Explosion Proof Lighting Blog | Guides & Technical Articles

Explosion Proof Lighting Thailand: TIS 899, DIW Licensing and the Map Ta Phut Replacement Cycle

Thailand runs a structured hazardous-area entry system. Three things decide whether a luminaire can be imported, placed on the Thai market and installed at a refinery or chemical site: TISI certification anchored on TIS 899 for electrical equipment in explosive atmospheres; the Factory Act licensing run by the Department of Industrial Works (DIW), under which refineries and chemical plants are Category 3 factories that must hold a Ror Ngor 4 licence; and the risk assessment Category 3 plants file with their licence application. The honest reading: the overseas maker holds the IECEx or ATEX evidence; the Thai importer or local agent holds the TISI certificate. Equipment already carrying IECEx or ATEX clears the Thai path in 8–16 weeks, because TIS 899 aligns with IECEx.

Thailand's hazardous-area rulebook at a glance

Thailand has no single "explosion-proof licence" a foreign factory obtains directly; the regime layers a product-conformity body, an industrial-licensing authority and a risk-assessment duty.

Layer	Body / instrument	What it controls
Product conformity	TISI, under the Ministry of Industry, founded 1969	Dual-track certification: mandatory standards (147 cumulative, as of 2025-07) and voluntary; TIS 899 covers hazardous-area electrical equipment
Core technical standard	TIS 899 (electrical apparatus for explosive atmospheres)	Largely aligned with IECEx; import files need a certificate of conformity, an accredited-lab test report, and a manufacturer's declaration of compliance
Factory licensing	Factory Act B.E. 2535 (1992), amended by Factory Act (No. 2) B.E. 2562 (2019), DIW-enforced	Three factory classes; refineries and chemical plants are Category 3 and must hold a Ror Ngor 4 licence; the 2019 amendment removed the 5-year renewal and introduced accredited private inspectors
Risk assessment	MI Announcement No.3 B.E. 2542; DIW rules B.E. 2543	Category 3 plants (petroleum refineries, category 49; chemicals, 42/44) file a risk assessment report with the licence application; risk management must cover control, recovery and corrective action plans
Area classification	IEAT best practice	Zone 0 inside containers/pipes; Zone 1 from 1.5 m out from tank/pipe surfaces; Zone 2 from 1.5 m to 3 m (outdoor) or 1.5 m to 7.62 m (indoor); in-zone apparatus must be explosion-protected

Two approvals run in parallel. TISI / TIS 899 settles whether the luminaire type may be imported and sold; the DIW licence and risk file settle whether the plant may operate — a compliant fixture sits unused if the owner's Ror Ngor 4 and risk file are not in order.

The certification path: how long, and what shortens it

TISI's general flow is application → sample testing → factory audit → certificate → market surveillance, with a normal cycle of 8–10 weeks. For hazardous-area luminaires the anchor is TIS 899, and Thai customs and the importer need a certificate of conformity, an accredited-lab test report, and the manufacturer's declaration of compliance.

Starting point	Path	Typical duration
No prior international certification	Full TIS 899 evaluation via TISI / accredited Thai lab	Full testing and audit cycle applies
Already holds IECEx Certificate of Conformity	Thai certification on the IECEx basis; local testing or acceptance of the foreign test report by a Thai-recognised lab	8–16 weeks
Already holds ATEX certificate	Technical input; TIS 899 alignment is IECEx-based, so IECEx is what shortens the route	8–16 weeks where IECEx also held
Mandatory vs voluntary scope	Mandatory TISI standards are required before import/sale; voluntary are market-driven	147 mandatory standards in force as of 2025-07

The lever is IECEx: because TIS 899 is largely aligned with the IECEx scheme, a luminaire already carrying an IECEx Certificate of Conformity enters the Thai route at the 8–16 week band, and that evidence is what the Thai side accepts.

Where the classified areas are, and how Thailand draws the zones

Thailand's hydrocarbon and chemical industry concentrates on the Eastern Seaboard — Sriracha and Chonburi (Thai Oil), and the Map Ta Phut / EEC corridor across Chonburi, Rayong and Chachoengsao; the IEAT zone distances below are the drawing rule, tighter indoors than many suppliers assume.

Zone	Definition (IEAT practice)	Equipment rule
Zone 0	Inside containers and pipes where the explosive atmosphere is present continuously	Apparatus rated for continuous presence
Zone 1	From the outer surface of tanks and pipes outward 1.5 m (same indoors and outdoors)	Explosion-protected; commonly Ex db (flameproof)
Zone 2 — outdoor	From 1.5 m to 3 m out from the source	Explosion-protected; often Ex nR acceptable
Zone 2 — indoor	From 1.5 m to 7.62 m out from the source	Explosion-protected; the 7.62 m indoor band is wider than the 3 m outdoor band

Two points follow: the indoor Zone 2 envelope reaches 7.62 m, so pump rows and sampling points inside a building carry more protected points than a 3 m plan suggests, and every point inside these envelopes must be explosion-protected — lighting is not an exemption.

