BS EN 60079-30-1:2017

What is BS EN 60079-30-1‒ Electrical resistance trace heating about?

BS EN 60079-30-1 is the first part of an international multi-series standard that covers safety requirements for explosive atmospheres.

BS EN 60079-30-1 specifies general and testing requirements for electrical resistance trace heaters for application in explosive atmospheres with the exclusion of those for EPL Ga and Da.

BS EN 60079-30-1 also includes requirements for termination assemblies and control methods used with trace heating systems.

Note 1: The explosive atmospheres referred to in BS EN 60079-30-1 are those defined in IEC 60079-10-1 and IEC 60079-10-2.

Who is BS EN 60079-30-1‒ Electrical resistance trace heating for?

BS EN 60079-30-1 on electrical resistance trace heating is useful for:

• Designers of electrical equipment in an explosive atmosphere
• Manufacturers of safety equipment in an explosive atmosphere
• Underground mine authorities
• Oil and petroleum gas industries
• Industries with the explosive work atmosphere

Why should you use BS EN 60079-30-1‒ Electrical resistance trace heating?

The safety of the personnel working in an explosive atmosphere, equipment, protective systems, or components can be achieved by eliminating hazards and/or limiting the risk.

BS EN 60079-30-1 provides you with a comprehensive overview of the essential requirements and testing appropriate to electric surface heating equipment used in explosive atmospheres. It gives the requirements that can be considered as the minimum requirements for equipment protection levels Gb, Gc, Db, and Dc in explosive atmospheres for gases, dust, and fibres/flyings.

BS EN 60079-30-1 covers trace heaters that comprise factory or field (work-site) assembled units, which may be series trace heaters, parallel trace heaters, trace heater pads. It covers trace heater panels that have been assembled and/or terminated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. It also contains the minimum requirements for users applying the Division method of area classification.

What’s changed since the last update?

BS EN 60079-30-1:2017 supersedes BS EN 60079‑30‑1:2007, which is withdrawn. BS EN 60079-30-1:2017 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous editions:

• The inclusion of a minimum temperature impact test, the addition of a mechanical procedure in the thermal stability test, the inclusion of an ultraviolet and condensation test
• The inclusion of a thermal performance test to replace the thermal safety requirements, the inclusion of a second procedure utilizing a plate fixture for sheath temperature determination
• The revision and significant expansion of documentation requirements, the addition of Annexes covering requirements for Divisions 1 and 2, the addition of a table covering the applicability of requirements from IEC 60079-0
• The addition of an Annex covering trace heater product design verification methodology (formerly located in IEC 60079-30-2), the further harmonization of this edition with several national standards.