Application Design Engineer (Ex12)

Engineering design of Ex electrical and instrumentation installations

This qualification has been developed in close consultation with industry to assess and validate the core competence of application design engineers responsible for specifying and designing electrical installations in hazardous areas.

This qualification is based on IEC 60079-14: Electrical installations design, selection, and erection.

It is divided into two units:

• Ex12a: Non-Intrinsically Safe (Non-IS) Equipment
• Ex12b: Intrinsically Safe (IS) Equipment

Upon successful completion, candidates will be able to:

• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of IEC 60079-14 and its application
• Correctly interpret certification documentation and manufacturer datasheets
• Design and specify Ex certified electrical equipment for both IS and Non-IS systems and installations
• Apply safe design practices in accordance with national and international standards

Who Should Attend?

This qualification is suitable for:

• Practising or aspiring application design engineers
• Professionals responsible for equipment selection, design, and specification in hazardous areas

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates should have:

• A good understanding of electrical application design
• Ideally hold an HNC/HND (or equivalent) in a related field
• At least 2 years of experience in hazardous area-related roles

Familiarity with:

• IEC 60079-14
• Manufacturer documentation (certificates, data sheets, etc.)

This qualification alone does not infer full occupational competence. It must be supported by suitable experience and employer verification.

Course Details

Duration:

• Duration: 5 days
• Approx. 30–35 hours of guided learning
• Additional self-directed preparation before and during the course is encouraged

Learning Format:

• The course consists of two theory-based units (Ex12a and Ex12b)
• Delivered through structured classroom sessions, supported by scenario-based learning
• No practical assessment required for this qualification

Learning Outcomes

Candidates that successfully complete the Ex12 Application Design Engineer qualification will be able to:

• Ex12a: meet the competency requirements of IEC 60079 -14 for ‘Designers (design & selection)’ for the design of Non-Intrinsically Safe electrical equipment installations in explosive atmospheres.
• Ex12b: meet the competency requirements of IEC 60079 -14 for ‘Designers (design & selection)’ for the design of Intrinsically Safe electrical equipment installations in explosive atmospheres.

Assessment Process

All assessments are online and theory-based, divided into four core sections:

Section A – Core Knowledge

• Covers general principles of IEC 60079-14
• Duration: 35 minutes

Section B – Equipment Marking

• Focus on understanding Ex marking
• Duration: 40 minutes

Section C – Standards

• In-depth review of IEC 60079-14
• Duration: 120 minutes

Section D – Design Assessment

• Based on a realistic installation scenario:
  • Ex12a (Non-IS Design): 120 minutes
  • Ex12b (IS Design): 90 minutes

Certification

Successful candidates will receive the internationally recognised CompEx Certificate in Core Competence, valid for 5 years.

This CompEx qualification is UKAS accredited.