Project map: the 2026–2030 procurement window

The replacement and expansion money sits on the Eastern Seaboard; luminaire packages are procured months ahead of mechanical completion, and the table lists projects driving specification work through the early 2030s.

Project	Location / scope	Status driving 2026–2030 specification
Thai Oil Clean Fuel Project (CFP)	Sriracha / Chonburi refinery	Budget THB 63.02 billion; capacity 275,000 → 400,000 bpd; Nelson 9.8 → 12.0; 97% complete; 15,000–18,000 on site; Full COD 2028; Euro-5
Map Ta Phut / EEC	Chonburi–Rayong–Chachoengsao	Braskem-SCG bio-ethylene: THB 19.3 billion, 200,000 tpy (BOI 2024-06); PTTGC bio-based polyethylene
Nong Fab LNG terminal	Rayong	CTCI + Saipem EPCC, USD 925 million (awarded 2026-04)
Map Ta Phut LNG Terminal 3 (Phase 2)	Rayong	Gulf Energy + PTT Tank Terminal; 8 million tpy; start 2025 Q4
Aging-plant replacement	Map Ta Phut and Sriracha	Units built 2005–2015 enter a replacement peak in the early 2030s

The window is compound. Thai Oil CFP reaches Full COD in 2028 with 15,000-plus workers on site during finishing, and the 2005–2015 vintage hits its replacement peak in the early 2030s — together they make 2026–2030 the dense buying period for hazardous-area luminaires.

Specifying for Thai sites: zone, gas group, temperature class, ambient, protection

Once the certificate route is settled, selection turns on five conditions; a spec that treats only "an Ex mark and a wattage" as criteria tends to fail at commissioning.

Selection factor	What it changes	Our data point
Zone	Zone 1 calls for Ex db (flameproof); Zone 2 often allows Ex nR at lower cost for the same output	Ex db Zone 1 (FL7 / HB21); Ex nR Zone 2 (FL8 / GS / LU)
Gas group	Most streams are IIA / IIB; some chemical service is IIC and must be matched per point	Group matched to the classified-area drawing; IIC handled where required
Temperature class	T-rating read against the actual ambient, not a 40 °C default; derating where needed	T-class stated against the marked ambient for FL7, HB21, FL8, GS, LU
Ambient temperature	Coastal and process sites push enclosures; confirmed per project	Ambient confirmed per project before selection
Protection / enclosure	Saline coastal and process atmospheres raise corrosion duty; sealing must be genuine	Enclosure, fasteners, coating and seals to the project corrosion class

Concentrated points — tank tops, loading areas, perimeter — carry output with a floodlight; pipe racks, walkways and long process runs use a linear luminaire with fewer fittings. We supply the FL8 Series explosion-proof floodlight for concentrated points and the LU Series LED linear luminaire for continuous runs. Both ship with the IECEx and ATEX evidence listed below.

Five mistakes that stall Thai hazardous-area lighting jobs

Most Thai non-conformances sit between a certificate and a working installation; the five that surface most often:

1. Assuming ATEX alone clears Thai import. TIS 899 is IECEx-aligned; the IECEx Certificate of Conformity is the evidence the Thai side accepts. ATEX supports the file but does not substitute for it.

2. Treating the factory licence as someone else's problem. A refinery or chemical plant is a Category 3 factory that must hold a Ror Ngor 4 licence, and the risk assessment report (control / recovery / corrective plans) travels with it.

3. Drawing Zone 2 at 3 m everywhere. The IEAT indoor band runs to 7.62 m. Underestimating it leaves unprotected points inside a classified area.

4. Matching the gas group per site, not per point. A plant mixing IIA, IIB and IIC under one luminaire type is a specification error. Group must follow the drawing point by point.

5. Ignoring the certificate holder. The TISI certificate is held locally — by the Thai importer or agent, not the overseas maker. Quotes implying the manufacturer holds it fail verification.

Frequently asked questions

Is an ATEX or IECEx certificate enough to import explosion-proof lighting into Thailand?

Not by itself. Thailand's anchor is TIS 899, administered by TISI; imported equipment needs a certificate of conformity, an accredited-lab test report and a manufacturer's declaration of compliance. IECEx is the evidence that shortens the Thai route because TIS 899 is largely aligned with IECEx; ATEX supports but does not substitute.

How long does Thai certification take if we already hold IECEx or ATEX?

Equipment already holding an IECEx Certificate of Conformity typically clears the Thai path in 8–16 weeks. A standard TISI product cycle runs 8–10 weeks; the 8–16 week band reflects the extra TIS 899 evaluation for hazardous-area apparatus.

What factory licence does a refinery or chemical plant need in Thailand?

Under the Factory Act B.E. 2535, amended by Factory Act (No. 2) B.E. 2562 (2019) and DIW-enforced, refineries and chemical plants are Category 3 factories and must hold a Ror Ngor 4 licence. The 2019 amendment removed the 5-year renewal and introduced accredited private inspectors. Category 3 plants — refineries (category 49) and chemicals (42/44) — also file a risk assessment report with control, recovery and corrective action plans.

