Explosion proof camera rfp specification systems from Veilux are engineered for the most demanding hazardous environments, certified for Class I Division 1 and Zone 1 areas. Our explosion proof camera rfp specification lineup meets ATEX, IECEx, and UL standards.
A complete explosion-proof camera specification for RFP or procurement must define four elements: the hazardous area classification (Class/Division/Group or Zone/Group/T-class), required certification schemes (ATEX, IECEx, UL/FM), physical housing requirements (material, IP rating, window type, conduit entry size), and minimum camera performance (resolution, sensitivity, compression format). Missing any of these elements creates ambiguity that results in non-compliant equipment or unnecessary cost.
Procurement teams that specify only “explosion-proof cameras” without further detail receive quotes ranging from $800 to $8,000 per camera for equipment that may or may not be certified for the specific gases and zones in their facility. Vendors fill specification gaps with assumptions that favor their standard product lines. A well-written specification eliminates ambiguity, enables apples-to-apples comparison across vendors, and ensures the equipment delivered is compliant before it arrives on site.
Section 1: Hazardous Area Classification Requirements
Explosion Proof Camera Rfp Specification for Hazardous Locations
The hazardous area section is the most critical part of the specification. State the classification system in use at the facility and the specific parameters for each camera position:
For NEC Article 500 (Division system): Class: [I / II / III], Division: [1 / 2], Group(s): [A / B / C / D for Class I; E / F / G for Class II], Temperature class: [T1 through T6]. Example: “Class I, Division 1, Groups C and D, T4.”
For NEC Article 505 or IEC/ATEX (Zone system): Zone: [0 / 1 / 2 for gas; 20 / 21 / 22 for dust], Gas group: [IIA / IIB / IIC], Temperature class: [T1-T6 or maximum surface temperature in °C]. Example: “Zone 1, Group IIB, T4.”
If cameras will be installed in multiple zone types across the facility, list each type separately and map them to camera position numbers. Specifying a blanket “Zone 1, Group IIC” requirement when most positions are only Zone 2, Group IIA forces suppliers to quote unnecessarily certified (and expensive) equipment for positions that do not require it.
Section 2: Required Certification Schemes
List every certification scheme that must appear on the equipment. For North American projects: specify UL listed or FM approved for the Class/Division/Group. For European projects: specify ATEX certified (CE + Ex marking, EU Type Examination Certificate from a Notified Body). For international projects: specify IECEx certified in addition to ATEX. For projects spanning multiple regions, specify which certification is required at each site location.
Include a clause requiring that all certificates be current (not expired or under revision) at time of delivery, and that copies of all certificates, Declarations of Conformity, and installation manuals be included with the hardware shipment. Also specify whether UKEX certification (required for Great Britain post-Brexit) is needed if any cameras will be installed at UK sites. For a comparison of what ATEX and IECEx certifications actually cover, see our IECEx vs. ATEX guide.
Section 3: Housing and Physical Requirements
| Specification Item | Typical Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Housing material | Aluminum (marine alloy) or 316L SS | SS required for H2S, offshore, chemical solvents |
| IP rating | Minimum IP66; IP68 for underground/flood risk | IP69K for washdown environments |
| Optical window | Borosilicate glass (standard); sapphire (harsh) | Sapphire for high-abrasion or salt environments |
| Conduit entry | 3/4″ NPT female (US); M25 metric (IEC) | Match existing site conduit standard |
| Operating temperature | -40°C to +60°C (standard); wider if required | Specify for coldest and hottest expected ambient |
| Surface finish | Powder coat RAL 7035 (standard gray) | Marine applications may require 2-coat epoxy |
Section 4: Camera Performance Requirements
Specify minimum camera performance rather than a brand or model. This maintains competition and ensures the equipment meets the actual monitoring need:
Image sensor: Minimum 1/2.8″ progressive scan CMOS, [X] megapixels. Resolution: Minimum [1920×1080 / 2560×1440 / 3840×2160] at [25/30] fps. Minimum illumination: [0.01 lux color, 0.001 lux B&W, 0 lux with IR] — specify based on lighting conditions at camera positions. IR illumination: Built-in IR LEDs, minimum [30m / 50m / 100m] range. Lens: [Fixed focal length Xmm] or [motorized varifocal X-Ymm]. Video compression: H.265 and H.264 (H.265 mandatory for storage efficiency). Network: RJ-45 10/100Base-T, PoE (IEEE 802.3af minimum). Audio: Built-in microphone, line-level audio output [if required]. Protocols: ONVIF Profile S; [RTSP / RTMP as required by VMS].
