BS EN IEC 60079-31:2024

What is BS EN IEC 60079-31 – Equipment dust ignition protection about?

Wherever there are dangerous concentrations of flammable gases, vapours, mists or dust, electrical equipment must be protected to reduce the likelihood of explosions.

BS EN IEC 60079-31 is one standard in a large series that deals with safety in explosive atmospheres. It supplies supplemental information and guidance for electrical equipment protected by enclosure and surface temperature limitation in explosive dust atmospheres.  

Who is BS EN IEC 60079-31 - Equipment dust ignition protection for?

BS EN IEC 60079-31 on equipment dust ignition protection can be adopted in the following settings:

• Underground mines

• Oil & gas production and processing plants, onshore and offshore platforms, FPSO (Floating Production Storage Offloading vessels)

• Oil and gas tankers, drilling ships

• Oil refineries

• Petrochemical and chemical processing plants

• Gas pipelines and distribution centres

• Re-fuelling stations or petrol stations

• Surface coating industries

• Sewerage treatment plants

What does BS EN IEC 60079-31 - Equipment dust ignition protection cover?

BS EN IEC 60079-31 on equipment dust ignition protection is the part of the IEC 60079 series that applies to equipment protected by enclosure and surface temperature limitation for use in explosive dust atmospheres.

It specifies requirements for design, construction and testing of Ex Equipment and Ex Components and supplements and modifies the general requirements of IEC 60079-0.

NOTE: Where a requirement of this standard conflicts with a requirement of IEC 60079-0, the requirement of this standard takes precedence. BS EN IEC 60079-31 does not apply to dusts of explosives that do not require atmospheric oxygen for combustion, or to pyrophoric substances.

BS EN IEC 60079-31 does not apply to Ex 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. It does not take account of any risk due to an emission of flammable or toxic gas from the dust.

Why should you use BS EN IEC 60079-31 - Equipment dust ignition protection?

BS EN IEC 60079-31 on equipment dust ignition protection helps users:

• Tackle the specific safety issues that arise around electrical equipment in explosive dust atmospheres protected by enclosure and surface temperature limitation

• This revision specifies major technical changes affecting safety

• Develop the expertise

• Strengthen risk management in explosive dust atmospheres

What’s new about BS EN IEC 60079-31:2024?

This third edition cancels and replaces BS EN IEC 60079-31:2014. The major technical changes in BS EN IEC 60079-31:2024 are:

1. For Ex Equipment having Level of Protection "ta" which contains a cell or battery, only a sealed cell or battery shall be used. For Ex Equipment having Level of Protection "tb" and "tc" where there are sparking contacts or hot surfaces, and which contain a cell or battery, only a sealed cell or battery shall be used.
2. Table 2 now includes malfunction conditions for temperature class determination of Level of Protection "tb" converter-fed electric machines
3. Additional requirements for entry devices with dust ignition protection by enclosure "t". As such, Annex A is added for entry devices with Type of Protection "t" including cable transit devices.