How are hazardous zones defined in Thai petrochemical projects?

Following IEAT practice: Zone 0 is inside containers and pipes; Zone 1 runs from the outer tank/pipe surface outward 1.5 m, indoors and outdoors alike; Zone 2 runs 1.5 m to 3 m outdoors, but 1.5 m to 7.62 m indoors. Every apparatus inside these envelopes must be explosion-protected.

Do you hold the Thai TISI or TIS 899 certificate?

No, and we do not claim it. The TISI certificate and the TIS 899 declaration are held by the Thai importer or local agent, not the overseas manufacturer. What we provide is the IECEx and ATEX technical evidence (certificates, test reports, quality reports) on which the local importer builds the Thai file. For certificate details and project documentation, contact sales02@seekingled.com.

Fact check

Fact as stated	Source	How verified
TISI under the Ministry of Industry, founded 1969; dual-track certification; 147 mandatory standards as of 2025-07; normal cycle 8–10 weeks	TISI / Ministry of Industry	TISI programme documentation
TIS 899 largely aligned with IECEx; import files need certificate of conformity, accredited-lab test report, manufacturer's declaration of compliance	TIS 899 scope; Thai import practice	IECEx scheme and TISI filing requirements
Equipment holding IECEx or ATEX clears Thai certification in 8–16 weeks	Thai practice for IECEx-based products	TISI / accredited-lab routing
Factory Act B.E. 2535 (1992), amended by Factory Act (No. 2) B.E. 2562 (2019), DIW-enforced; Category 3 needs Ror Ngor 4; 2019 removed 5-year renewal	Thai Factory Act and 2019 amendment; DIW	DIW and legislative texts
Risk assessment: MI Announcement No.3 B.E. 2542; DIW rules B.E. 2543; Category 3 files risk report with control / recovery / corrective plans	MI Announcement No.3 B.E. 2542; DIW rules B.E. 2543	DIW rules
IEAT zones: Zone 0 inside; Zone 1 from 1.5 m; Zone 2 1.5–3 m outdoor / 1.5–7.62 m indoor; in-zone apparatus explosion-protected	IEAT classification best practice	IEC 60079-10 classification
Thai Oil CFP: THB 63.02 billion; 275,000 → 400,000 bpd; Nelson 9.8 → 12.0; 97% complete; 15,000–18,000 on site; Full COD 2028; Euro-5	Thai Oil disclosures; project reporting	Thai Oil and industry press
Map Ta Phut / EEC: Braskem-SCG bio-ethylene THB 19.3 billion, 200,000 tpy (BOI 2024-06); Nong Fab LNG EPCC USD 925 million (2026-04); Map Ta Phut LNG T3 Phase 2, 8 million tpy, 2025 Q4	BOI; CTCI / Saipem; Gulf Energy / PTT Tank Terminal	BOI and contractor announcements
Plants built 2005–2015 enter replacement peak in early 2030s; Map Ta Phut and Sriracha are upgrade zones	Industry analysis of Thai refinery vintage	Project-cycle reporting
Our certificate numbers (ATEX CSANe 25 ATEX 1229X; IECEx CSA 25.0093X; ATEX QAN CSANe 26 ATEX M076; IECEx QAR GB/CSAE/QAR26.0002/00; TÜV CY 26 ATEX 0207611/0207612/0207613 X)	Our certificate files, issuers CSA Group and TÜV	Each number verifiable with the issuer

What we provide — and what we do not claim

The Thai TISI certificate and the TIS 899 declaration are applied for and held on the Thai side by the Thai importer or local agent, not the overseas manufacturer; we state precisely which technical evidence we hold and let the importer build the Thai file on top of it.

Document	Number	Issued by / covers
ATEX Type Examination Certificate	CSANe 25 ATEX 1229X	CSA Group (Netherlands) — LO series
IECEx Certificate of Conformity	IECEx CSA 25.0093X	CSA Group — LO series
ATEX Quality Assurance Notification (QAN)	CSANe 26 ATEX M076	CSA Group Netherlands — LO series
IECEx Quality Assessment Report (QAR)	GB/CSAE/QAR26.0002/00	CSA Group (UK) — LO series
ATEX Type Examination Certificates	TÜV CY 26 ATEX 0207611 / 0207612 / 0207613 X	TÜV (Cyprus); FL8, GS, LU series

In practice we supply the IECEx test reports, IECEx Certificates of Conformity, the IECEx Quality Assessment Report and the ATEX certificates and quality notifications, as the technical basis for a Thai importer's TISI application and TIS 899 declaration. We do not claim to hold the Thai TISI certificate or the TIS 899 declaration — those are held locally by the importer or agent. Across the Eastern Seaboard the model is the same: we provide the IECEx / ATEX technical evidence and the local party holds the Thai statutory certificate.

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