Section 5: Documentation Requirements
Documentation requirements are frequently omitted from specifications and then become a dispute at project close-out. Include the following as mandatory deliverables:
Required at time of delivery: EC Type Examination Certificate (ATEX) or IECEx Certificate, both current and issued for the specific model ordered; Declaration of Conformity (ATEX); Installation and maintenance manual in English (and local language if required by site regulations); Wiring diagrams specific to the model; Specification sheet confirming compliance with each specified parameter.
Required at project close-out: As-built wiring diagrams; conduit seal installation records; commissioning test records (power-up, image quality check, VMS registration); any variances from the approved specification with documented approvals.
Vendor Qualification Checklist
Include a vendor qualification section in the RFP to filter out distributors who resell uncertified equipment under misleading descriptions. Ask vendors to confirm: (1) The manufacturer’s name and country of manufacture. (2) Whether the hazardous area certification was issued by an accredited Notified Body or NRTL (not self-certified). (3) Reference list of three or more similar industrial installations in the past three years. (4) Lead time from order to delivery. (5) Whether local technical support is available for installation commissioning. (6) Warranty terms and spare parts availability. For a comparison of leading suppliers see our explosion-proof camera supplier comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
What certification is required in the spec for a US facility?
NRTL listing (UL, FM, or CSA) with the Class/Division/Group marking. ATEX or IECEx certificates alone do not satisfy NEC compliance in the US without an NRTL listing.
Should I specify a brand or performance criteria?
Performance criteria enable competitive pricing and focus on what the camera must do. If a brand is preferred for compatibility, specify it as “or approved equal.” Sole-source specs require documented justification.
What IP rating should I specify for outdoor cameras?
IP66 minimum for outdoor. IP66/IP67 dual rating for sites with flooding risk. IP68 for underground. IP69K for washdown environments.
What documents should ship with each camera?
EC Type Examination Certificate or IECEx Certificate, Declaration of Conformity, hazardous area installation manual, and specification sheet. Retain all documents at the facility for the life of the installation.
How do I verify an ATEX certificate is genuine?
Contact the Notified Body named on the certificate (identified by the 4-digit code in the certificate number). IECEx certificates are publicly searchable at ex.iecex.com. Verify the certificate number matches the exact model ordered.
Veilux provides full technical documentation packages with all orders, including ATEX certificates, IECEx certificates, and Class I Division 1 listings. Request a quote and specify your area classification, certification scheme requirements, and documentation needs — we will confirm compliance before the order ships.
Key Industry Standards and References
Equipment specification standards include IEC 60079 series and NFPA 70 (NEC) Article 500. Oil and gas facility procurement references API RP 505 for electrical area classification.
Related Resources
- Explosion-Proof Camera Selection Guide
- How to Design a Hazardous Area CCTV System
- Explosion-Proof Camera System Commissioning: FAT and SAT Checklist
- Annual Explosion-Proof Camera Maintenance Schedule
- Request a Project Quote
Essential Technical Requirements for Your Explosion-Proof Camera Specification
A well-written explosion-proof camera specification begins with the certification class and group requirements derived directly from the site’s electrical area classification drawing. The specification should state the required NEC class (Class I, II, or III), division (Division 1 or Division 2), and gas group (Group A, B, C, or D for gases; Group E, F, or G for dusts) rather than leaving this determination to the vendor.
For ATEX or IECEx sites, specify the Zone (Zone 1 or Zone 2 for gases, Zone 21 or Zone 22 for dusts), category (Cat 1G, 2G, 3G, or dust equivalents), and gas group (IIA, IIB, IIC). Requiring dual certification—both NEC and ATEX/IECEx—is common for multinational companies standardizing on a single product globally.
IP (ingress protection) rating requirements should be explicitly stated. IP66 is the minimum for outdoor or wash-down environments; IP67 or IP68 provides additional protection for submersion risk in low-point installations or facilities with high-pressure cleaning routines. The specification should also call out the standard under which IP testing was conducted (IEC 60529) and require that the rating be maintained with all cable gland entries installed and tightened to the manufacturer’s specification.
Operating temperature range must be specified based on the site’s ambient extremes, not general defaults. Outdoor petrochemical installations in northern climates may see -40°C in winter; furnace areas in steel mills can sustain +60°C ambient continuously. The camera’s rated operating temperature range—not just the storage temperature—must encompass the site’s full range with margin.
