This part of IEC 60079‑29 specifies general requirements for construction, testing and performance, and describes the test methods that apply to portable, transportable and fixed apparatus for the detection and measurement of flammable gas or vapour concentrations with air. The apparatus, or parts thereof, are intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (see 3.1.8) and in mines susceptible to firedamp.

This standard is also applicable when an apparatus manufacturer makes any claims regarding any special features of construction or superior performance that exceed these minimum requirements. In these cases, all such claims should be verified and the test procedures should be extended or supplemented, where necessary, to verify the performance claimed by the manufacturer. When verifying the superior performance of one criterion, other performance criteria are not required to meet the standards minimum requirements, however, these reduced claimed performance criteria (as confirmed in the manufactures Installation Manual) should also be verified. (e.g. temperature range of 0 °C to 60 °C; 0 °C to 40 °C at ±10 % accuracy and 40 °C to 60 °C at ±15 % (manufacturers claimed accuracy). The additional tests should be agreed between the manufacturer and test laboratory and identified and described in the test report.

This standard is applicable to flammable gas detection apparatus intended to provide an indication, alarm or other output function; the purpose of which is to give a warning of a potential explosion hazard and in some cases, to initiate automatic or manual protective action(s).

This standard is applicable to apparatus, including the integral sampling systems of aspirated apparatus, intended to be used for commercial, industrial and non-residential safety applications.

This standard does not apply to external sampling systems, or to apparatus of laboratory or scientific type, or to apparatus used only for process control purposes. It also does not apply to open path (line of sight) area monitors. For apparatus used for sensing the presence of multiple gases, this standard applies only to the detection of flammable gas or vapour.

This standard supplements and modifies the general requirements of IEC 60079‑0. Where a requirement of this standard conflicts with a requirement of IEC 60079‑0, the requirement of IEC 60079‑29‑1 will take precedence.

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