This part of the IEC 60079 series contains the specific requirements for the design, selection,
erection and initial inspection of electrical installations in, or associated with, explosive
atmospheres.
Where the equipment is required to meet other environmental conditions, for example,
protection against ingress of water and resistance to corrosion, additional protection
requirements may be necessary.
The requirements of this standard apply only to the use of equipment under standard
atmospheric conditions as defined in IEC 60079-0. For other conditions, additional
precautions may be necessary, and the equipment should be certified for these other
conditions. For example, most flammable materials and many materials which are normally
regarded as non-flammable might burn vigorously under conditions of oxygen enrichment.
These requirements are in addition to the requirements for installations in non-hazardous
areas.
This standard applies to all electrical equipment including fixed, portable, transportable and
personal, and installations, permanent or temporary.
This standard 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.
No account is taken in this Standard of the toxic risks that are associated with flammable
gases, liquids and dusts in concentrations that are usually very much less than the lower
explosive limit. In locations where personnel may be exposed to potentially toxic
concentrations of flammable material, appropriate precautions should be taken. Such
precautions are outside the scope of this Standard.