Specifying a minimum resolution of 2 megapixels (1920×1080) ensures adequate image detail for both live monitoring and forensic review. Require H.265 (HEVC) compression as a minimum; H.265 delivers equivalent image quality to H.264 at approximately half the bitrate, significantly reducing storage and bandwidth costs in multi-camera deployments.
Power over Ethernet (PoE) class specification simplifies installation by eliminating separate power conductors. Specify IEEE 802.3at (PoE+, 25.5W) as a minimum to accommodate cameras with heater/blower combinations required for cold-climate operation. Cable gland thread standard—NPT (National Pipe Thread) for North American installations or Metric (M20, M25) for international and ATEX-governed sites—must be specified to ensure compatibility with the site’s conduit system. Requiring the vendor to confirm the gland thread standard in their proposal prevents costly field rework when the wrong-thread-form housing arrives on site.
Specifying Environmental Resistance Parameters
Beyond the basic IP rating, an explosion-proof camera specification for a chemically aggressive environment must address corrosion resistance in terms that are testable and verifiable. Salt spray (salt fog) resistance per ASTM B117 or ISO 9227 is the standard test for coastal and offshore environments. Specifying a minimum 1,000-hour salt fog endurance test result for housing and hardware ensures that the product has been validated under a recognized accelerated corrosion protocol, not just claimed to be “corrosion resistant” in marketing literature.
For sour service environments—upstream oil and gas operations, refinery sour water strippers, and wastewater treatment facilities handling H₂S-laden streams—the specification should require that wetted housing materials be resistant to sulfide stress cracking (SSC) per NACE MR0175/ISO 15156. Stainless steel grades 316L and duplex 2205 are commonly specified for H₂S service; standard 304 stainless and carbon steel are not acceptable. Housing seals and gaskets should be specified as fluorosilicone or EPDM rather than standard nitrile rubber, which degrades rapidly in H₂S and solvent environments.
Solvent-resistant coatings are critical in paint spray, chemical processing, and pharmaceutical environments where organic solvents are present in the atmosphere. The specification should require that the housing exterior coating be tested for resistance to the specific solvents on site—typically IPA, acetone, MEK, toluene, or xylene—and that the vendor provide a chemical resistance chart confirming compatibility. Housing materials and coatings that are solvent-resistant protect both the camera’s appearance and the integrity of the explosion-proof joint surfaces, which can be compromised by solvent attack on softer protective coatings.
Impact resistance rated to IK10 (20 joules per IEC 62262) is recommended for any installation in a vehicle traffic area, forklift aisle, or high-activity production zone. IK10 is the highest standardized impact rating and protects against forklift brush contacts, falling tools, and intentional vandalism. Outdoor installations in direct sunlight require a rated sunshield or integrated sun hood; without one, camera housings in tropical or desert climates can exceed their rated operating temperature on the exterior surface even when ambient air is within specification.
Wiper systems, as noted in spray booth contexts, are equally valuable in dusty quarry, mining, and cement plant environments where lens obscuration can occur within hours of cleaning.
RFP Compliance and Testing Documentation Requirements
The documentation submittal requirements section of an explosion-proof camera RFP is frequently underdeveloped, leaving procurement teams with insufficient information to verify that the product actually meets the specification. A rigorous documentation requirement section protects the end user and creates a clear evaluation standard for the procurement team. At a minimum, the specification should require submission of the following with the bid: a copy of the current NEC certification from a NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory such as UL, CSA, or FM), or for ATEX/IECEx equipment, a copy of the current EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC) and the IECEx Certificate of Conformity.
The difference between an approval certificate and a Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) is significant and frequently misunderstood. An approval certificate (UL listing, CSA certification, FM approval) results from third-party testing and factory surveillance by the certifying body. An SDoC is a manufacturer’s self-declaration that the product meets a standard, without mandatory third-party verification. For safety-critical explosion-proof equipment in Division 1 or Zone 1 locations, requiring third-party approval certificates rather than SDoCs substantially reduces the risk of purchasing equipment that does not meet the stated protection concept.
IECEE CB Scheme certificates, issued by National Certification Bodies (NCBs) participating in the IEC’s CB Scheme, demonstrate that the product has been tested to the IEC standard by an accredited laboratory. CB certificates facilitate mutual recognition across participating countries and are valuable for globally deployed camera systems. The specification should require the CB certificate for all cameras intended for international deployment.
The documentation submittal checklist should include: NRTL listing certificate with scope covering the required class, division, and group; ATEX EU DoC and IECEx CoC if applicable; CB Scheme certificate; current production conformity (QA module) certificate for ATEX Cat 1 and Cat 2 products; IP rating test report; operating temperature range test data; salt fog test report if specified; and a completed technical compliance matrix cross-referencing each specification requirement against the offered product’s documented performance.
