BS EN 60079-31:2014

What is BS EN 60079-31 ‒ Equipment dust ignition protection by enclosure “t” about ?

BS EN 60079-31 is a part of an international multi-series standard that focuses on safety aspects for explosive atmospheres.  

BS EN 60079-31 is applicable to electrical equipment protected by enclosure and surface temperature limitation for use in explosive dust atmospheres. It specifies requirements for design, construction, and testing of electrical equipment and Ex Components. 

BS EN 60079-31 is supplements and modifies the general requirements of IEC 60079-0. The requirement of BS EN 60079-31 standard takes precedence, whenever a requirement of this standard conflicts with a requirement of IEC 60079-0. 

BS EN 60079-31 specifies the technicalities such as related terms and definitions, general requirements including requirements for electrical equipment with a level of protection “ta”, Requirements for electrical equipment with Level of Protection “tb” and “tc”, construction, verification, tests, and marking, etc.    

Note 1: BS EN 60079-31 does not apply to dust of explosives, which do not require atmospheric oxygen for combustion, or to pyrophoric substances. 

Note 2: BS EN 60079-31 does not apply to electrical equipment or Ex Components intended for use in underground parts of mines as well as those parts of surface installations of such mines endangered by firedamp and/or combustible dust. 

Note 3: BS EN 60079-31 does not take account of any risk due to an emission of flammable or toxic gas from the dust. 

Who is BS EN 60079-31 ‒ Equipment dust ignition protection by enclosure “t” for ?

BS EN 60079-31 on equipment dust ignition protection by enclosure “t” is useful for: 

• Designers of electrical equipment in an explosive atmosphere
• Manufacturers of safety equipment in an explosive atmosphere 
• Safety certification providing entities for electrical equipment to be used in an explosive atmosphere  
• Suppliers and dealers of electrical equipment with a type of protection “t” 
• Regulatory authorities

Why should you use BS EN 60079-31 ‒ Equipment dust ignition protection by enclosure “t” ?

The areas where dangerous concentrations and quantities of flammable gases, vapours, or dust may be present in the atmosphere, are referred to as an explosive atmosphere. Protective measures are needed to be applied to the electrical equipment installed in such areas.  

BS EN 60079-31 gives you elaborated information about the technical specifications that should be taken into account while designing and constructing the protection equipment for equipment dust ignition protection by enclosure “t”.  It also provides you with test methods that help you to verify the performance and thus ensure the reliability of the equipment. 

BS EN 60079-31 recommends the requirements, equipment grouping, and temperature classification of the type of protection by enclosure "t" for electrical equipment to you, that are in compliance with the provisions of the Ex-Equipment Certificate or with the provisions of the appropriate explosion protection standard.  

BS EN 60079-31 gives guidelines on equipment protection for the explosive atmosphere for the practical means of maintaining the explosion protection of electrical equipment. It helps you to avoid any mishaps and to reduce the likelihood of explosion due to ignition by arcs, sparks, or hot surfaces produced either in normal operation or under specified fault conditions. 

What’s changed since the last update ?

BS EN 60079-31:2014 supersedes BS EN 60079-31:2009, which is withdrawn. BS EN 60079-31:2014 includes some technical changes with respect to the previous edition:  

• Minor and editorial changes
• Addition of technical options
• Major technical changes such as the addition of technical requirements, increase of technical requirements