This part of IEC 60079 contains the specific requirements for the design of electrical systems, selection, installation and the required initial inspection of electrical installations of Ex Equipment in, or associated with, explosive atmospheres including requirements for documentation and personnel competency.
These requirements are in addition to the requirements for installations in non-hazardous areas.
NOTE 1 For voltages up to 1 000 V AC or 1 500 V DC requirements of this document are based on installation requirements in the IEC 60364 series and for higher voltages in the IEC 61936 series, but other relevant national requirements can apply. For offshore, the IEC 61892 series is applicable.
NOTE 2 Maximum voltages are limited by specific Types of Protection according to other parts of the IEC 60079 series and will be given in the documentation for the Ex Equipment.
This document applies to all electrical Ex Equipment including fixed, transportable, portable and personal, and installations, permanent or temporary.
NOTE 3 Guidance on transportable, portable or personal equipment can be found in Annex I and IEC TS 60079‑48.
This document does not apply to:
electrical installations in mines susceptible to firedamp;
inherently explosive situations and dust from explosives or pyrophoric substances (for example explosives manufacturing and processing);
rooms used for medical purposes;
electrical installations in areas where the hazard is due to flammable mist; and
installation of non-electrical Ex Equipment (unless being part of an equipment assembly according IEC TS 60079‑46).
NOTE 5 Additional guidance on the requirements for hazards due to hybrid mixtures of dust or flyings and flammable gas or vapour is provided in Annex H.
NOTE 6 The use of portable tools having an Ex Equipment certificate might introduce an ignition source which is beyond the scope of this document, for example: a drill which could create a high temperature at the work piece.
No account is taken in this document of the toxic hazards that are associated with flammable gases, liquids and dusts in concentrations that are usually very much less than the lower flammable limit. In locations where personnel could be exposed to potentially toxic concentrations of flammable material, appropriate precautions are necessary. Such precautions are outside the scope of this document.
EN 60079-14 Ed.6.0
IEC 60079-14:2024
NOTE 4 This document might apply to electrical installations in mines where explosive gas atmospheres other than firedamp can be formed and to electrical installations in the surface installation of mines.