Requiring the compliance matrix forces vendors to address every specification line item explicitly, making evaluation straightforward and reducing the risk of post-award surprises.
Evaluating Vendor Responses: Scoring Criteria for Explosion-Proof Camera RFPs
A structured scoring matrix transforms the RFP evaluation from a subjective judgment into a defensible, documented procurement decision. The technical compliance section—confirming that the offered product meets every mandatory specification requirement—should carry the highest weight, typically 40 to 50 percent of the total score. Products that fail any mandatory requirement (missing certification, inadequate IP rating, insufficient resolution) should be disqualified from further evaluation regardless of commercial attractiveness.
Conditional compliance—where a vendor offers to provide a compliant product by a future date—should be treated as non-compliant unless a firm delivery commitment and deposit are part of the offer.
Spare parts availability over a minimum five-year horizon is a critical long-term cost factor that is frequently underweighted in initial procurement decisions. Explosion-proof camera systems in remote or hazardous facilities cannot wait weeks for specialty parts; a camera out of service in a Division 1 location creates a surveillance gap and a potential compliance issue. Vendors should be required to commit in writing to spare parts availability for a minimum of five years from purchase and to identify local or regional stocking points. Failure to provide this commitment should result in a significant point deduction in the spare parts scoring category.
Local service support—factory-authorized technicians capable of performing explosion-proof camera maintenance without voiding the certification—is a scoring criterion that reflects real operational cost. Certifications can be voided by unauthorized modifications or repairs, leaving the facility with non-compliant equipment in a classified area. Vendors with a network of trained, factory-authorized service partners in the region deserve higher scores for service support than vendors relying solely on ship-back repair programs.
Warranty terms of three years minimum, covering both the camera and the explosion-proof housing, reflect confidence in the product’s durability in demanding industrial environments. Reference projects in the same industry sector and same hazardous location classification—not just general security installations—provide the strongest evidence that the vendor understands the application.
Requiring three or more verifiable references in the same zone/division classification and industry type as the RFP project is a reasonable and practical requirement that meaningfully differentiates experienced explosion-proof camera suppliers from general-purpose security vendors entering the hazardous-area market.
As a leading provider of explosion proof camera rfp specification solutions, Veilux delivers certified equipment built for hazardous environments. Our explosion proof camera rfp specification lineup is ATEX, IECEx, and UL listed for Class I Division 1 and Zone 1 applications. Every explosion proof camera rfp specification unit undergoes rigorous testing to ensure reliable operation in explosive atmospheres.
Veilux engineers are available to help you specify the right explosion proof camera rfp specification system for your site requirements. Explore our full selection of explosion proof camera rfp specification equipment and request a custom quote today.
In summary, selecting the right explosion proof camera rfp specification for your facility starts with verifying the hazardous area classification and the certifications required by your jurisdiction. Explosion Proof Camera Rfp Specification solutions from Veilux carry full ATEX, IECEx, and UL explosion-proof certification for Class I Division 1 and Zone 1 environments. Contact our technical team to discuss explosion proof camera rfp specification configurations that match your site requirements, operating conditions, and compliance documentation needs.
In summary, selecting the right explosion proof camera rfp specification for your facility starts with verifying the hazardous area classification and the certifications required by your jurisdiction. Explosion Proof Camera Rfp Specification solutions from Veilux carry full ATEX, IECEx, and UL explosion-proof certification for Class I Division 1 and Zone 1 environments. Contact our technical team to discuss explosion proof camera rfp specification configurations that match your site requirements, operating conditions, and compliance documentation needs.
In summary, selecting the right explosion proof camera rfp specification for your facility starts with verifying the hazardous area classification and the certifications required by your jurisdiction. Explosion Proof Camera Rfp Specification solutions from Veilux carry full ATEX, IECEx, and UL explosion-proof certification for Class I Division 1 and Zone 1 environments. Contact our technical team to discuss explosion proof camera rfp specification configurations that match your site requirements, operating conditions, and compliance documentation needs.
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About the Author
Daniel Fernandez
Daniel Fernandez is a hazardous area security systems specialist with over a decade of experience specifying ATEX, IECEx, UL Class I Division 1, and cUL certified surveillance equipment for oil and gas, chemical, mining, pharmaceutical, and offshore environments. He holds expertise in NEC and IEC area classification standards and has consulted on explosion-proof camera system designs across North America, Europe, and the Middle East.