OJ citation, a standard reference, a product category or a representative photograph as proof that a particular MMAIATEX model is certified.
Buyers should request current documents for the exact legal manufacturer, model, suffix and configuration, then verify status, scope, marking, schedules, declarations, instructions and destination-market requirements before approval.
Safety and legal disclaimer
This article provides general buyer education. It does not determine whether Part 28 applies to a product, perform an ATEX conformity assessment, interpret a certificate, approve a transition plan or provide legal advice. Competent parties must use the official legal text, current standards, exact product documentation and applicable project rules.
Request an edition and document review
Send the destination market, exact product identity, optical function, stated standard editions, declaration, certificate details where applicable and project document list. MMAIATEX can identify available product information for review by the responsible engineering and compliance team.