Description

This Standard specifies the general requirements for construction, testing and marking of Ex Equipment and Ex Components intended for use in explosive atmospheres. The standard atmospheric conditions (relating to the explosion characteristics of the atmosphere) under which it may be assumed that Ex Equipment can be operated are:

• a) Temperature: –20 °C to +60 °C;
• b) Pressure: 80 kPa (0,8 bar) to 110 kPa (1,1 bar); and
• c) Air with normal oxygen content: Typically 21% v/v.

This part of AS/NZS IEC 60079 and other standards supplementing this standard specify additional test requirements for Ex Equipment operating outside the standard temperature range, but further additional consideration and additional testing may be required for Ex Equipment operating outside the standard atmospheric pressure range and standard oxygen content. Such additional testing may be particularly relevant with respect to types of protection that depend on quenching of a flame, such as ‘flameproof enclosures “d”’ (AS/NZS IEC 60079.1) or limitation of energy, ‘intrinsic safety “i”’ (AS/NZS IEC 60079.11). Adopted with national modifications and reproduced from IEC 60079-0:2017 (ED.7.0).