Update on Mechanical Standards for Equipment in Explosive Atmospheres

Two new European explosion protection standards,BS EN ISO 80079-36:2016andBS EN ISO 80079-37:2016, have been published by BSI based on the ISO/IEC 80079 series released in February 2016.

For the first time, this series addresses basic requirements and protection concepts for mechanical explosion protected equipment on an international level. Previously the EN 13463 series had addressed mechanical explosion protection but was limited to use within Europe under theATEX Directive. In contrast, the 80079 series has global application and can be used within the extended scope of theIECEx schemewhich now includes mechanical equipment.

The EN 13463 series had numerous standards covering mechanical explosion protected equipment whereas the ISO/IEC 80079 series has only three. These are:

• ISO/IEC 80079-36 (Basic method and requirements)

• ISO/IEC 80079-37 (Non electrical type of protection constructional safety “c”, control of ignition source “b”, liquid immersion “k”)

• ISO/IEC 80079-38 (Equipment and components in explosive atmospheres in underground mines).

For those familiar with the EN 13463 series under ATEX, there are several new approaches introduced by the ISO/IEC 80079 series. Most significantly, the latter uses IEC 60079-0 as the reference document for many of its tests and requirements and the standards can be treated similarly to the IEC 60079 concept standards (such as Ex e).

Use of the new standards will be most visible when you consider the Ex marking on equipment. Mechanical equipment under 80079 is now marked Ex h as part of the Ex coding (e.g. Ex h IIB T4 Gb). (Note that suffixes to Ex h are not used).

此外,o型f protection (e.g. “c”, “b” or “k”) from ISO 80079-37 cannot be recognised from the Ex marking code “h” and is reliant on the description of the type of protection applied as given in the user instructions prepared by the manufacturer.

Certification under the ISO/IEC 80079 series will begin shortly. If you would like advice from our engaged experts to help you review meeting the new requirements,please contact us.